April Fishing Update-THE LOCAL LAKES ARE STOCKED!!!-Get Ready For Spring Bass-White Perch....

THE LOCAL LAKES ARE STOCKED!!!

April is a good month for freshwater hot spots to keep you warm in the outdoors. In past years, the month of April has seen some of the best freshwater fishing with everything from crappie and pickerel to yellow perch and trout. Now local lakes and streams may have these fish year round but April ,for some reason, with milder temperatures in the 30s to 40s and cloudy days produce good solid fishing.

Panfish, like crappie and blue gill, love a simple hook and worm.  ultra-lite tackle with a little Johnson beetle jig with or without the spinner always seems to create a good buzz under the water for these fish. These fish will also fall for small crank baits or small colorful top water lures, such as Rapala's. Casting them out and reeling in nice and slow, to allow a small wobble to take effect, and let the fish do the rest. Yellow perch will follow in suit to all these techniques but they will feed more towards the bottom of lakes and ponds.  

Pickerel are more of a tricky species to target. While they are super aggressive, they can also spook very easily. You will need to walk around the shore lines carefully. They tend to sit in little holes in the weed beds and wait for their next bait to fall to there ever sharp teeth and strong jaw. Top water baits slowly coming throw the nest works the best, but that doesn't mean you can land one of these fish with just that. They will take down small spoons or plastic swimming baits. Live sinners will produce the best fish if you can sneak one by their little weed homes, but regardless like anything else you can tackle these fish like most, on any ponds or lakes on the island . 

TROUT!!. Most anglers love to target these fish with light tackle rods and reels, using little jigs such as small 1/16oz trout magnets, or Acme gold or silver kastmaster lures. Another go to lure I like to throw would be a vibrex blue fox spinner in 1/16th oz. or 1/8oz. Gold and silver typically produce better fish, but that does not mean other colors or lures wont work. Other anglers like to throw a small size 8 or 10 hook with a worm on it.   Local DEC typically sock these lakes late April in preparation for the opening day with healthy Brown and Rainbow trout, and if you are there when this happens you may just land yourself some nice fish.

With all of that said, you still can head down to Connetquot River State Park  with your fly rod and give that a try. Some local guys have been reporting nice Rainbow trout coming out of its river. We have also been told with the increase in fly fishermen the park administrators have opened and stocked more of the river and pond.

The Park has several fishing sessions per day.  8AM-12PM and 12PM-4PM. Fishermen are having a blast down there at either session. Tackle Tip: Typically we recommend an 7 to 8 foot rod with 4 to 6 weight line, and  flies with a little flash in them to target the bigger fish. 

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Another type of local and easy fishing would be for White Perch. All the local tidal creeks have fish in them. The key to finding them is to fish different tides and figure out when they will show up at certain areas. I like to fish the end of the incoming and the beginning of the outgoing. Some "go to baits" for white Perch are a piece of night crawler on a jig head or even a grass shrimp on a jig head. Another good method to catch white perch is using small soft plastic grubs on a jig head. Ill carry 1/16oz and 1/8oz; they'll do fine in most conditions. For rod and reel, use any ultralight setup with 4lb test line.

During the closed recreational season for striped bass, catch and release fishing by angling only is permitted. Catch and release fishing is defined as a fishery where the fish are returned to the water. During the closed season all striped bass taken shall be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury.

Belmont Spring Fishing Festival (Suffolk County)

DATE: 4/18

START TIME: 10:00 AM

END TIME: 3:00 PM

LOCATION: Belmont Lake State Park, 625 Belmont Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704

MORE INFORMATION LINK: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/learn-to-fish/free-clinics

Join DEC and State Parks for a free fishing event at the annual Spring Family Fishing Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Belmont Lake State Park. This event is a great way to kick off the spring freshwater fishing season and learn about fishing opportunities on Long Island. 

DEC’s I FISH NY educators will conduct basic fishing instruction, and educate participants on the ecology and stewardship of local aquatic habitats, fish identification, regulations, and casting safety and techniques. Children's activities include the "Spring Fling" casting contest and hands-on educational displays by DEC's Education Unit. Children participating in the casting contest also have a chance to win prizes provided by DEC's I FISH NY Program. 

Gear for participants: Borrow a fishing rod from DEC or bring your own. Bait will also be available for free.

Access details: A vehicle use fee of $8 will be in effect. Parking is free for Empire Pass holders. The 2026 Empire Pass can be purchased at State Park offices or online.

Registration and a freshwater fishing license is NOT required to participate in this free event.

For more information, call DEC at 631-444-0283 or Belmont Lake State Park at 631-321-3510.

Visit the Free Learn to Fish Clinics webpage to find other upcoming events near you!

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April Updates
Spring is officially in the air, and while the ocean water is still shaking off the winter chill, things are heating up quickly in the bays and local freshwater ponds. Here is what's happening right now across the South Shore.

Saltwater: The Early Season Surge
Striped Bass: The back bays are the place to be. With the official season opener approaching on April 15th, catch-and-release activity is already high. Target the shallow mudflats in the Great South Bay and Shinnecock where the water warms up faster on sunny afternoons. Small soft plastics  on light jig heads are doing the trick.

Winter Flounder: The season is open, but it’s a "slow and steady" game. Focus on the mouth of canals and areas with sandy bottoms near Quogue or Moriches. Heavy chumming and clams is essential to wake them up in these cooler temps.

White Perch: If you can't wait for the bass opener, the brackish tidal creeks are you best bet for white perch. Small grass shrimp or pieces of bloodworm on a high-low rig are providing consistent action.

Freshwater: Trout & Bass
Trout: The NYSDEC has completed its spring stockings! Belmont Lake, West Lake, and Upper Yaphank Lake have been loaded with Rainbow and Brown Trout. Early morning or late afternoon is best. PowerBait in chartreuse or pink is the standard, but don't overlook a small gold Phoebe or Panther Martin spinner on light 4lb test.

Largemouth Bass: The "pre-spawn" move is starting. In shallower ponds like West Lake or Patchogue lake, bass are moving toward the edges. They are still a bit lethargic, so slow down your presentation. Suspending jerkbaits or a slow-rolled lipless crankbait near structure will produce the bigger bites.

Panfish: Bluegill and Yellow Perch are active in many lakes ponds and Reservoir. A simple worm under a bobber is all you need for a fun afternoon.

Angler’s Tip of the Week
Watch the Tides & Temps: In early April, a few degrees make a world of difference. Try to fish the "outgoing" tide in the late afternoon. The water that has been sitting in the shallow marshes warming up in the sun all day will pull back into the deeper channels, often triggering a feeding frenzy for any predatory fish waiting nearby.