LONG ISLAND RIVERS
CONNETQUOT RIVER
The Connetquot River (Secatogue tribe name meaning "Great River") is a 6 mi (10 km) long river in Islip. It is one of the three major trout rivers on Long Island and is recognized by the state as a Wild, Scenic and Recreational River. Operating on a 'beat' or site system, anglers will have to call ahead an reserve a spot on the river at (631) 581-1005. Fly fishing only.
The park receives approximately 3,000-4,000 stocked brown and rainbow trout annually, as well as hosting a wild brook trout population.
It starts just south of the Long Island Expressway from springs in the Lakeland County Park in Islandia, New York where it is called Connetquot Brook. The estuary portion south of Sunrise Highway at Oakdale, New York is officially called the Connetquot River although in popular usage both the brook and river share the same name.
FLOW CHART
The Carmans River is a 10-mile (16 km) long river in Brookhaven in Suffolk County on Long Island.
It is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island and is similar to other Long Island rivers in that is groundwater generated (e.g., no lakes), although a lake did exist long ago. Almost all of the river is specifically protected by the Central Long Island Pine Barrens. All of it is designated by New York State as either a "Scenic River" or a "Recreational River."
The park receives approximately 2,000-3,000 stocked brown and rainbow trout annually, as well as hosting a wild brook trout population.
It is fresh water for the first eight miles (13 km) and then becomes an estuary for the last two, as it encounters the tidal effects of Great South Bay.
There are four dams on the upper river at Upper Mill Pond, Lower Mill Pond, Southaven Park, and the Sunrise Highway.
Adjoining the river is the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.
The Nissequogue River (named after the local Algonquian-speaking Nissequaq tribe) is an 8.3-mile (13.4 km) long spring-fed river flowing from Smithtown, New York into the Long Island Sound. Its discharge of 42.2 cubic feet (1.19 m3) a second is the most of any of the freshwater rivers on Long Island. Running through Caleb Smith State Park, fishing operates on a 'beat' system. Anglers will have to call ahead an reserve a spot on the river at (631) 265-1054. Fly fishing only.
The park receives approximately 1,000 stocked brown and rainbow trout annually, as well as hosting a wild brook trout population.
The river begins at Caleb Smith Park in Smithtown and flows to Kings Park, New York. Since much of the river is an estuary canoeists travel in both directions based on the tides.
Fish found in the river include Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, Winter Flounder, Porgies, Eels, Brown, Rainbow and Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Alweives, Herring, Shad, etc.
Massapequa Creek is a small creek settled in a very scenic area with easy pedestrian and bike access trails going along the waterway. The creek receives stocked trout from the reservoir upstream and can be fished between Massapequa Reservoir and Massapequa Lake (marked by a star on the Park Map below).
The reservoir upstream of the creek receives approximately 600-700 stocked brown and rainbow trout annually, as well as hosting a small wild brook trout population.
The watershed extends from the southern end of Bethpage State Park and includes portions of the Incorporated Villages of Farmingdale & Massapequa Park and the neighborhoods and communities of Bethpage, South Farmingdale, North Massapequa, Massapequa, and Biltmore Shores before ending at South Oyster Bay.
NISSEQUOGUE RIVER
Park Rules
Fly Fishing Only
Reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance, beginning March 15th at 8:00 a.m. by calling (631) 265 1054 or visiting the park office. Reservations are accepted for 30 sites available per session. Specific sites cannot be reserved in advance but are issued first-come-first choice at the time of the session.
NO SHOW POLICY: Abandonment of reservations will result in cancellation of your remaining reservations. Sign-in begins 30 minutes before each session and unclaimed reservations are abandoned 20 minutes after the start of each session.
A valid permit is required while fishing. Permits issued for current session only. Have a permit available at all times when fishing. The permit expires upon possession of limit, violation of any posted fishing rules or end of time session.
Trout Fishing Permits: (In addition to valid New York State fresh water fishing license.)
April 1 - October 15 (Wednesday - Sunday) 7am - 11am / 11:30am - 3:30pm
Two (2) Trout per person 9 inches or over.
One (1) largemouth pass per day 18 inches or over from July 1st to October 15th.
Up to 15 panfish.
Fishing Regulations:
One rod per person at any given time. Fly fishing equipment and tackle only. Flies or streamers of natural or synthetic materials constructed in normal fashion wound on or about a barbless hook. No more than two anglers on a site (beat) at any given time.
