Festival activities begin at 10 a.m. and are free of charge. Activities include open fishing, casting instruction, rod use, fish identification, fishing instruction, fly-casting demonstrations, and a fish cleaning station. DEC and local fishing clubs will host informational displays and loaner rods and free bait will be available to participants. The supply of loaner rods is limited, and participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing tackle if possible. 

There will be activities for children and hands-on educational displays. This event will be held rain or shine. The Spring Fishing Festival is designated as a Free Fishing Event, so the freshwater fishing license requirement for anglers ages 16 and older is suspended during the event. After 4 p.m., anglers need a valid State freshwater fishing license to legally fish. All fishing regulations will continue to apply. 

A vehicle use fee of $8 will be in effect. Parking is free for Empire Pass holders.

The festival highlights DEC's spring trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Prior to the festival, Belmont Lake will be stocked with nearly 1,000 brown and rainbow trout.

For more information, call I FISH NY at (631) 444-0283 or Belmont Lake State Park at (631) 321-3510, or visit DEC's Learn to Fish webpage. For information about freshwater fishing on Long Island or the spring trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties, call the DEC Bureau of Fisheries at (631) 444-0280, or e-mail the regional fisheries office fwfish@dec.ny.gov