The fishing season for many popular warmwater sportfish, including walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge, opened Saturday, May 5 and with this, most of New York’s sportfish seasons will be open. This includes catch and release fishing for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) in many waters across the state.
Bass anglers should check the New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide, www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html to ensure that the water they desire to fish is open to catch and release angling. Muskellunge fishing season and the harvest season for bass opens on June 16.
Recently the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society ranked three of New York’s lakes in the top 14 on their list of the 100 best bass lakes in the country. Can you guess which three? Check in next week’s column for the answer.
The DEC will continue a number of bass studies in 2012. These studies include an effort to assess black bass populations statewide, the investigation of black bass movements following bass tournaments on Lake Champlain and a tournament monitoring program on Oneida Lake. Participation from bass anglers will be requested for both tournament studies.
Anglers using fish for bait are reminded to be careful with how these fish are used and disposed of. Careless use of baitfish is one of the primary means by which non-native species and fish diseases are spread from water to water. Unused baitfish should be discarded in an appropriate location on dry land. A “Green List” of commercially available baitfish species that are approved for use in New York State has now been established in regulation. In most cases, these fish must also be certified as disease free. Personal collection and use of baitfish other than those on the Green List is permitted, but only on the water from which they were collected, and they may not be transported overland by motorized vehicle except within one of three defined overland transportation corridors. Please review the baitfish regulations webpage for details at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/47282.html.
Anglers are also reminded to be sure to dry or disinfect their fishing and boating equipment, including waders and boots, before entering a new body of water. This is the only way to prevent the spread of potentially damaging invasive plant and animal species (didymo and zebra mussels) and fish diseases (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia and whirling disease). Methods to clean and disinfect fishing gear can be found on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/50121.html.
Note, anglers 16 years of age and older must have a New York State fishing license available on line at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html or by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS. Fishing licenses can also be purchased from the 1,500 license issuing agents located throughout the state (town and county clerks, some major discount stores and many tackle and sporting goods stores). By law, every dollar spent on a fishing license helps fund programs conducted by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, including the fish stocking program.
___
The Rome Hatchery has scheduled the third 2012 Trout Stocking for the Genegantslet Creek on Wednesday, May 16. During this event they should be stocking a total of 1,110 “one-year old” brown trout in the Genegantslet from the bottom of the no-kill section to the Rt. 206 Bridge near Greene. Volunteers should meet the hatchery truck at the McDonough General Store by 10:30 a.m. The hatchery truck will be supplying the buckets. Waders are not required. Please contact Bill Au with any questions at (607) 674-4863 and thanks for any participation you can give.
___
The Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association (OVF&HA) is proud to announce that on Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the small rural community of South Otselic will host the fourth annual Fishing Heritage Day.
The South Otselic Fish Cultural Station will open with an aquarium display, along with several exhibits and information featured, including The Finger Lakes Trail, Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, and the Federation of Fly Fishermen, among others. Tours will be conducted of the state fish hatchery’s operation and history at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The popular fishing clinics will be held once again at one of the ponds across the highway, conducted jointly by DEC staff and Trout Unlimited volunteers, to offer beginning anglers an opportunity to catch fish while learning about proper techniques, tackle, species of fish, and casting. Fishing equipment and bait will be provided for those wishing to participate in these free trout fishing clinics.
Nearby at the Town Park, artisans, crafters and others will exhibit and sell their created work. Peter Thompson, author of Freshwater Game Fish of North America: An Illustrated Guide, will sell signed copies of his book, while Albert Daher, Jr. will demonstrate fly tying. For a complete list of vendors, visit the website. Nearby, Gladding Braided Products, Inc. will again host a special rope braiding demonstration, and offer a selection of their manufactured rope products for sale.
Prize drawings for sport fishing items will be held for participants at the fishing clinic pond following the morning and afternoon sessions. Special prize drawings for new members joining the Otselic Valley Fishing & Heritage Association, will also be held toward the end of the day in the Town Park.
Admission to all activities is free, and free parking is available throughout the hamlet. A free day-long bus shuttle will be provided by the Otselic Valley Central School to transport visitors between the Town Park and the fish hatchery.
