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An online space for outdoorsmen from CNY and beyond. Tell us about the one you caught or the one that got away.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

S.H.O.T.S. Annual Banquet Returns Sept. 8

Are you looking for a way to have a good time, win some nice prizes, help handicapped sportsmen and promote children’s outdoor activities, all in the same evening? The answer is the S.H.O.T.S. Banquet to be held Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Rusty Rail in Canastota.

Many people in the area are familiar with S.H.O.T.S. and the good work they have done. After a year of re-organization they are active again in many projects, and have many more planned. Sportspeople Helping Others Through Sharing is a nonprofit, 501c3 charity dedicated to helping others discover or enjoy the outdoors. They provide sporting opportunities for others with a special emphasis on youngsters, physically challenged sportsmen and the terminally ill.

As an example of some of their activities they helped a physically challenged lady achieve the dream of her lifetime by sending her to a special fly fishing outpost in Montana. At Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days they held a turkey box call seminar and all youngsters got to build a box call to take home with them. Through their physically challenged program they were able to take a group of special education students trout fishing.

S.H.O.T.S. has been a major supporter of National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) which supplies archery equipment to schools. In addition to donating thousands of dollars to schools for equipment, they have helped with expenses when the state winners went to Kentucky to compete on a national level. This year they took on the Future Anglers Outreach, a program that provides basic instruction and a rod and reel for each youngster to keep. This year’s event had 150 kids and they hope to make it an even bigger event in the future.

For these and other efforts S.H.O.T.S. was recognized with the prestigious “Sportsmen of the Year Award” by the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. They were honored at the annual NYSOHOF banquet in April.

The S.H.O.T.S. banquet is a major fund raiser for the worthy causes listed. But it is also a time for sportsmen to get together and enjoy an evening of fun and camaraderie with other sportspeople. There will be raffles, games, and door prizes.

Sponsors and donors are encouraged to help out. For individual tickets or information on being a donor or sponsor contact Mike Patricia (315-363-6736), Andy Jeski (315-363-5585), or Charlie Pace (315-655-9766). We hope to see you there on September 8.

SHORT CASTS


WOOLER MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT: Get your tackle ready and make plans for family fun on Oneida Lake this weekend. This is a family fishing event designed to showcase the Oneida Lake fishery and get youngsters involved.

The Bill Wooler Fish-On Memorial Tournament will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25 on Oneida Lake. The adult division will be for walleye based on length and pay cash awards while the kids division will have entries for all species of fish. All youngsters will receive a prize and refreshments.
All those involved last year commented on what a well-run tournament it was and how great it was to see youngsters involved. Weigh-ins will be at Marion Manor from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. Awards and chicken barbecue will follow. Proceeds will benefit the Wooler Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Sponsors include Lake Ontario Outdoors, FishNY.com, Pirate Charters, Hanifin Tires, Marion Manor Marina, All Seasons Sports and The Oneida Daily Dispatch. Registration is at Marion Manor Marina. Contact Matt White (762-8148) for details.

FISHING REPORT: A few days ago I stopped in to All Seasons Sports Shop in Pulaski to visit with my friend Jim Dence. Jim took time out from his busy schedule of re-stocking his inventory to talk about fishing, particularly Lake Ontario. As Jim noted this has been a fantastic year for Lake Ontario, especially salmon fishing.

All year long people have been catching salmon, possibly an effect of the mild winter and early spring warming up the water temperatures. But lately they have been catching good numbers of big salmon. Several 35-40 lb. fish have been taken in the past couple weeks.

As Jim pointed out these big eating machines still have a month to go before entering the river and the spawning stage. Imagine the size some of them will be by then. The fishing action has kept Jim busy filling up his inventory of lures and tackle.

He said that the popular flasher and fly combinations have been very effective, but anglers have also been taking them on spoons like Michigan Stinger or Northern King. Colors vary from day to day based on weather conditions, so anglers are stocking up.

In the Oswego to Mexico Bay area many of the fish were taken at various depths over 100-160 feet of water but some anglers were working out to the 200-250 foot depths. Downriggers, Dipsy Divers and copper wire were all working well.

Jim laughed that he was so busy keeping up with the lake fishing that he was having trouble getting stocked for the river fishing that will probably start in another few weeks, or his large mail order business. One glance around his store or his supply room and you would see that his motto – “If we don’t have it, you probably don’t need it” - is pretty accurate.

Jim is a local guy who operates a large tackle store on Route 13 in Pulaski that is frequented by most of the top guides in the area. He is never too busy to give an angler advice or suggest the proper tackle and lures. Check out www.AllSeasonsSports.com or call 298-6433 for more information.

