The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced it will be sampling the rainbow trout run at Naples Creek, Ontario County, on March 23, beginning at 9 a.m. 

“Sampling rainbow trout is an important function of the region’s fisheries management practices,” said Region 8 Director Tim Walsh. “Naples Creek is one of the Finger Lakes’ most important tributaries. Sampling provides up-to-date information for the opening day fishing forecast.”

DEC’s annual event draws hundreds of people just north of the village of Naples at the Route 245 bridge. Sampling includes netting rainbow trout and recording the fish’s length, weight, gender, and spawning condition. Sampling results will be available to the public at the DEC Region 8 Fisheries office prior to the April 1 opening of the Finger Lakes tributary season. Anglers who want to fish for trout before April 1 are reminded that although catch-and-release trout fishing is open for inland streams, Finger Lakes tributaries remain closed to fishing until April 1. The main bodies of the Finger Lakes are open to fishing year-round.

Directions to Naples Creek: Sampling will start at the Route 245 bridge, just north of the village of Naples. Route 245 joins Route 21 just north of the village. The Route 245 bridge is approximately 0.2 to 0.3 miles from the junction with Route 21.