March 13, 2013

West Point Anglers;

The 2018 New York State fishing season is quickly approaching, beginning April first with the start of trout season. Hereare some important pieces of information about fishing at West Point, the iSportsman fish and game website and some of its key features, and finally instructions on how to find your way around the site to create your account, buy your permit, check open/closed status of areas, and check in and out of areas.

An updated USMA Regulation 215-5, requiring check in to an area when fishing, is now in the process of being revised and approved.West Point continues to operate under the 2011 version of USMA Regulation 215-5 under which individuals are required to check in when hunting, but not when fishing. Regardless, anglers fishing in areas outside of established recreation areas must verify the open/closed status of their intended fishing site through iSportsman prior to accessing the site. Although not currently required, individuals are encouraged to check in and check out when they go fishing at these locations through their iSportman accounts.

Recreation Area Waters – Open according to MWR schedule:

  • Round Pond, Lake Frederick, Lusk Reservoir, Wilkins Pond, Bull Pond, the Cragston Lakes, andthe Hudson River

Other Waters Subject to Training Area Closure– Must Check iSportsman for availability.These waters will require check in/check out procedures with the new 215-5.

  • Popolopen Brook (upstream of Weyant’s Bridge, Area U Entrance)
  • Popolopen Brook at the Falls and Furnace located in Training Area CS
  • Popolopen Lake
  • Queensboro Brook Located in Training Area CS 2 Bow
  • Mine Lake
  • Stilwell Lake
  • Beaver Pond
  • Weyants Pond
  • Cranberry Pond
  • Lake Georgina
  • Highland Brook located in Training Area Z1
  • Highland Brook Located in Training Area Z2
  • Trout Brook and Mineral Springs Brook in Training Area L

Reporting your catch is not required, but the reporting of unusual conditions or notable fish to Natural Resources is encouraged.

** ABOUT FISHING IN AT WEST POINT **

West Point Fishing Rules & Regulations

All fishing on West Point is in accordance with all New York State regulations and West Point regulations as stated in two documents:

1)USMA Regulation 215-5– describes general and activity-specific rules for hunting, fishing, trapping, and boating. West Point is now revisingthe document, but until the new version is approved, we are operating under the version last updated in 2011.

2)Annual West Point Fishing Seasons Memo – lists fishing season dates, quantity and length bag limits for game fish species found at West Point. Based onNYS fishing regulations with more specific water body restrictions added, subject to yearly change.

Both documents are available on the Regulations Page of the West Point iSportsman website. If any further clarification is necessary, contact the Natural Resources Branch.

Permits

All anglers at West Point 16 years old and older must have both a New York State Fishing license and a West Point fishing Permit to fish at West Point.

Previously issued paper West Point fishing permits will remain valid until expiration.

For those needing a new fishing permit, West Point anglers may now purchase their permits via credit card online on the iSportsman website or in person at the Round Pond office. Available fishing permits include daily, weekly, monthly, and annual season fishing permits as well as an annual sportsman permit for hunting and fishing combined. Daily and annual season guest passes are also available.

Trout Stocking

West Point’s Natural Resources Branch is set to conduct its annual trout stocking in the coming weeks. Approximately 6,000 total trout including brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout will be stocked in six different water bodies across the installation over three nonconsecutive stocking days in late March and mid-April. For more information on trout stocking, including stocking dates and times and stocked fish species size and amounts at each water body as well as a map of trout stocking locations across the installation and information on how to volunteer for those interested, see the 2018 Trout Stocking Memo, available at .

** ABOUT iSPORTSMAN -WEST POINT’S FISH & GAME WEBSITE **

West Point has a new online fish and game resource, the West Point iSportsman website at:

This site allows users to:

  • Purchase permits for yourself and your guests (see Item D below for instructions)
  • Check Area Open/Closed Status (see Item E below for instructions)
  • Check into and Check out of Areas (See Items F and G below for instructions)
  • Report harvest (See Item G below for instructions)

Users wishing to purchase permits and check into areas must have an iSportsman account(see Items A and B below for instructions). Other features of the site - news and stocking numbers, area maps and area availability can be accessed without logging in.