We were camping for a week at Southwick Beach, just south of Henderson Harbor. Lake fishing in that area was also excellent according to Captain Bob Dick of Moby Dick Charters. Similar lures were working for those who trolled the Trench, in front of Sandy Creeks, or in front of Stony Creek.
Largemouth bass fishing in the interior waters, unfortunately was not good. Low water levels, warm temperatures and an abnormally abundant weed growth stymied most bass and pike anglers in Sandy Pond or the various ponds in Lakeview Marsh area. My best luck was in Lakeview Pond in some areas where milfoil wasn’t as thick.

YOUTH GOOSE HUNT: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) are teaming up to offer a special goose hunt for youth again this year to introduce youngsters who may not otherwise have the opportunity for goose hunting.

Dates are Sept. 22-23, 2012. Saturday, Sept. 22 will be the meeting with parents, ECOs, Hunter Mentors, target practice and other preparation for the next day hunt. This day starts at 9 a.m. until done. The actual hunt will take place on Sunday, Sept. 23. Youngsters will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for goose hunting and then actually experience it with the guidance of an ECO or Hunter Mentor in the field.

The program is open to youths age 12–17. All must have a small game license and HIP number, and youths ages 16-17 will need a federal wildfowl stamp. Interested participants should contact Larry Chandler at 315-338-3445, ECO Steve Lakeman 315-734-0648 or ECO Ric Grisolini 315-240-6966 for an application for this program. Space in the program is limited so be sure to register early.

GOLDEN PARK PROGRAM: If you are a NYS resident 62 or older on any weekday (except holidays) you can obtain free vehicle access to state parks and arboreteums. Simply present your current valid NYS Driver’s License. This policy applies both to Office of Parks and Recreation and DEC facilities.

NY CROSSBOW COALITION PICNIC: New York Crossbow Coalition is holding a Demonstration - Annual Meeting and Picnic Aug. 25 at the Albion Fish and Game Club on Rte 13 just east of Pineville. Attend and shoot one of the available crossbows or bring your own. Discussions will include efforts in the coming year to get legislative approval. Check nycrossbowcoalition.com for additional information.

Friday, August 10, 2012

DEC regulations affect Oneida Lake bass

The DEC is adopting new fishing regulations for 2012-2014 that will become effective Oct. 1, 2012. These are the proposed regulations that were based on professional recommendations and public input.

Local people will be directly effected by controversial regulation changes that pertain to black bass. he special bass closed season for Oneida Lake will be eliminated and statewide regulations allowing catch and release from November through the third Saturday in June, when regular bass season opens, will be implemented.

Among those opposing the change is the Oneida Lake Association. OLA President Ed Mills believes the impact on the lake’s bass population will be minimal. However, they are concerned about anglers being out on the lake during walleye spawning season, possibly leading to increased poaching.

The NY BASS Chapter Federation downplays the poaching problem and says more bass anglers will help keep a lookout for poachers. However, not all bass anglers are convinced that this is a good thing and are worried that this will lead to predation on bass nests as happens elsewhere.
Regulation changes that pertain to walleye include:

• Increasing the creel limit on Lake Erie and Niagara River to six.

• Prohibit fishing in the following stream sections from March 16 until the first Saturday in May to protect spawning walleye: Lake Pleasant outlet to the mouth of the Kunjamuk River and Little Sandy Creek (Oswego County) downstream of the State Route 3 bridge.

Regulations that pertain to trout and salmon include:

• Opening Blue Mountain Lake, Eagle Lake, Forked Lake, Gilman Lake, South Pond and Utowana Lake (Hamilton County) to ice fishing for landlocked salmon and reduce the daily limit for lake trout in these waters from three per day to two per day.

• Reduce the limit of rainbow trout from five to one in the western Finger Lakes and remove the restriction of no more than three lake trout as part of the five trout limit in the western Finger Lakes. Western Finger Lakes include Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Canadice and Hemlock lakes.
• Add the tributaries of Beaverdam Brook (Oswego County) from their mouths to the upstream boundary of the Salmon River Hatchery property to the current Beaverdam Brook fishing restrictions.

New regulations put a 40-inch size limit for muskellunge and tiger muskellunge in the Chenango, Tioughnioga, Tioga and Susquehanna rivers

Salmon River (Oswego County) gear regulations will allow a bead chain to be attached to floating lures. The distance between a floating lure and hook point may not exceed three-and-a-half inches when a bead chain configuration is used. For the Salmon River there will be a “no weight” restriction (i.e., only floating line and unweighted leaders and flies allowed) from May 1-15 for the Lower Fly Area and from May 1 through Aug. 31 for the Upper Fly Area.

