Success on the opening day of trout season is, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation's Norm McBride, very dependent on the weather.

The 2001 season, which gets underway Sunday, will be no different. With warmer weather conditions and rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, water levels may substantially increase before Sunday, making conditions tougher.

"If it just gets warmer but doesn't rain, it could be a very good opening day," McBride said. "With heavy rains, though, all bets are off."

But, McBride said, opening day means more to local anglers than their catch. "Opening day is opening day regardless of weather conditions or water conditions, people just want to get out there."

McBride said the fish population probably is high after last springs heavy rains and the cool summer.

"It wasn't a great year to be a human, but it was a great year to be a trout," McBride said.

Locally, there are a number of creeks that are popular fishing spots. They include Red Creek in Middlefield, Oaks Creek in Otsego, Hayden Creek in Springfield at the north end of Otsego Lake, Otego Creek in Hartwick and Wharton Creek in Burlington and Edmeston. The limit for fish harvest in a day is, like last year, five a day. Brian Chevalier, the treasurer of the Otsego County Sport Fishing Association, said Oak, Otego and Hayden Creeks will all be stocked the first week of April.

Cooperstown's Chuck Coleman, who has been fishing local waters for close to 60 years, said the creek's are probably too high, and the water probably too cold, but "That doesn't deter the fun of fishing."

"Worms or nymphs are probably the best bait early in the season," he said. "The fish are inert and you almost have to get it right in their mouth."

The DEC plans to stock 2.35 million catch-able size brook, brown and rainbow trout into more than 900 lakes, ponds and stream sections across the state. The 2000 spring mix will include approximately 1.73 million brown trout, 510,000 rainbow trout and 105,000 brook trout. Of these, streams will receive 1.2 million fish.

In total, the DEC plans to stock more than 7.5 million trout and salmon of various sizes in New York waters this year.

For the fifth consecutive year, DEC is including two-year-old brown trout in the spring stocking program. These fish average 12 to 13 inches in length, with some as long as 15 inches. Approximately 92,000 of these larger fish will be placed into 188 lakes and streams at 267 locations statewide to provide anglers with the opportunity to catch larger fish during the season.

Anglers are reminded that the general creel limit for brook, brown and rainbow trout is now five in combination, and that the statewide season generally runs from April 1 to October 15. These rules apply to

most waters in the state but there are exceptions to both the season dates and catch limits listed in the 2000-01 Fishing Regulations Guide. Anglers should review the regulations for the waters they plan

to visit prior to fishing.

As always, early season stream anglers should concentrate on fishing deep and slow. Where permitted, use natural baits such as worms or minnows. Pond fishing is often best immediately after the ice melts.

The prime areas are those that warm earliest, including tributary mouths and areas near surface and shallow shorelines.

Anglers can help DEC fisheries specialists by reporting any tagged trout taken. Complete details are important for such reports, including location of catch, species, length and tag number. Information derived from the angler reports helps aquatic biologists evaluate stocking and other management efforts to improve fishing opportunities throughout the State.

Before heading out to their favorite stream or lake, anglers with access to the Internet may want to visit the DEC Web site, which includes lists of trout stocking sites and fishing hotline numbers, at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/stokintr.html.

The web site lists the locations of stocking and the number of trout that DEC intends to stock. The targets are listed by county and water body, and give an indication of the average size of fish to be stocked

and when the stocking is planned.

DEC is continually updating its Web site to provide the public with helpful information on programs to protect and preserve New York State's environment and natural resources. The site is visited more than 12,000 times each week by people interested in the more than 2,500 pages of information posted on the site.

Anglers can check on fishing regulations, download a mail-in license application form, view the latest weekly report on fishing conditions in the Great Lakes or Finger Lakes areas, or discover opportunities

for youths to learn about fishing. Anglers also can find information about the state record fish, get tips on some of the best fishing waters in New York State, or locate public boat launches and marinas,

and follow links to other fish and fish-related sites.