HuntingNY-News

Meanwhile, things are still developing in the Finger Lake/ Central New York region. Cayuga and Onondaga counties expect 20 percent color change by the weekend, with red, orange and yellow leaves emerging. In other areas, about 40 percent is anticipated by this weekend. Beautiful peak fall colors are expected to make their first appearance of the season this weekend in the Adirondacks region of New York State, according to observers for Empire State Development's I LOVE NEW YORK program. One particular nearby hotspot should be the Old Forge area, where observers are calling for 80 to nearly 100 percent color change, as color has advanced rapidly over the past week. Look for bright oranges, reds, golds and russets. Finger Lakes/Central New York area foliage this weekend will be up to 40 percent, depending on where you're at. Predominating colors are yellow with some orange. Seneca County expects about 35 percent change with muted shades of yellow. Cayuga, Ontario and Onondaga counties expect 20 percent color change by the weekend, with red, orange and yellow leaves emerging. Madison county is predicting 25 percent change by the weekend with average to bright leaves of yellow, orange and red. Schoharie County expects 20 percent change. Foliage approaching midpoint of change is starting to appear in the Catskills, as well as other areas of the state. Read more about reports from across the state. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The perch bite on Oneida Lake remains the top story there. No word yet on the walleye bite from shore. We need some cooler weather. CNY FISHING REPORT Bait stores (list and map). LAKE ONTARIO There are still plenty of salmon in the lake waiting to make their run into the rivers. Salmon are hitting flashers and flies, flashers and cut-bait and j-plugs. Fish are being found anywhere from 180 feet of water right into the mouth of tributaries. . SALMON RIVER Anglers report Chinook (king) salmon are throughout the river. Some coho salmon have also made runs. OSWEGO RIVER River has experienced several big Chinook runs recently. Anglers take heed: The bridge to Leto Island remains closed and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. Visit Oswego County Tourism web site for more information. ONEIDA LAKE The highlight continues to be the perch fishing. They're biting on fathead minnows, worms and small jigs. Try fishing in 10 to 20 feet of water. Good spots are around Big Bay, Dunham and Frenchman's Islands. Some walleye are still being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on blade baits and on black & purple bucktail jigs tipped with a night crawler. No word on the nighttime shore walleye bite yet. Some cooler weather is needed. CAYUGA LAKE Vertical jigging continues to work for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to 110 foot of water. Trolling down 70 to80 feet over 100 to 160 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies is also producing some lake trout. SENECA LAKE Lake trout continue to be taken 80 to 120 feet down over 130 to 200 feet of water on spoons and flasher and flies. The cold water zone is starting to move around so adjust baits up or down depending on where fish are being marked. Running Dipseys back 230 to 270 feet has been a good starting point, as is running copper out 300 to 400 feet. Lake trout are also being taken by jigging with plastics in 75 to 130 feet of water. OWASCO LAKE Anglers fishing in the south end of the lake have been getting lake trout in 75 to 100 foot of water and some rainbow trout in 55 to 70 foot of water. Trolling with flasher and flies or stickbaits has been good. Pulling copper is also working for lake trout. Smallmouth bass are hitting crayfish or drop-shot rigs fished in 25 to 30 foot of water. Some yellow perch are being taken on minnows and night crawlers. OTISCO LAKE Some bass are being caught on crayfish off the causeway and also on stickbaits in the north end. Stickbaits are also producing a few tiger muskie on the north end. No word on any walleye shore bite. SKANEATELES LAKE Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs, stick worms (Senko style baits), topwaters and drop-shot rigs in 10 to 35 feet of water. Live bait (crayfish and night crawlers) is also working for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass in 15 to 25 feet of water. No word yet on any rainbow trout shore bite. SANDY POND: Fishing is generally slow on the pond this time of year, so no new information to report. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Bass are being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on crayfish. Walleye bite remains good along "the humps." Good lures continue to be Reef Runners or green Jigfish. SODUS BAY Fishing the outside weed edges continues to work for largemouth. Good baits have been crankbaits and plastic worms. A few northern pike are being caught with a good spot being around the Islands on Sodus. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Anglers fishing near shore are catching catfish, bullheads and smallmouth bass. The best action lately seems to be in shallow water, less than 10 feet. For the catfish and bullheads try worms, and plastics or crankbaits for the bass. ** The DEC is looking for participants in its Angler Diary Cooperator Program - particularly those who fish Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes. For more, call 1-607-753-3095, extension 213. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The event will take place Friday evening. Half of the proceeds will be given to the Tully boys running club; the other half to the Lopez Lomong Foundation (4 South Sudan). Two-time Olympian Lopez Lomong is scheduled to appear at a "meet and greet" 5K fun run and 1 mile walk at 6 p.m. Friday at Tully High School. Registration for the event begins at 5:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10 for adults; and $5 for students. Lopez T-shirts and his book, "Running for my Life," will also be sold. Lomong is a graduate of Tully High School. Half of the proceeds will be given to the Tully boys running club; the other half to the Lopez Lomong Foundation (4 South Sudan). Lomong recently ran in the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow (1,500 meters) and the Fifth Avenue Mile Run in Manhattan. "He's home for a week or so," said Jim Paccia, the Tully Boys Cross Country coach. "He misses the camaraderie he had with all the members of his former high school team and the local running community. He wants a reunion of sorts with those runners." Awards will be given to the top males and female in three divisions: 6 to 14 years, 15 to 20 years and 20 years and older. "Participants can race or just run with Lopez," Paccia said. For further information, 439-3147. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The two big events this weekend is the open house at the DEC's Salmon River hatchery in Altmar on Saturday and the Sportsmen's Days at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery on Saturday and Sunday. CNY Outdoors Calendar Salmon River Hatchery: 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Saturday. The DEC hatchery, at 2133 County Route 22, Altmar, is hosting its 18th annual open house. Tours of the facility and numerous family-oriented activities will be offered. For more, call 298-5051. Honeywell Sportsmen's Days: 11 to 5 p.m. Sept. 28, 29, Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge. Features, skeet shooting, waterfowl identification, axe/knife throwing, turkey calling, archery, fly fishing wild game cooking demos, muzzleloading, carp fishing demos and more. See federationofsportsmen.com. Big East Powersports Show: Oct. 4 -6 at the Oncenter Convention Center, 800 South State St., Syracuse. Show hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 4; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6. The snowmobile show will feature more than 100 exhibitors including Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha. Tickets are $8 for adults if purchased in advance, $10 for adults at the door, $4 for children between the ages of 6 and 12 and children ages 5 and under free. For more, see bigeastpowersportsshow.com. Black Powder Shoot: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 6, Elbridge Rod and Gun Club, Laird Road, Elbridge. Open to the public. For more, call 689-7339. SAFETY COURSES Hunter: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Central NY Rod and Gun Club, 182 Peter Scott Road, Penneville. Pre-register. Call 963-1158. Hunter: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 3), and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 5, Sandy Pond Sportsmen's Club, 3201 County Route 15, Pulaski. Pre-register. Call 963-0760. Hunter: 7:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12, Elbridge Rod and Gun Club, 6275 Laird Road, Jordan. This is a home study course. This class requires five or more hours of homework before the class sessions. Pre-register at the club between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Friday (Sept. 27). Hunter: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 19, 8 a.m. until done Oct. 20, Leatherstocking Club, State Rte. 104 (1.5 miles West of New Haven). Pre-register. Call 343-1558 between 6 and 8 p.m. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'll be at Sportsmen's Days from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. See you there! Fall is here, making it a great time to be outdoors. The Salmon River salmon fishing scene is running at full speed. Bow hunting season in the Southern Zone for big game begins next week. Fall foliage and cool temperatures are make hikes more enjoyable. I'll be at Sportsmen's Days from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. See you there! Meanwhile, here's what I've been up to lately: -- Working on story about how local landscaper Jim Sollecito's recent fishing trip/adventure to the Arctic resulted in a likely world record for an Arctic char caught on a flyrod. - A Syracuse woman's first-hand account of last weekend's fly fishing seminar at Carpenter's Brook helped fulfill a childhood fantasy. - How Marcellus bass angler Randy LaManche has a shot at the Bassmaster Classic, the so-called World Series of bass fishing, which features a $500,000 first prize. - The proposed Lake George boat launch policies that has the whole state watching. - The opening day of archery season in the Southern Zone. I've been looking through some eye-opening trail camera photos of deer and bear that readers sent in. (Keep 'em coming. Send to [email protected]. - Accounts from local residents who've survived multiple deer/motor vehicle accidents. (Keep those coming, too. Send to [email protected]) Other stuff: - Looking to get together with someone who hunts during the fall turkey season and uses dogs to break up the flocks. - Looking for a father/daughter or mother/daughter pairing that's going out opening day of the archery season. (Send names and daytime phone number to [email protected]) - Commercial perch fishing on Lake Ontario with gill nets. Only a few individuals in the entire state have that right due to special permits. - An update on the volunteer-based cormorant harassment program on Oneida Lake. - A story on minority sportsmen (and women) who hunt, fish and hike. - So, what's the deal with how the water level on Lake Ontario is regulated? A new plan addressing that issue is quite controversial. - Continued updates on The Figura Challenge. (I've extended it into the fall.) ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First, it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the "like" button. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

