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Participate in a Learn to Fish Clinic
Learn how to fish for free at an upcoming sport fishing clinic organized and conducted by DEC and numerous other organizations. In addition to casting a rod and catching fish, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology, and more!
During these clinics no freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the recreational marine fishing registry is required*, but all other statewide freshwater fishing regulations and saltwater fishing regulations remain in effect (*Kids under 16 can always fish for free!).
Upcoming Clinic Events
Last updated on 4/10/2024: Check this page often as new events are added throughout the year.
Event | Date and Time | Location | City/Town | County | Event Organizer | Contact |
Belmont Lake Spring Fishing Festival | Saturday, 4/13/2024 10AM-4PM | Belmont Lake State Park, 625 Belmont Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704 | Babylon | Suffolk | DEC | DEC Region 1 Office: Bob McCormack, 631-444-0280 |
Free Family Fishing Day at Overlook Park | Sunday, 4/21/2024 9AM-1PM | Overlook Park, 36 Knights Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 | Poughkeepsie | Dutchess | DEC and Dutchess County Sportsmen Federation | DEC Region 3 Office: Ryan Coulter, 845-256-2204 |
Family Fishing at Cobbs Hill Park | Sunday, 4/21/2024 1PM-4PM | Cobbs Hill Park (Lake Riley), 80 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14610 | Rochester | Monroe | DEC and City of Rochester Recreation | DEC Region 8 Office: Betsy Ukeritis, 315-314-0768 To pre-register for this event, visit the City of Rochester website. |
Fish and Float at Ooms Conservation Area | Saturday, 4/27/2024 2PM-4PM | Ooms Conservation Area (Sutherland Pond), 480 Rock City Road, Chatham, NY 12037 | Chatham | Columbia | Columbia Land Conservancy | Columbia Land Conservancy: Jenifer Rosete, [email protected] For pre-registration and more details, visit the Columbia Land Conservancy website. |
Gowanda Volunteer Fire Company Fishing Clinic | Saturday, 5/4/2024 10AM-2PM | Gowanda Fire Hall (Cattaraugus Creek), 230 Aldrich Street, Gowanda, NY 14070 | Gowanda | Erie | Gowanda Volunteer Fire Company & Lake Erie Chapter International Fly Fishers | Gowanda Volunteer Fire Company: Steve Raiport, 716-698-9947, [email protected] For pre-registration and more details, visit the Gonawanda Fire Rescue website |
Annual Fishing Heritage Day at South Otselic Fish Hatchery | Saturday, 5/18/2024 And 12:30 PM-3PM | South Otselic Fish Hatchery, 1549 State Rte 26, South Otselic, NY 13155 | South Otselic | Chenango | DEC, Trout Unlimited Chenango Valley Chapter | DEC Region 7 Office: Jim Everard, 607-753-3095 ext. 213 |
Town of Clifton Park Annual Learn to Fish Day | Saturday, 6/1/2024 9AM-12:30PM | Barney Road Pond, 1A Barney Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065 | Clifton Park | Saratoga | Town of Clifton Park, Parks & Recreation | Town of Clifton Park, Parks and Recreation: Mike Woerner, 518-371-6667 For pre-registration and more details, visit the Clifton Park Parks & Recreation website |
Annual Family Fishing Day at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery | Saturday, 6/1/2024, 9:30AM-12:30PM | Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery, 1672 Route 321, Elbridge, NY 13108 | Elbridge | Onondaga | DEC and Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery | DEC Region 7 Office: Jim Everard, 607-753-3095, ext. 213 For more details, visit the Onondaga County Parks website. |
Teach-Me-To-Fish at Tifft Nature Preserve | Saturday, 6/8/2024, 9:30AM-12:30PM | Tifft Nature Preserve (Lake Kirsty), 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY 14203 | Buffalo | Erie | DEC and Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs | For pre-registration and more details call the DEC Region 9 Office at 716-533-4070 |
Fish Hut Free Youth Fishing at Van Cortlandt Park | Saturday, 6/8/2024, 12PM-1PM | Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY 10463 | Bronx | Bronx | Fish Hut | Fish Hut: Lawrence Tan, 917-403-0896, [email protected] |
Trout Unlimited Father’s Day Clinic | Sunday, 6/16/2024 9:30AM-3PM | Neahwa Park, 15 James Georgeson Ave, Oneonta, NY 13820 | Oneonta | Otsego | Trout Unlimited - Dave Brandt Chapter | Dave Brandt Chapter Trout Unlimited: MJ Coloney, 607-434-4865 |
Public Fishing: Rod and Reel at Brooklyn Bridge Park | Fridays, 6/21/2024 and 9/13/2024 4PM-6PM | Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park (East River), 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park Drive, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | Brooklyn | Kings | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 718-802-0603 For more details, visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park website. |
Learn to Fly Fish at Connectquot River | Saturday, 7/27/2024 9AM-3PM (Alternative date: 7/28/2024) | Connetquot River State Park Preserve, 4090 Sunrise Hwy, Oakdale, NY 11769 | Oakdale | Suffolk | Friends of Connetquot | Friends of Connetquot: Janet Soley, 631-278-9935 Pre-registration will be available in June 2024 at the Friends of Connetquot website |
Public Fishing: Rod and Reel at Brooklyn Bridge Park | Saturdays, 8/3/2024 3PM-6PM and 10/5/2024 10AM-1PM | Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park (East River), 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park Drive, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | Brooklyn | Kings | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 718-802-0603 For more details, visit the Brooklyn Bridge Park website. |
Check the DEC Events Calendar for other outdoor and educational fish or wildlife events for you and your family to enjoy.
Apply to Conduct or Co-host a Clinic
Formal groups or organizations can host a free fishing clinic by completing and submitting an application. Details on how to apply along with the rules for running a clinic are available in the following applications.
Conduct a Free Fishing Clinic Applications:
- Free Fishing Clinic Application For the Public or Organized Groups (PDF)
- Free Fishing Clinic Application For Veterans and Active-Duty Members of U.S Armed Forces (PDF)
Other Helpful Information
Free Fishing Days/Weekends
Take advantage of NY's free fishing days designated during several dates throughout the year; no recreational fishing license is required to fish these days!
Fishing Rod Loaner Program
Rent fishing rods, bobbers, and hooks from public libraries and parks; offers a great opportunity while you learn how to fish without needing to purchase your own fishing equipment!
I FISH NY Beginner's Guide to Freshwater Fishing
Learn about all the basics of fishing in this helpful how-to guide.
Fishing Skills
Browse through helpful information on getting started in fishing and how to improve your fishing skills.
Project Healing Waters
Free fishing opportunities for veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.