Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery

              DISCOVER  •  FISH  •  VOLUNTEER  •  DONATE  •  SUPPORT

We Need You...to help pass bills to support Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery...

Onondaga County is asking New York State to remit 20% of all fish license fees generated in Onondaga County to support trout rearing and stocking activities by Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery.

Click here for more information AND to find out who you can contact.

Thank you for your continued support.

"This is the best place to take little kids! This gramma loves taking her grandkids and they totally enjoy it. Thank you, thank you for keeping it still going!!!"
                                                                                                                    Dolores Petrone, Syracuse, NY

Located on picturesque countryside in western Onondaga County, the Hatchery was originally developed and operated as a joint venture between Onondaga County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under a Works Project Administration Grant. One of only four county run hatcheries in the state, Carpenter's Brook has been in continuous operation since its inception in 1938 and produces 80,000+ Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout annually. Staff and volunteers take great pride in stocking over 100 miles of streams and 10,000 acres of impoundments with 100% of the D.E.C. recommendations for these waters. These efforts are necessary to serve the region with the state's largest per capita fish license sales and contribute significantly to local fishing-oriented retail sales of $4 million/year.

Carpenter's Brook features:

• fish production for farm pond stocking
• a 2-yr old stocking program, producing 9-17" trophy fish
  

  Post-Standard Outdoors writer, Dave Figura, joined Carpenter's Brook staff and volunteers in March on a pre-season stocking trip. Click here to view the video.

• fishing programs for families, seniors and special needs groups
• self-guided tours for school groups
• Brookside Shelter, available by reservation

                                           Photo by David Lassman, The Post-Standard

Programs Include:

(Fishing licenses are not needed to participate and all programs are Catch & Release at Carpenter's Brook)

Fish 'n Party -  New! A wonderful new party option, use of Brookside Shelter and exclusive time at the fishing pond Sundays, May 16 - October 10 1 - 5pm  (shelter is available for use beginning at 10am) Must bring own equipment & bait; no treble hooks or minnows $75 per hour or $200 for the day PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, CALL 451-7275

Time Out to Fish - Seniors & Special Needs Population Program Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, June 1 - 17  & June 29 - July 22 9:30 - 11:30am or 1:30 - 3:30pm      Seniors and Individuals - Tuesday am & Thursday pm only      Groups - Tuesday am, Wednesday am & pm, Thursday pm only Bait, rods & reels provided; if bringing no treble hooks or minnows $3 per person PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, CALL 451-7275

Grandparent/Grandchild Fishing Week Monday - Friday, June 21 - 25 9:30 - 11:30am or 1:30 - 3:30pm Bait, rods & reels provided; if bringing no treble hooks or minnows $3 per child; adults free (2 children per adult allowed) PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, CALL 451-7275 Time Out to Fish and Grandparent/Grandchild Fishing Week are sponsored by BASCOL (Before and After School Child Care on Location, Inc.) with support from Sweet-Woods Memorial Company. Click here to view a great video taken by Syracuse.com at the 2008 Grandparent/Grandchild Week.

A great time was had by Ms. Malecki's Third Grade class from Cato-Meridian during their June 15th field trip to the Hatchery...

VOLUNTEER

Current budget constraints have forced the county to eliminate two positions at the hatchery and curtail some expenditures. The following volunteer opportunities are currently available:

No experience required and all positions require advanced registration. Email or call the hatchery at 689-9367, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Monday – Friday. If there isn’t an answer, leave a message and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.

SUPPORT

A big thanks to Bass Pro Shops in Auburn...they asked customers to donate just $1 when they got to the cash register...and collected $11,006.73 for the Friends of Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery!

Photo: (l to r) Mark Kratz, Karen Stevens, Rob Barber (all from Bass Pro Shops); Mark Hettler, President of the Friends; Bill Lansley, Parks Commissioner; Joanie Mahoney, County Executive

Without the continued support from the Central New York fishing community the Hatchery will not be able to continue to do business. We are are looking for donations, big or small, to continue the 70+-year tradition of stocking area streams. Contributions can be made to:

Friends of Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery
P.O. Box 269
Route 321
Elbridge, New York 13060

The Friends are a 501c3 Not-For-Profit Organization. Donations will be acknowledged and are tax deductible.

Join the Friends of Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery

Did you enjoy a childhood where fishing provided memories to be relived in your children's eyes? Have you ever wondered about the life cycle of a fish...or watched their feeding frenzy when you drop a hand full of pellets in a tank? Do you still like to catch an occasional dinner the way your grandpa did...Do you want your grandchildren to have the same opportunity?

Becoming a Friend of the Hatchery will insure that future generations will have the same "quality of life" fishing experience that you enjoy. For more information, visit www.CNYTrout.com, email cbfh@ongov.net or call 689-9367,   

The Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen, along with the Friends of the Hatchery, support the efforts of Carpenter's Brook in a variety of ways. For more information about the Federation, visit www.federationofsportsmen.com  

Hours	9am-6pm, April 16 - September 30 9am-3pm, October 1 - April 15 (Brookside Shelter is available to rent from mid-May - mid-October, 10am-5pm)
Admission	Free
Contact	Box 269, 1672 Route 321, Elbridge, NY 13060 (315) 689-9367 / 689-6536 fax cbfh@ongov.net
Directions	Click here