See a poacher? Call 1-800-TIPP-DEC. Thanks to the help of Capt. Matt Revenaugh, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7 law enforcement team headquartered in Syracuse, I'm offering the latest in an on-going series entitled, "Keeping Watch." The idea is to give readers insight to the final disposition of tickets issued by our local DEC environmental conservation officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The cases that appear here are cases where the defendant has either pleaded guilty or found guilty after trial. This is not intended to be all-inclusive list of cases handled, but is representative of dispositions received by the Region 7 law enforcement office. Click on the link below to see the most recent cases: R7 Fine 9-19-13.pdf View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The event, jointly put on by Honeywell and the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 per car. I'll be at a table to meet with readers from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the annual Sportsmen's Days at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge. Stop by and say hello. Don't worry. I don't bite. The event, jointly put on by Honeywell and the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 per car. Other activities featured include waterfowl identification, axe/knife throwing, turkey calling, fly fishing, wild game cooking demonstrations, muzzleloading, carp fishing demonstrations and more. The hatchery is located on Route 321. For more information, call the hatchery at 689-9367 or see the Federation website at federationofsportsmen.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Local media outlets report that state police and environmental conservation officers tranquilized the moose Tuesday morning in a wooded backyard in the Saratoga County town of Halfmoon, just north of Albany. HALFMOON, N.Y. (AP) - A young bull moose that wandered into an Albany suburb has been captured and is being relocated to the Adirondacks. Local media outlets report that state police and environmental conservation officers tranquilized the moose Tuesday morning in a wooded backyard in the Saratoga County town of Halfmoon, just north of Albany. Officials say the moose had been seen earlier in neighboring Clifton Park near Interstate 87, the Adirondack Northway. The moose was being transported to the Adirondacks to be released in the wild. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The look on his face tells it all. David Bruns, 12, of Tully, proudly holds up his first Canada geese shot while hunting with his father, David, in Altmar. Looks like the boy had good luck and a great time, too. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah. A meeting that will include discussion on future options for "managing a quality waterfowl hunt at the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Unit" is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 Route 89, in Savannah. "I'm planning a small meeting to begin discussion about how we might set up waterfowl hunter access at Northern Montezuma to maintain or improve the quality of the hunt," said Jim Eckler, a DEC wildlife biologist. " With several hundred acres of new wetland restoration projects, we're really getting some prime hunting spots. We've had some overcrowding at our older restored wetland sites and I think we'll start seeing more issues with pressure and overcrowding sometime soon. "We might want to limit numbers, days, sites... to maintain an enjoyable hunt. I want to be ready for it, and be able to implement a system that will work. I'd like it to be easy to administer, based on science (with respect to the number of days, and no-hunt zones), and provide a quality hunting experience." The discussion will be included in the annual meeting of the American Wildlife Conservation Foundation and there will be a short presentation of the foundation's gift in support of the Guy Baldassarre Memorial Marsh. The afternoon's agenda includes: 1:00 p.m. - Welcome and powerpoint tour of Northern Montezuma WMA, especially new wetland restoration projects, including Guy Baldassarre Memorial Marsh. 1:20- AWCF support of Guy's Marsh 1:25 - Group introductions 1:30 - Access Discussion (Overall objectives of a quality hunt; personnal experiences/recommendations ; group feedback/discussion); next steps - 2:15 to 3:00 Field Trip NMWMA - Guy Baldassarre Memorial Marsh Site, Morgan Road wetland restorations, Howland Island. For further information, call Eckler at 585-705-3546, or the Audubon Center at 365-3580. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, said he's expecting more than 6,000 people to attend. "As always, there will be activities for all ages. It's very family-oriented," he said. Those attending the annual Sportsmen's Days this weekend at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge will get to sample and learn about a wide variety of outdoors activities including fishing, archery and skeet shooting. Peter McCaffrey, 8, of Barnsley, England, shows off a frog he caught during last year's Fall Sportsmen's Days at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge. He and brother, Andrew, 6, attended with their grandfather, Norman Boyce, of Syracuse.Lauren Long l [email protected] The event, jointly put on by Honeywell and the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 per car. Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, said he's expecting more than 6,000 people to attend. "As always, this will include activities for all ages. It's very family-oriented," he said. Other activities featured include waterfowl identification, axe/knife throwing, turkey calling, fly fishing, wild game cooking demonstrations, muzzleloading, carp fishing demonstrations and more. The hatchery is located on Route 321. For more information, call the hatchery at 689-9367 or see the Federation website at federationofsportsmen.com. Thomas Plochocki, 3, of Geddes, waits for a bite during last year's Sportsmen's Days at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge. Standing nearby are Steve McMahon, of Baldwinsville, (blue) and Bradley Wilson, of Brooklyn, N.Y. (white cap).Lauren Long l [email protected] View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The 9,000 acres of state lands covered by the proposed plan currently offer many recreational opportunities including: hiking, camping, picnicking, nature observation, boating, fishing, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and all terrain vehicle access for people with mobility impairments. The following is a press release from the state Department of Environmental Conservation: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a public meeting from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Oct. 2 to discuss the draft Upper Salmon River Unit Management Plan (UMP) and obtain comments and input from the public. The meeting will be held at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery, 2133 County Route 22, Altmar New York. The hatchery is an accessible site. Comments on the draft UMP will be accepted through Nov. 2. "DEC recognizes the importance of the public participating in the UMP process and is encouraging people to review and comment on the draft plan," DEC Regional Director Ken Lynch said. "The Upper Salmon River Unit includes a significant acreage of state-owned forest land and offers numerous recreational opportunities for the public. In addition, the open space serves as an economic engine for the region, and is extremely important in the economy of the area." Community-based forestry is a participatory approach to forest management that seeks to strengthen the relationship between local residents and nearby forest resources. The Draft Plan proposed to advance community-based forestry through public programs, increased participation in DEC's Adopt-A-Natural Resource program and maintaining a dialogue with local governments about State Forest management. The public is invited to attend the meeting to express their views and ideas about the draft plan. The meeting will begin with an open house format at 6:30 p.m., which will provide time for the public to informally discuss the draft plan with DEC forest management staff. Beginning at 7:05 p.m., DEC staff will present highlights of the draft plan. The presentation will be followed by a public comment session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The Upper Salmon River Unit is located in New York State's Tug Hill Region and is comprised of the Salmon River State Forest, O'Hara State Forest, Hall Island State Forest, Battle Hill State Forest, and West Osceola State Forest, as well as Salmon River Open Space Conservation Easement lands on Huckleberry and Burdick Islands within the Salmon River Reservoir, and the Jackson Road Boat Launch. Together, these lands total 9,000 acres. The Unit also includes a portion of a planned land acquisition from the National Grid Company totaling approximately 735 acres adjacent to the Salmon River Reservoir. Covering about 15 square miles, these forests are located in Oswego, Oneida and Lewis counties in the towns of Orwell, Redfield, Osceola and Florence. This draft unit management plan has been developed to address management activities on these forests and easement areas. State Forests are managed for watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, recreation, and kindred purposes. The proposed UMP will help maintain healthy, sustainable, and biologically diverse ecosystems for fish and wildlife, while providing continued opportunities for forest product sales, recreational use, environmental education and research. The State lands covered by the proposed plan currently offer many recreational opportunities including: hiking, camping, picnicking, nature observation, boating, fishing, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and all terrain vehicle (ATV) access for people with mobility impairments. The following are some of the new or major changes to existing recreational facilities and resource management proposed in the draft UMP: ⢠Improving Redfield Island Day Use Area, which includes developing a small parking area, improving the picnic facilities, stabilizing the shoreline bank and developing an ADA compliant platform to access boats. ⢠Establishing a land management buffer on state lands within 300 feet of the Salmon River Reservoir shoreline and implementing special regulations for this area. ⢠Designating 20 camp sites within the 300 foot visual protection buffer along the Salmon River Reservoir shoreline. ⢠Installing informational kiosks at access points along the Salmon River Reservoir as well as at two other State forests on the unit. ⢠Designating one mile of existing access road for use as an accessible trail. ⢠Improving the habitat for American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on the Unit. ⢠Increasing early successional habitats on approximately 312 acres over the next 20 years on the Unit. Copies of draft Upper Salmon River UMP are posted on the DEC's website and are also available for public review at the following locations: ⢠NYS DEC - Region 7 Headquarters, 615 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse , NY ⢠NYS DEC Region 7 Sub-Office, 1285 Fisher Avenue, Cortland , NY ⢠Salmon River Fish Hatchery, County Route 22, Altmar, NY ⢠Pulaski Public Library, State Route 11, Pulaski, NY ⢠Redfield Town Hall, 4830 County Rte 17, Redfield, NY ⢠Orwell Library, 1999 County Rte 2, Orwell, NY ⢠Digital copies are also available on compact discs from the Cortland office and may be requested by calling (607) 753-3095 extension 217. DEC will consider all comments on the plan as it develops the Final Upper Salmon River UMP. Written comments can be sent to: NYSDEC, Division of Lands and Forests, Attn: Dan Sawchuck, 2133 County Route 22, Altmar, New York 13302 or by e-mail to: [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

