Blogs > Oneida Outdoors

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

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

OUTDOORS: Despite weather, anglers have high hopes for trout season opener

By Leo Maloney
Outdoors Columnist
Next Monday is the opening of trout season, a date that also happens to be April Fool’s Day. Although we often dream of pleasant spring days on our favorite streams, the reality is often a gray day with cold rain or snow, high and muddy streams and a lack of fishing action. Nevertheless, the opening of trout season marks a beginning-of-spring activity and hope for better days to come.
This week there is still several inches of snow covering the ground in this area and even more snow in the higher elevations, making it likely we will face tough fishing conditions. But even if the fishing conditions are not very good, it is important to get out next week or in the following week to celebrate a rite of spring.
Cold water temperatures mean that the fish will not be very active since their metabolism is slower in cold water, regardless of other conditions. If the streams are high, fast and cold then fishing will be tougher. In fast water the trout will seek shelter in side eddies, under cut banks or behind boulders. The current at the bottom of deep pools is not as strong and there are usually rocks to break the current and provide shelter.
Temperature at the deeper areas of pools will be less affected by cold weather and run-offs from snow or rain. During mid-day the water in shallow eddies or the inside of bends in the stream may warm a few degrees. These areas will probably have temperatures closer to the optimum 60-65 degrees that trout prefer.
Trout will not only seek shelter from swift current, but from the mud and silt which can clog their gills. Thus areas behind rocks or other protection are more likely to hold trout in early season high water conditions.
My advice is usually fish smaller local waters, wait until mid morning before going fishing and use bait such as nightcrawlers or salted minnows. Use only a minimum of split shot to get your bait down and tumbling along the bottom slowly and naturally.
Whenever streams are high, muddy or cold, artificial lures will be less effective. In addition to remaining in hard-to-reach areas for protection, the trout will be sluggish since their metabolism slows down considerably in water temperatures below 50 degrees. They will not chase a lure very far or fast. Lures with high visibility that can be fished slowly along bottom like Mepps or Panther Martin spinners are your best bet.
One other thing to keep in mind is your visibility to the trout. Anytime you are fishing small streams be sure to stay as far from the water you are fishing as possible. Wear drab or camo clothing and use brush, streamside evergreens or high banks to disguise your outline. With no foliage cover, your outline is highly visible and likely to spook the trout.
At this time of year the smaller streams are your best bet for finding fishable water conditions and cooperative trout. Chittenango, Oneida, Cowaselon, Oriskany and Sconondoa Creeks are always popular spots. There is still a lot of snow in the hills and the northern areas. Save the northern streams or the bigger waters like Mad River, Fish Creek or West Canada Creek until later.
DEC plans to stock more than 2.1 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in 307 lakes and ponds and roughly 3,000 miles of streams. Spring stockings will include 1.51 million brown trout, 432,000 rainbow trout and 158,000 brook trout.  Approximately 97,000 two-year-old brown trout 12-13 inches in length will also be stocked across the state.
Due to a disease outbreak last year at the Rome Hatchery approximately 131,000 brook and brown trout were lost that would have been part of the fall 2012 and spring 2013 stocking program. DEC claims the reductions will be spread out and is not anticipated to significantly impact the quality of fishing. Approximately 25,000 additional rainbow trout will be available for stocking in the upcoming season
A listing of waters stocked with all sizes of trout last year can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30467.html. Anglers searching for places to fish will be interested in the “I FISH NY Guide to Freshwater Fishing in New York State.” This map/brochure provides information on over 320 lakes and pond and 110 rivers.
But even if fishing conditions are poor, remember that getting out is what counts. It is a chance to see if your skills are as rusty as the hooks you forgot to take out of the pocket of your fishing vest. You will see the signs of spring in the meadows and woods and probably meet some old friends along the stream. It whets the appetite and gets up your spirits for the season to come. Fishing season is here again!
SHORT CASTS
ECOs Annual Women’s Turkey Hunt: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and NYS Conservation Officers (ECOs) are teaming up again to give women a great experience during the regular turkey season. This year date will be May 18 with a rain date of May 19. Women who sign up will have the opportunity to go turkey hunting with an ECO or Mentor.
Some women may want to learn or participate in turkey hunting but do not have family members or someone who are experienced turkey hunters. The Oneida County Federation and ECOs will provide this opportunity. During the weekend of April 13, prior to the hunt, women will learn from experienced mentors the basics of turkey hunting and practice their marksmanship at a shooting range under the supervision of certified instructors.
Women who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity will need to have completed their hunter safety course by that date. They must complete an application and submit it by April 1 by email to sfcf@tds.net. Contact Mr. Scott Faulkner at the above email or by phone at 829-3588.
Chittenango Rotary Turkey Shoot:  Chittenango Rotary will hold its first annual Charity Turkey Shoot on April 20 at the Canastota Conservation Club on Warners Road. Entry fee is $100 per team of four shooters. There will be a rotating trophy for the top team with sporting shotgun and hunting equipment for the top individuals.
All proceeds will benefit local charities. They are looking for sponsors for teams and events. For details on sponsors or the events contact Nels Youngstrom, chairman, at  RotaryTurkey2013@gmail.com or 687-7457. There will also be exhibits of sportsmen’s organizations or outdoor-related booths.
Lake Ontario Outdoors: The Spring Issue of Lake Ontario Outdoors is now available. All articles are written by local sportsmen and guides who share their knowledge of where and how to enjoy upstate New York’s resources. Among the feature articles are walleye in the Golden Crescent of Lake Ontario, spring brown trout fishing the tributaries, and using the two-handed Spey rods for steelhead. The always popular departments of From the Vise fly tying and Toast and Roast recipes, as well as calendar of fishing tournaments return. Free copies are available at Hanifin Tires, Sweet Temptations Café and Herb Philipsons.
BRI Nest Cams: The Biological Diversity Research Institute has some web cams at different locations that should be of interest to many of our readers. They have web cams at different locations focused on the nesting activities of peregrine falcons and a pair of bald eagles. You can watch daily the activities by logging on to www.briloon.org/oae.webcams.
Opening Day Tip
Think small
Small streams are the best bet for finding fishable water conditions and cooperative trout.
Online: For more local sports results visit. oneidadispatch.com/sports 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Oneida County Federation and Environmental Conservation Officers offer hunts for youths and women