Net and release fish carefully. Release your fish in the water, immediately, with care, and in the same condition it was taken. NO injured fish are to be released.
Prohibited:
Felt sole waders. Barbed hooks. Weights attached to leader lines. Bait, including live, scented, and pellets. Molded facsmilies and/or replicas of fish, fish eggs, earthworms, insects, or any vertebrates or invertebrates. Stringers or other methods of restraining or tethering fish in the water. Fish kept must be quickly and humanely killed and creeled.
Please do not litter. Kindly carry out everything you have brought in - paper, fishing gear, etc.
Prevent forest fires, No Smoking in woodlands.
MASSAPEQUA CREEK
FLOW CHART
Connetquot River State Park Preserve | PARK RULES | FLY FISHING ONLY
Reservations may be made on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. one week in advance of the fishing week. (631) 581-1005. Reservations are accepted for 30 sites available per session. Specific sites cannot be reserved in advance but are issued first-come-first choice at the time of the session.
NO SHOW POLICY: Abandonment of reservations will result in cancellation of your remaining reservations.
A valid permit is required while fishing. Permits were issued for the current session only. Have a permit available at all times when fishing. The permit expires upon possession of the limit, violation of any posted fishing rules, or end of time session.
Trout Fishing Permits: (In addition to valid New York State freshwater fishing license.)
All year beats are available twice a day: 8 am - 12 pm / 12 pm - 4 pm
Anglers must STOP fishing when Two(2) TROUT are in possession - trout kept must be larger than 10 inches and less than 13 inches.
Fishing must be done alone with conventional fly fishing equipment limited to flies, fly rods, and fly reels. and fly line with unweighted leader material attached. Any other type of fishing tackle is prohibited. Artificial flies and streamers are defined as being constructed of natural or synthetic materials, so long as all flies are constructed in a normal fashion on a single barbless hook with components wound on or about the hook. Specifically prohibited are molded facsimiles or replicas of insects, earthworms, fish eggs, fish, or any invertebrate or vertebrate either singly or in combination with other materials. Likewise prohibited are other lures commonly described as spinners, spoons, or plugs made of metal, plastic, wood, rubber or like substances or a combination thereof. To protect the environment, no lead weight, split shot, or other, lead items may be used.
No stringers or other methods of restraining or tethering fish in the water. Fish kept must be quickly and humanely killed and creeled. Net and release fish carefully. Release your fish in the water, immediately, with care, and in the same condition it was taken. NO injured fish are to be released. The use or possession of any bait, fish eggs, or fish parts, and use of barbed hooks or any other fishing device other than barbless hooks, artificial flies, or streamers is prohibited.
Please do not litter. Kindly carry out everything you have brought in - paper, fishing gear, etc. Prevent forest fires, No Smoking in woodlands.
CARMANS RIVER
Brookhaven | PARK RULES
Freshwater fishing for trout, bass and perch is available. A New York State fishing license is required and all persons must register at the boat house. Special regulations by river section below. Also check out Suffolk Fishing Regulations and Statewide Fishing Regulations.
Regulations by area and fish type:
WatersSpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily LimitMethodCarmans River (Southaven County Park)Special Regulations by River Sections. Additional park regulations may apply. Call (631) 854-1414.Carmans River (Southaven County Park)Brook trout April 1 - Sept 30Catch and Release only From LIPA transmission lines at Gate G upstream to Yaphank AvenueTroutApril 1-Sept 30Catch and Release only Fly fishing only From Cement Dam upstream to LIPA transmission lines at Gate GBrown & Rainbow TroutApril 1- Sept 309"3Fly fishing only From Cement Dam downstream to Hards Lake DamBrown & Rainbow TroutApril 1- Sept 309"3
CARLLS RIVER
The Carlls river is the fourth largest river system in long island and known as a place of life, respite and learning, used by community members for a variety of pursuits which enrich their lives daily.
The park receives approximately 600-700 stocked brown and rainbow trout annually, as well as hosting a small wild brook trout population.
The river starts in Dix Hills, Wheatley Heights, Deer Park and Wyandanch, and ends down river in North Babylon or Babylon Village with the river delta, including Fosters Creek, leading to Great South Bay.
FLOW CHART
Long Island Stream Guide
Long Island Trout Unlimited has been producing a stream guide for our spring creeks for many years. This is the 5th edition and has been updated with additional rivers, new maps, more detailed information on where to fish, a little history, and even QR codes to make it easy for you to search the web.