For me, fly fishing can now be another outdoor activity to enjoy with men in my life, but it can also be a fun way to spend time with my female friends, she said. Editor's note: The following was written by Heidi Stephens, of Syracuse. Stephens works for syracuse.com/The Post-Standard as an account associate in the advertising department. I grew up on Riverbend Road, a mile and a half away from a trout hatchery that sits next to the Little Lehigh River in Allentown, Pa. As a kid, I enjoyed visiting the hatchery and peering into the tanks teeming with trout. For a few cents, you could buy small, waxed-paper bags of pellets to feed the fish. When you threw the pellets into the tanks, you set off a feeding frenzy. I fantasized about sneaking in at night and scooping up a netful of plump brown trout. On the banks of the creek nearby, fishermen cast their lines into the rushing water. Those anglers were a regular, peaceful presence in the background of my youth. It should come as no surprise that one day I'd be drawn to try the sport of fly fishing myself. Vickie Lane gives a lesson on casting with a fly rod on the lawn at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in ElbridgeHeidi Stephens photo This past Saturday and Sunday, I was among 12 women at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge who took part in the Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited's first Annual Women's Fly Fishing Seminar. The event included lectures and hands-on exercises, with plenty of one-on-one attention provided by a group of female and male volunteers. Instruction covered basic aspects of fly fishing, such as equipment, fly tying, entomology (bugs), fish habits, knots, casting, safety, and fish handling. I enjoyed every bit of it. The first day began with a light breakfast (thanks to volunteers Bonnie Winchell and Karen Alexander) and presentations in the hatchery's large supply garage. Vicky Lane, the event's coordinator and lead instructor, opened by sharing reasons why so many people enjoy fly fishing. Fish live in beautiful places. You don't have to be athletic to fly fish; the sport is more about finesse than strength. Fly fishing offers peace and tranquility and excuses to travel, along with fresh air, exercise, and tremendous fun. All the ladies took their turn learning how to tie artificial flies.Heidi Stephens photo Later in the morning, Lindsay Agness, of Honeoye Falls, taught us about different types of flies. Unlike spin fishing that uses bait to attract fish, fly fishing relies on artificial lures that look like insects or other critters fish eat. Lindsay passed around a colorful assortment of flies in various shapes and sizes for us to examine. We learned the critical importance of choosing the right fly for the conditions. Anglers need to be aware of what insects are present for fish to eat in a particular environment at a particular time and to pick lures that match. I was interested to learn about the hatch charts that are available to show what insects emerge at different times of year. Some anglers get deeply involved in the biology of fishing, but not everyone has to, Lindsay explained. You can keep things simple by just stopping at a tackle shop, asking what type of flies to use for a particular body of water, and then picking up some of those. Easy, right? For the day's hands-on activities, participants split into two groups. One went outdoors to learn casting techniques on the lawn. The other stayed inside for fly tying demonstrations by members of Trout Unlimited and a chance to make some simple flies. A wooly bugger that one of the ladies tied.Heidi Stephens photo With guidance and an impressive array of tools provided by TU volunteer Dave Seifritz, I crafted my own version of a crane fly larvae. To do this, I attached a fishing hook onto a vice and wound strands of wool around the shank. We had cream-colored wool to shape the body, and a light brown wool for the head. (Know those insects we see with long wispy legs and narrow wings that some of think are big mosquitoes? Probably mature crane flies.) At another table, women made the widely used type of wet fly or streamer known as the woolly bugger. It is fished under the water's surface and looks like a minnow or leach as it's pulled in. Out on the lawn, volunteer Erin Oristian worked with me on my dry casting. "Move the rod as if it's an extension of your arm," she told me. "Keep your wrist straight. Bend your elbow, move your hand backward, make a hard stop at your ear, and then smoothly cast your line forward. ... Don't throw your body, let the rod do the work." For several minutes, my arm refused to follow instructions. Erin had me put on her jacket, and then she tightened the Velcro fastener on the cuff to secure the rod to my wrist. She stood behind me, grabbed onto my arm, and made it move the way it should. This worked. "My daughter has done Irish dancing, and one time I strapped her arms to her sides to keep them from moving," Erin explained. Other volunteers offered more tips. "Keep your thumb on top." "Pull the rod back, stop at 1 o'clock, and then cast. Think of casting like doing a waltz: Move the rod back for a count of three, then forward for three, back for three, then forward for three and bow." Eventually I got it. The line on a fly rod is tapered and weighted with a plastic coating. Once you get the hang of casting, you can whip the line around with surprising ease. After lunch, we practiced casting into the trout pond. This time, I was accompanied by Lisa Green of Rochester, who assisted me with choosing flies and tying knots, and provided further guidance on casting. I didn't catch any fish, but I did hook some weeds and tree branches on my back cast. The women on both sides of me caught fish, however--little ones that quickly were returned