Oneida County Federation Sportsmen and ECOs Team Up For Annual Youth and Women’s Hunts: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) of Region 6 and Gander Mountain are teaming up to give youngsters a great experience during the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend from April 20-21. There will also be a special hunt for women on May 18 with a rain date of May 19.

Youngsters eligible for the youth hunt and who do not have the opportunity to learn from, or hunt with, a family member or an adult mentor will have the opportunity to go turkey hunting with an ECO or Mentor. Since many youngsters want to learn or participate in turkey hunting but do not have family members who are experienced turkey hunters, the Oneida County Federation and ECOs will provide this opportunity.

Some women may want to learn or participate in turkey hunting but do not have family members or someone who are experienced turkey hunters. The Oneida County Federation and ECOs will also provide them this opportunity on a different date.

During the weekend of April 13, prior to the weekend of the hunt, both youngsters and women will learn from experienced mentors the basics of turkey hunting and practice their marksmanship at a shooting range under the supervision of certified instructors.

The youth turkey hunting weekend will be held the weekend prior to the regular season. Eligible hunters are youths 12-15 years of age, holding a junior hunting license and a turkey permit. Youths 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or relative over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youths 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or an adult over 18 years of age, with written permission from their parent or legal guardian;

For both the youth hunt and the regular season hunt for women shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon each day. The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth’s regular season bag limit of 2 bearded birds. A second bird may be taken beginning May 1.

Youngsters who are interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity will need to have completed their hunter safety course by that time, have the permission of a parent or guardian and meet the above criteria.

Women who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity will need to have completed their hunter safety course by that date. Eligible hunters are women 16 years and up, holding a valid small game hunting license and a turkey permit.

Both youth hunters and women must complete an application and submit it to the address below by April 1, 2013 or by email to sfcf@tds.net

Youth Turkey Hunt
C/O Mr. Scott Faulkner

3720 Wells Gifford Rd

Vernon Center, NY 13477

Phone 315-829-3588

Party Recipes: The beginning of March Madness is a good time for friends to gather for games whether you are a big basketball fan, checking on your brackets or just looking for an excuse for a party. What better way to prepare for the Big Game than to use some wild game recipes. Show off your skill in hunting and fishing, along with being a cook and a host, with the following recipes.