All accounts must be vetted and approved by an iSportsman administrator before becoming active. Verified accounts applicants will receive an email notification upon approval. This process may take up to two days. Those seeking quicker service should contact the MWR Outdoor Recreation Division.Erroneous, incomplete, or unverifiable applications will not be approved and denied users may not be notified. We are not currently accepting new General Public hunting accounts at this time.

Approved users may log onto their account, take the mandatory safety brief (see Item C below for instructions), and will then be able to purchase permits. The site will not display permits for sale until the safety brief is completed.

** BRIEF STEP-BY-STEP iSPORTSMAN FEATURE INSTRUCTIONS **

  1. How New Users Can Create An Account

To create an account, simply:

1.Go to

2.Select the Account tab to open a drop down menu on the blue navigation bar,

3.New users should select New User Registrationin this drop down menu.

4.You will be sent to a Customer Types page you should read to know your customer type.

5.Once you know your customer type, scroll down and click blue New User Registration link.

6.Completely fill out the two-page online form to create your new user account.

  1. How Users Can Log Into Their Account.

Once you have your account approved:

  1. Go to
  2. Select the Account tab to open a drop down menu on the blue navigation bar,
  3. Users should select Account Log-Inin this drop down menu.
  4. Enter your LogIn Id and Password and press the green Login button.
  1. How Users Can Take The Mandatory Safety Brief

From the My Accounts page you are taken to as soon as your log in to your account.

  1. Click on the My Safety Briefs Button on the blue navigation bar on the top of your screen.
  2. Click on the blue USAG – West Point Safety Brieflink in the main part of your screen.
  3. Read the Instructions, then click on the white Start Presentation Objectives button.
  4. Read the Objectives List, #1-6. Then click white Acknowledge and Open Presentation Button.
  5. Press red play button on the video to watch the safety brief.
  6. When you have watched the safety brief, on the same page, under Questions, to the question “Did you understand the presentation?” Select Yes. And click the red Done button on the bottom of the screen.

When you have completed Items #1-6 of this list, you will have received your safety brief validation and will be all set to start to purchase your permits on iSportsman.

  1. How Users Can Purchase Permits/Passes

From the My Accounts Page you are taken to as soon as you sign into your account:

  1. Click on the blue Acquire Permit(s)button on the left side of your screen.
  2. Scroll through available permits, select ones you want clicking on blue+Add to Cartbutton.
  3. When finished, selectblue View Cart & Checkoutbutton (can be found on top right when scrolled to top of page or bottom left of screen when scrolled to bottom of page).
  4. Verify items in your cart. Then select blueCheckoutbutton.
  5. Fill out the form with your payment, billing address, and credit card information. Then click greenNextbutton.
  6. Click on bluebutton on brightened pop up window.

When you have completed Items #1-6 of this list, you will have purchased the permits and/or passes you selected and are ready to checkin/checkout with them. Individuals purchasing a Season Guest Pass need to contact the Natural Resource Office for further assistance.

  1. How Users Can Check Open/Closed Status and Occupancy of Hunting/Fishing Areas:

To check the availability and occupancy of hunting/fishing areas, it is not necessary to be logged in to your account:

  1. Go to
  2. Select Areas & Maps tab to open a drop down menu on the blue navigation bar.
  3. SelectAreas on the drop down menu to check open/closed status and occupancy of Mine Torne Road, fishing areas, and hunting areas. By clicking on the gray downward arrow for the Date field, users may toggle back and forth between current day (“Today”) and following day (“Tomorrow”).
  1. How Users Can Check Into An Area:

From the My Accounts Page you are taken to as soon as you sign into your account:

  1. Clickthe blue Checkin/Checkout button on the right side of your screen.
  2. Clickthe blue Checkin button.
  3. Click the white button that lists your activity type (Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, etc)
  4. Click the white button showing your activity again
  5. Select your Area,then click the blue Next button, then click the blueOKbutton.
  6. Click blueI acceptbutton to accept the Required Checkout Time
  7. You will now see a confirmation. You are checked in! Don’t forget to check out at the end of your trip.

G. How Users Can Check Out of an Area:

From the My Accounts Page you are taken to as soon as you sign into your account:

  1. Click the blue “Checkin/Checkout” button on the right side of your screen
  2. Click the white “Checkout” button
  3. Click blue “Yes” button to report harvest or white <No> button if you did not harvest
  4. Click blue “Confirm Checkout” button to Check out.
  5. You are now Checked Out from your area.