to the pond. All the participants were given a box of hand-tied flies made by Iroquois Trout Unlimited members.Heidi Stephens photo We wrapped up the first day back in the garage, where the event organizers gave out door prizes ranging from books and wine to a brand-new fly rod. Every woman received at least one prize to take home, along with her own fly box and an assortment of beautiful hand-tied flies, compliments of the local members of Trout Unlimited. Several of us then headed off for dinner and lively conversation at Krabby Kirk's BBQ in Camillus. On the second day, participants met at the hatchery in the morning to pick up gear and get matched up with a guide before heading over to Nine Mile Creek for several hours of fishing. Bob Alexander of TU supplied maps that plotted out fishing spots. Women who didn't have their own gear could borrow equipment, and Bob handed out waders and rods. I brought my own waders, but borrowed a rod. Vicky was assigned to guide me and another woman. Fall isn't the best time of year for trout fishing in this region, and we didn't catch anything at the creek. But I didn't really mind. I was focused on learning how to fish, figuring that eventually, at some other place and some other time, the trout would come. This day, I was happy just to be able to cast my line and make the fly land where I wanted it to. I enjoyed being able to change flies and tie knots, to walk out into the middle of a stream in the sunshine and feel cool water rush around my waders, and to share the whole experience with women who like doing the same things I do. Trout Unlimited is engaged in a national push to involve more women in their organization and the sport of fly fishing. The group promotes conservation of cold-water fisheries and catch-and-release fishing. Syracuse is home to the second-oldest chapter. Local members meet the first Wednesday of every month at Barbagallo's Restaurant in East Syracuse. All the women who took part in the seminar have received a free year of membership. Heidi Stephens tries her luck on Nine Mile Creek.Jim Green photo In total, instructors Vicky, Lindsay, and their colleague Jan Opal from the Plattsburgh area taught three, two-day-long seminars to 46 women this summer. Through their expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm, they are nurturing a growing network of "fly gals" (or "fishing sisters," if you will). For me, fly fishing can now be another outdoor activity to enjoy with men in my life, but it can also be a fun way to spend time with my female friends. And perhaps next spring I will do something I have wanted to do since my youth in Pennsylvania: Wake up early on the first day of trout season and step out into the crisp morning air to go fishing. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> He was top angler on the 12-person squad from New York that finished third overall in the recent Eastern Divisional Championship at Sebago Lake in Maine. He now has a shot at qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, the so-called World Series of bass fishing with its $500,000 first prize. </p> <p><br />Local bass angler Randy LaManche was the top angler for the New York State B.A.S.S Chapter Federation squad, which finished third last week in the Eastern Divisional Championship at Sebago Lake in Maine.</p> <p>With his finish, LaManche, of Marcellus, qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship scheduled for Oct. 24-26 at Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. The Eastern Divisional championship featured teams from throughout the Northeast, Canada and Spain.</p> <p>"He was very consistent during the tournament's three days, fishing on a very tough lake, where almost half the field weighed in either zero fish or fish each day," said Fred Blom, vice president of the New York B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation. "Randy caught four fish (all smallmouths) each day, averaging two pounds."</p> <p>LaManche has been New York State "Angler of the Year" twice before and has now made it to the next level.</p> <p>At the nationals, LaManche will be competing for a berth in the prestigious <a href="http://www.bassmaster.com/news/bassmaster-classic-field-filling">Bassmasters Classic</a>. The Classic, which pits the best bass anglers in the country including many at the Elite Series level, is slated for Feb. 21-23 on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. The winner will receive $500,000.</p> <p>"To make the Classic is the ultimate dream and our Eastern Division is the only BASS Nation division to have had their angler actually win the Classic," Blom said. "So there is a lot of history here and Randy is an excellent ambassador for our sport."</p> <div id="asset-13463608" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/13463608-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="BASSTEAM.jpg" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="caption"> Team Photo Standing...Todd Covert, Fred Blom, John Stoughtenger, Steve Pickard, Frank Giner, George Yund, Corey Palmer, Mark Batur Chris O'brien, Randy Lamanche, Tim Thompson, Chris Killoren, Kneeling...Jim Moore, Travis Franclemont, Wyatt Morris, Dave Morrissette, Mike Cusano </span><span class="byline">Submitted photo</span></span></span> </div> <p>The Eastern Divisional competition featured nine, 12-angler teams. Using total weight caught by members of each squad, teams competed for prizes, including a Triton boat for first, and cash prizes for second, third and fourth places. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bassmaster.com/news/mueller-wins-eastern-divisional-pursuing-largemouth">The top angler for the tournament was Paul Mueller, of Connecticut.</a> The top-finishing team was from Maine. </p> <p>By coming in third, the New York squad split $3,000.