Salmon Appetizer: Ingredients: 12 oz. beer, 1 cup flour, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp paprika, skinned salmon fillets cut into chunks.

Preparation: Mix batter ingredients together, dip bite sized chunks in batter and drain. In deep fry pan heat oil to 375 degrees. Fry the chunks five or six at a time, until golden brown. Test to see that they are moist and flake easily. Serve with lemon slices and hot mustard.

Poor Man’s Shrimp: Place skinless perch fillets in a saucepan of water and bring to a rolling boil. Boil for about four minutes. Drain the meat and add cold water to cover the fish. As water warms, change to fresh cold water and place in refrigerator to cool. Drain the pieces of fish and dip in cocktail sauce. A variation called Poor Man’s Lobster is to steam the perch fillets or nuggets in melted butter and serve hot.

Duck Roll-Ups: Ingredients: 4 large duck breast fillets, 1 each red and green bell pepper, 1 large shitake mushroom, 1 sweet onion, lemon pepper mix, wild game marinade.

Preparation: Cut breast fillets lengthwise into ½ inch strips and marinate for at least three hours. Cut bell peppers, mushroom and onion lengthwise into ¼ inch strips. Place strip each of duck fillet, onion, mushroom and each pepper color and bacon together and dust them with lemon pepper mix. Roll them all up with over-lapping wraps of bacon so that entire kabob is covered. Hold bacon in place with toothpicks. Cook over grill at medium heat until bacon is fully cooked (20-25 minutes). Serve as a hot appetizer.
Teriyaki Venison Steak Bites: Ingredients: lean venison steak cut into small bite sized serving pieces. 2 tbsp soy sauce. 1 tbsp lemon juice. 1 tsp. sugar. ¼ tsp powdered ginger. ¼ tsp. cumin.

Directions: Place steak in pie pan. Mix soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, ginger and cumin and pour over steak. Marinate for 1 hour, turning twice during this period.

Broil the steak about 4 inches from the heat for 3 minutes on a side for half inch thick steak or 5 minutes per side for one inch thick steak. Serve immediately on heated plates with garlic bread or baguettes.

Fish Sticks: Ingredients: 1-2 lb. fillets of firm flakey white flesh fish (bass, walleye, etc.), 1 cup flour, 3 large egg whites beaten, 1 cup finely ground corn meal, vegetable oil for frying.

Cut fillets into long strips. Have three separate bowls for flour, egg whites, and cornmeal. Alternately dip strips into flour, egg whites and corn meal. Set on plate until ready to fry. Heat large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add one quarter inch oil. When oil is hot add fish strips but avoid overcrowding. Cook until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook other side 3 or 4 minutes until opaque. Serve while hot with lemon wedges and tartar or cocktail sauce.

SHORT CASTS

Sportsman Education Class: There will be a Hunter Safety Class at the Vernon Rod and Gun Club, 4313 Route 31 on March 23 and 24. Hunters must preregister at the Eastern Crown Products Building at the Corner of Peterboro and Youngs Road in Vernon. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. or Saturdays 8 a.m. until noon.

Steelhead Report: There are lots of steelhead in the Oswego and Salmon Rivers. Action was slow last weekend due to the high water levels and colder water temperatures. Most of the action on the Salmon River has been concentrated on the upper river between Altmar and Pineville. Many anglers were having good success with brightly colored egg sacks.

Rotary Turkey Shoot: Save the date of April 20, 2013 for the Chittenango Rotary Turkey Shoot. It will consist of teams of four shooters competing for team and individual prizes. Sign up your team today or become a sponsor. Email RotaryTurkey2013@gmail.com for details. There will also a wide variety of sales and conservation booths at the event to make it a fun filled and interesting day.

Vernon National Events: VNSP and the Ruffed Grouse Society invite sportsmen to break out of winter with a fun sporting clays shoot & steak dinner. CNY Ruffed Grouse Society presents the American Classic Side by Side Shoot, Saturday, March 23, 2013. For more information, contact Ed Pugliese, 263-6699.
On Sunday, March, 24 will be the NY Bowhunters Benefit Shoo at Footies Stick n String, located inside VNSP. Contact bonny@vernonnational.com or 796-4587 for more information.