The complete list of regulation changes can be viewed under 'Recently Adopted Regulations on DEC’s website at:

www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations

Short Casts

TOURS OF SENECA ARMY DEPOT IN OCTOBER: Seneca White Deer, Inc. (SWD) and Finger Lakes Technologies Group, Inc. (FLTG) will offer public military history tours of the most secure portion of the former Seneca Army Depot during the first three weekends in October.

These tours will visit only the area known as the “Q,” which is located at the northern end of the former Depot. The “Q” was the most secure area of the Depot and reputedly stored nuclear weapons. The “Q” at the Seneca Army Depot has always intrigued the general public and was one of less than two dozen ever built around the world by the US government.

The tours will last more than one hour and provide plenty of opportunities to photograph formerly secret buildings, the military police compound and the ammo igloos. Actors will portray military police of past decades and explain their duties to protect the secret weapons housed inside the igloos found in the Q area.

Another highlight of the tour will be the opportunity to enter one of the now abandoned storage igloos and see artifacts associated with the Depot. “The 2012 tours are a continuation of the tremendously successful tours conducted in 2006 and 2009. While the main theme of these tours will be the military history of the Depot and the “Q,” visitors should expect to see deer, mostly brown, but maybe a few white deer, hawks, pheasants and possibly coyotes” states Dennis Money, SWD President.
The tours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, Oc. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21. Buses will depart each hour from the Varick Volunteer Fire Department, located on NYS Rt. 96A from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The facility is easy to find, and signs will also be strategically located to help people find their way. Directions can be found on the back of the registration form.

Adult tickets are $15, seniors (61 and over) $12, and children 12 and younger are $8. Registration information is available by calling Young’s Travel Service at 315-568-4112 or on the SWD web site:

www.senecawhitedeer.org

WOOLER MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT: The Bill Wooler Fish-On Memorial Tournament will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25 on Oneida Lake. The adult division will be for walleye based on length and pay cash awards while the kids division will have entries for all species of fish. All youngsters will receive a prize and refreshments. This is a family event designed to showcase the Oneida Lake fishery and get youngsters involved.

Weigh-ins will be at Marion Manor from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. Awards and chicken barbecue will follow. Proceeds will benefit the Wooler Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Sponsors include Lake Ontario Outdoors, FishNY.com, Pirate Charters, Hanifin Tires, Marion Manor Marina, All Seasons Sports and The Oneida Daily Dispatch. Contact Matt White at 315-762-8148 for details.

This is a well-run tournament and a great chance to get the whole family involved. Make plans now and get your entries at Marion Manor or Hanifin Tires.

S.H.O.T.S.: Save the date of Sept. 8, 2012 for the SHOTS Banquet. This organization which does so much good through programs for youths, helping handicapped sportsmen and more will hold its annual banquet. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Details will be in next week’s column.

GOLDEN PARK PROGRAM: If you are a NYS resident 62 or older on any weekday (except holidays) you can obtain free vehicle access to state parks and arboretums. Simply present your current valid NYS Driver’s License. This policy applies both to Office of Parks and Recreation and DEC facilities.

ADIRONDACK FISHING TOUGH: We just returned from a camping trip at Rollins Pond near Upper Saranac Lake earlier this week. The weather was generally great but the fishing was tough. My friend, Joe Hackett, who runs Tahawus Guide Service said that trout and salmon fishing have been poor due to the warm, sunny weather, and warm, low water conditions.
Trout have been at the bottom of the ponds and lakes and have been taking Wooly Buggers or worms moved slowly along bottom structure. Even bass fishing has been tough and Dan Ladd found largemouth on Upper Saranac at depths where he normally fishes for smallmouth bass. Chris Williamson of Jones Outfitters in Lake Placid said that fishing for rainbows or lake trout on Lake Placid was OK if you fished deep about 5:30–8 a.m., but after that it was over.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Fishing more difficult as weather warms

The stretch of warm weather has affected all of us in some way. One of the effects of the prolonged spells of hot weather is that the fishing has been much tougher. Anglers have still been successful, but it has usually taken some adjustment to catch fish under these conditions.

As water temperatures warm, different species of fish will move seeking cooler water temperatures at whatever the comfort level is for that particular species. Oxygen supply is also a factor since the warmer water typically holds less oxygen that fish need.

People used to believe that northern pike lost their teeth in summer since they were difficult to catch. Now we know that this is not true. The pike just move to different locations such as much deeper and colder water where there may be openings in the weed beds for them to ambush baitfish.

In streams the trout will seek cover, cool water and oxygen. This typically will be deep riffles or rapids or maybe a deep, shaded pool with a riffle at the head. These riffles provide aeration and trout typically will be in or just below the oxygenated water.

Something we should be aware of is the effect of stress on fish in warm water. A trout that has fought for a long time in warm water often will not survive, no matter how carefully you handle and release it. At the very least, put away those darn ultra light rods – or better yet give them to some kids.

