Anglers hitting the Saranac and Boquet rivers this fall may notice something familiar — DEC fisheries crews are back for the third straight year to gather data as part of a long-term salmon restoration effort.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced Monday that its 2025 river creel survey officially begins September 15 and runs through November 15. The survey focuses on Atlantic salmon runs in both rivers, which feed into Lake Champlain.
Helping salmon, helping anglers
DEC says the survey is key to understanding how anglers use the rivers, what species they’re targeting, and how successful they are. It’s all part of a larger goal: restoring a self-sustaining salmon population in the Lake Champlain watershed.
“Gathering firsthand information from angler surveys is imperative to fisheries research,” said DEC Regional Director Joe Zalewski. “The data gleaned from the hundreds of interviews collected so far in the study are tremendously impactful… and benefit anglers as well.”
Biologists use the results to shape future management decisions and improve the fishing experience.
What anglers can expect
Survey staff will ask participating anglers about their fishing day — including what species they’re after, how many fish were caught or kept, and their overall satisfaction.
If anglers are willing, surveyors may also collect biological data from the fish — such as length, fin clips, sea lamprey wounds, and even genetic samples.
Where it’s happening
Survey locations include:
- Saranac River: Green Street access, Allen Street (private), and the pool below Imperial Dam in Plattsburgh
- Boquet River: From Gilliland Park in Willsboro upstream to just below the cascades
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