</p> <p>The New York team members include LaManche, Frank Giner, Chris Killoren, Steve Pickard, Dave Morrissette, Chris Obrien, Mark Batur, John Stoughtenger, Tim Thompson, Corey Palmer, George Yund, and Mike Cusano. <br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They're going to continue doing it through the fall -- and you should, too! Send your observations and pictures to [email protected]. You don't know what you're missing if you haven't seen these spots during fall foliage. Back on Memorial Day, I issued "The Figura Challenge," challenging CNY outdoors enthusiasts to visit 15 prime outdoors destinations across the area during the course of the summer. The challenge officially ended Labor Day weekend, but I've decidced to extend it through the fall because frankly if you haven't visited these places during the fall foliage season you're really missing out. The following came from Lynn and Pat Davis, two retirees with the right spirit. A tiger swallowtail butterfly at Baltimore Woods.Lynn Davis Lynn wrote: "My wife and I had hoped to take you up on your "challenge" but the summer proved to be very busy -- even for a couple of retirees! We did manage to visit 2 of the parks so far, Baltimore Woods and Pratt's Falls. "In the past we have visited some of the others on your list (Montezuma, Taughannock Falls, Beaver Lake, Highland Forest, Chittenango Falls and Green Lakes). It's probably "cheating" however, if we "count" those in our total. We hope to visit a few of the others this fall. Here's our observations and a few photos on the two we visited this summer. Baltimore Woods "The trails are well marked. The slope of the trails were not too steep and not hard to navigate. There were a couple of bridges over the stream -- the bridges were brand new! They have a small flower garden where they have labeled the flowers and trees. They have a building with displays - which was closed when we were there. They are also building an outside shelter which will be beautiful when it is completed (it's in one of the photos). There are a lot of trails - it is a place you could go back and visit many times. They had a portable potty on the premises. Pratt's Falls Pratts Falls.Lynn Davis "The trails are not so well marked. We attempted to take the "blue" trail down to the stream but our two attempts both brought us to the lodge (about half way to our goal). I'm not sure how that trail eventually winds it's way down to the stream. We could hear people, but could not see where the trail went the rest of the way down into the valley (you can drive down there also). "The slope of the hillside was too steep for us attempt on our own without a trail. It's over 100 feet down in elevation to the stream - it's easy to hike "downhill" -- not so easy going "uphill." (Although this is marked as an "easy" hike - I suppose that is all relative depending on whether you are 25 or 65 years old :-) "The hike down to the observation viewing spot of the falls was not bad, and even included some stairs. At the top of the falls (where you enter the park) is very beautiful and well cared for. There is even "modern" restroom facilities. There were some kids fishing around this pond at Pratts FallsLynn Davis There is a large pond at the top, and there were a few kids fishing. The history of the area is very interesting (late 1700's with a saw mill / flour mill). The top of the falls is handicap accessible, the trails are not. "Both areas had a variety of fauna and flora -- and I included a few of the more interesting in my photos. The tree in the Pratt's Falls photo (with the bulge) has some kind of disease. I've seen something similar in willow trees that was caused by a fungus. I'm not sure what the issue with the Pratt's Falls tree, however. Lynn Davis "Thanks for the challenge. We are keeping the article and hope to visit the remainder sometime in the future. "Actually, we going to Ithaca this weekend (mostly to visit the wine trail :-) but we always stop to take a look at Taughannock Falls. It has differing amounts of water going over the falls depending on the weather. Last summer, during the dry spell, the water fall was barely a trickle. It is particularly beautiful in the winter with the ice. "I've attached one "cheater" photo of the Falls in the winter for you to see." Taughannock Falls during the winter.Lynn Davis View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Send your comments and day time phone contact numbers to me at [email protected]. I'm planning an upcoming story on deer/motor vehicle accidents in Central New York and I'd like to hear from individuals who've been in multiple (three or more) accidents. Send your comments and day time phone numbers to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The work also involves planting native species that will be more beneficial to wildlife and less harmful to Montezuma habitats overall. The following is a press release: Join the MARSH! volunteer group -- the Montezuma Alliance for the Restoration of Species & Habitats -- to help Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and NYSDEC biologists, the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) and other partners combat invasive species and restore healthy homes for wildlife. The work is hands-on as we cut and pull invasive species and replant with native species that will be more beneficial to wildlife and less harmful to Montezuma habitats overall. See a previous story I wrote about doing this. October's MARSH! Volunteer work days will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Seneca Meadows Wetland Restoration Site (Black Brook Rd, Seneca Falls, NY), and on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (3395 U.S. Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, NY). Meeting time each day is at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided by the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. To pre-register, call 315/568-5987. You must pre-register at least one day in advance of each workday. For more information about MARSH!, call 315/568-5987 or visit the group's website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

