Fishing for Stream Trout With thousands of miles of streams across the state, there are ample trout fishing opportunities in New York State. Each year the DEC stocks around 2.3 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in almost 300 lakes, ponds and roughly 3,100 miles of streams across the state. Many of these streams support wild populations of trout as well. Fishing access is good with many streams having Public Fishing Rights Easements (PFR) along their banks that allow fisherman access to the water. PFR holdings in NYS currently total over 1,300 equivalent miles on over 400 streams. DECinfo Locator for map of PFR, parking areas and stream reach categories.