American Bass Anglers Open Series angler Don Tripoli finished out his 2022 divisional regular season in style by winning the New York Division that year. Professional/amateur bass tournaments on Chautauqua Lake are a common summertime occurrence. Submitted Photo

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has introduced several new rules for fishing in 2025, with one rule in particular set to have a significant impact on bass anglers.

The DEC is implementing a mandatory no-cost permit and reporting system for fishing tournaments with 10 or more participants targeting black bass. This system is crucial for biologists to understand, track, and manage tournament-related issues, ensuring the preservation and popularity of New York State’s black bass fisheries.

The new regulation was announced earlier this summer and became effective with the press release notice from DEC on Sept. 9 for tournaments taking place after Jan. 1, 2025.

The new process is also intended to help tournament organizers and the general angling public by providing an up-to-date list and map of bass tournament events throughout the state. Required information is the location (water body and anticipated access site), date of the event(s), size (number of boats and participants), scoring procedure (access site scoring or catch/score/immediate release), and the scoring basis (weight, length, count, etc.).

The tournament director or organizer of each tournament must complete the permit application. It must be received by DEC no sooner than 365 days and no later than 45 days prior to the scheduled event. DEC warns that once submitted, it may take up to 30 days for DEC to perform a complete review and issue a permit. DEC notes that the permit is not a reservation of a boat launch site and does not guarantee access to a boat launch. If the tournament is held at a NYSDEC boat launch site (like Long Point State Park, etc.), a Temporary Revocable Permit (TRP) may be issued. The TRP permit rules and permissions for non-DEC access sites are available online.

Tournament directors must complete and submit a report of tournament results through the online reporting system within 45 days of the event. A “black bass tournament report checklist” must be followed and is a guideline for the required information requested by DEC. Right now, this permit process is free, but as we all know, nothing in New York usually remains free forever once management controls are implemented.

Chautauqua Lake is very popular with black bass fishing clubs, and small contests are held here nearly every weekend in summer. These small groups travel here from places near and far, promoting our local economy very well. I vote to dislike this whole permit process for small groups. Do we need to complicate the simplicity of a small fishing contest? These rules provide helpful input for biologists if the number of registered anglers/boats is 25 or 50 or more. Requiring this permit process starting with 10 anglers might encourage local clubs to eliminate their small group fun fishing contests. Not good. What’s next? Lake Erie walleye fishing contest tournament permits? Don’t blink. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: our love for the thrill of the catch. Let’s provide input with suggestions for the future to DEC.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoor Calendar:

Nov. 23-Jan. 19: Late Canada Goose Season – South Area. See syllabus.

Dec. 25: Merry Christmas!

Dec. 26-Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone Holiday Deer Hunt Season for archery, muzzleloader and crossbow.

Jan. 4: Clays-for-Cash sporting clay shoot, Hanover Fish and Game Club, 780 Overhiser Rd., Forestville, 8AM start, last clay:11AM. Info: 716-480-2202.

Jan. 4: Free Fur-Handling Workshop, Collins Conservation Club, 2633 Conger Rd., Collins; 9AM-1PM, call Patti Wattengel, 716-337-2556 for info.

Jan. 4-5: Hamburg Gun Show, 5820 South Park Ave., Hamburg, 9AM open, $10 entry, Info: nfgshows.com.

NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.