Many trout anglers avoid fishing and stressing out trout in small or medium streams. Instead they concentrate on larger waters like West Canada Creek which may be cooler and more oxygenated. Many fishermen do not bother to fish for native trout under these conditions, but concentrate on the waters where much of the fishing is put and take anyway.

Bass will also seek cooler water. For smallmouth bass this usually means deep water along some rocky structure where they move up in evening to feed. Deep water tactics such as live bait, jigs or jigging spoons are usually best.

Largemouth bass will move deeper for cooler water, although they tolerate warmer water than smallmouths. They will usually seek shade from the bright sun by holding deep in cover such as dense weeds during the daylight. Plastic worms rigged weedless, sinking worms or drop shot rigs with Berkley “Gulp” minnows may be your best bet. Top water lures in the evening are effective and fun.

Even though bass are hearty fish that are used to warmer waters, their chances for survival are greatly diminished when kept out of water for long in this warm weather. Fight the fish quickly, and if at all possible unhook it while it is still in the water. Using circle hooks which tend to hook a fish in the edge of the lip makes it easier to quickly release a bass.

Of course anglers are still taking some nice salmon, steelhead and brown trout on Lake Ontario. But it is easy for salmon and trout to move a bit deeper or further from shore and be in colder water. These pockets of comfort zone change quickly so remember that these fish are usually on the move. Check fishing reports on FishNY.com or lakeontariooutdoors.com for the latest depths, lures, etc.
For increased fishing action try fishing during periods of low light or even at night. Trout fishing at dawn or twilight is your best bet. Fishing for big brown trout at night can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Trout fishing on a rainy day is usually good.

Night fishing for bass is great since the action is often at its best and you can take them using surface or shallow water lures and tactics. Instead of battling weeds, try fishing after dark with poppers, chuggers and other top-water lures. Know your waters and try fishing over relatively shallow weed beds.

The fish usually are not where you found them in May and regardless they are wary or lethargic. But adjust your tactics and you can still find fun and action. It sure beats the alternative of watching “reality shows” on TV.

SHORT CASTS


YOUTH GOOSE HUNT: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) are teaming up to offer a special goose hunt for youth again this year to introduce youngsters who may not otherwise have the opportunity for goose hunting.

Dates are September 22 and 23, 2012. September 22 will be the meeting with parents, ECOs, Hunter Mentors, target practice and other preparation for the next day hunt. This day starts at 9 AM until done. The actual hunt will take place on September 23. Youngsters will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary for goose hunting and then actually experience it with the guidance of an ECO or Hunter Mentor in the field.

The program is open to youth age 12–17. All must have a small game license and HIP number, and youth ages 16-17 will need a federal wildfowl stamp. Interested participants should contact Larry Chandler at 315-338-3445, ECO Steve Lakeman 315-734-0648 or ECO Ric Grisolini 315-240-6966 for an application for this program. Space in the program is limited so be sure to register early.

HUNTER SAFETY CLASS – VNSP: There will be a hunter safety class at Vernon National Shooting Preserve, 3291 Burns Rd., Vernon Center. Classes will be August 17 from 6:30–9:30 p.m. and August 18 from 9 a.m. until finish. You must pre-register at VNSP on August 6 between 6 and 7:30 p.m.

NEW STATE RECORD BROOK TROUT: For the seventh time in eight years, the record for catching the largest brook trout in New York state has been broken. William Altman caught a 5 lb., 14 oz. brook trout from the West Canada Wilderness Area in Hamilton County on May 5. This surpasses the previous record by six ounces.

The record breaking fish was stocked as a fingerling by DEC’s Rome Fish Hatchery and is considered a Temiscamie hybrid, a cross between a domestic brook trout and a wild Temiscamie (Canadian-strain) brook trout. These hybrids are stocked because they have a better survival rate than other strains of brook trout in some of the more acidic waters of the Adirondacks.
A photograph of Mr. Altman and his catch can be found on the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7935.html. DEC verifies potential brook trout state records by ensuring the fish is not caught from brood stock, which is large stocked fish, or splake waters, which are ineligible.

MEET THE CANDIDATES: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs will host a Meet the Candidates Night on August 5 at 7 p.m. It will be held at the Cassetty Hollow Rod & Gun Club in Oriskany Falls. The majority of local candidates for various levels of offices will attend. The public is invited to attend and ask questions.

SHERRILL ARCHERS BBQ: The Sherrill Field Archers will hold a chicken barbeque on August 5 at noon. It will be held in Sherrill at the intersection of Route 5 and Sherrill Road across from Emilio’s Deli. This will be a fundraiser to help raise money for new equipment at their range. The public is also encouraged to find out more about the organization and new members are always encouraged.