Long Island’s state parks are offering two exciting opportunities to kick off spring with fishing for all ages on Saturday, April 5. Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon will host its annual Spring Family Fishing Festival, featuring free fishing and educational activities for anglers of all skill levels.
The festival, set to begin at 10 a.m., will be rain or shine. Anglers will not need a New York State fishing license until after 4 p.m. on the day of the event. While participation is free, an $8 parking fee will be in effect.
Matt Caputo, hatchery manager at Connetquot River State Park, has been ensuring the lake is well-stocked with both rainbow and brown trout, which the state raises itself.
“We stocked the lake up pretty good,” Caputo told South Shore Press. “There’s close to 1,000 fish just for this event, along with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), they’ll throw in some fish in the lake too and they’ll assist in the stocking.”
In addition to fishing, the DEC will sponsor a Spring Fling casting contest for kids, with a chance to win prizes, as well as educational displays focused on fish and the environment.
The festival will also feature local vendors offering treats like giant soft pretzels, information on fishing activities from local clubs, and environmental educators available to answer any fish-related questions. The DEC will provide a limited number of loaner fishing rods, free bait, and tips on casting.
Caputo, who has been stocking fish since he began at Connetquot in 2017, sees the event as a great way to introduce kids to fishing and the outdoors.
“You get a lot of kids that come down and have never fished before, so it’s a good event education-wise,” he said. “If you can get the younger generation involved in fishing or just the outdoors, I think most people tend to care about the environment a little more.”
Connetquot State Park Preserve also sponsors numerous school field trips throughout the year to encourage outdoor education.
In addition to the DEC, sponsors of the festival include the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Natural Heritage Trust, The Fisherman magazine, Art Flick Chapter Trout Unlimited, and others. The 463-acre day-use park is located at 625 Belmont Ave. in West Babylon.
For anglers looking to sharpen their skills, Connetquot State Park Preserve will host another event on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In collaboration with the Long Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a free casting clinic will be offered at the park, located at 4090 Sunrise Highway in Oakdale.
The clinic, which is open to anglers age 16 and up, will cover casting techniques, tackle, equipment, and safety tips. Reservations can be made by calling 631-581-1005.