See results from last weekend's races Here's the rundown for this weekend's races across Central New York. Saturday 1). Sisters4Life Inc. walk/5K run: Starts at 9 a.m. Saturday (2-mile walk), followed at 10 a.m. (5k run). Onondaga Lake Park. For more, see 2sisters4life.com. 2). Finger Lakes Mud Run: Everest Park, North Road, Owasco. Starts at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Adults can register up to 6 p.m. tonight (Sept. 23). Mini Muddy participants can buy tickets the morning of the event. A military-style trail comprised of three courses speckled with a range of obstacles that include large bales of hay, a 10-foot-tall wall and a giant slip-and-slide. Runners will also have to crawl through trenches, scuttle up ravines and tromp through a large mud pit. For more, see fingerlakesmudrun.com. 3). "They Can't Stop Me!" 5K walk/run: Starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Onondaga Community College. (Fun run starts at 9:30 a.m.). A dog friendly event in which participants are encouraged to either run or walk with their dog. For more, see the event's website at syracuseraces.com. Sunday 1). 5th Annual Teal Ribbon Run for Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness: Starts at 10 a.m. Sunday with 5K race, followed by a 5K walk at 10:05 a.m. and 3K walk at 10:15. For more, see syracuseraces.com. 2). Cuse vs Cancer 5K run/ 1-mile walk: Starts at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Schine Student Center on the Syracuse University campus. See syracuseraces.com. 3). Tully 5K REaCh Run/Walk: Starts at 10 a.m. Sunday at the main entrance to Tully High School. For more, see syracuseraces.com. Last weekend's results: 1). Ludden Fall Frolic 5K/Walk: Held Saturday morning at Bishop Ludden H.S., 815 Fay Road, Westvale. For results, see leonetiming.com. 2). Mexico Public Library 23rd Annual 5K Cider Run/Walk: Held Saturday morning at Mexico High School, Mexico. For results, see auyertiming.com. 3). Cortland Tri for the United Way: Held Saturday morning at Dwyer Park, Little York. Included a sprint triathlon, Try-a-Tri and a youth race for ages 7 to 14. For results, see cortlanduwtri.com. Sunday's races: 1). Doris Connor Memorial 5K Run: Held Sunday morning at Oneida Shores Park, Breweron. Results were unavailable. 2). CNY Bread Run Half Marathon &5K: Held Sunday morning at Fabius Pompey High School. For results, see leonetiming.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I would like to learn more this practice and do a story on it. I'm looking for fall turkey hunters who use dogs to scatter the flock. Can anyone help me with this? Are there particular dogs that are used? What kind of training is involved? I would like to learn more this practice and do a story on it. Contact me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught it on a spinnerbait. Trevor Welty caught this 28-inch tiger muskie in Onondaga Lake at Long Branch Park. He used a spinnerbait. The fish was released after the picture was taken. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

McPherson is a frequent guest on Mathews TV on the Outdoors Channel. He has used his bow to harvest numerous white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, elk and black bear. I will be there early to meet with readers. See you there. Randy McPherson, an experienced outdoorsman, bow hunter and TV personality, will be speaking Tuesday evening at the annual Sportsmen's Dinner at Driver's Village in Cicero. McPherson, from Minneapolis, Minn., is the brother of Matt McPherson, who owns Mathews Archery, which is among the leading equipment manufacturers in the world. McPherson is a frequent guest on Mathews TV on the Outdoors Channel. He has used his bow to harvest numerous white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, elk and black bear. Doors to the dinner open at 4 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14. Call 458-0271. There will also be a drawing for a $1,000 Mathews bow. I will be there starting at 4 p.m. to meet with readers. See you there. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The two were hunting at the time on the family farm in Otisco. Ashton Henry, 12, shot his first squirrels recently while hunting with his dad. He shot them with a .410 double barrel shotgun. The two were hunting at the time on the family farm in Otisco. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Spider and McGrath are holding another fishing class on Lake Neahtahwanta from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19. The following was written by Spider Rybaak. Coils of storm clouds propelled by 20 mph winds couldn't stop several children and parents from trying their luck at a kids fishing class conducted by local author Spider Rybaak and McGrath & Associates Carp Angling Services Saturday at Fulton's Lake Neahtahwanta. Mike McGrath, a local carp fishing experet, kept the youngsters and adults hooked for hours discussing fishy subjects ranging from terminal tackle and tying knots to demonstrating how to mix chum to draw monster fish averaging 10 pounds and how to fight them in when they come. After a few minutes of explaining everything from carp feeding habits to techniques developed over the millennium by Asian and European masters, McGrath cast a couple lines out, promising: "Now I'll show ya' how it's done." In less than five minutes he's battling his first carp. Alec Bertollini, one of his audience members was next, landing a carp of about 15 pounds. Alec's grandpa, Bob, follows with a 10-pounder of his own. In less than an hour, everyone in McGrath's class catches a carp, some land a couple. Meanwhile, Spider was teaching how to fish with worms and Berkley PowerBaits. Chase Trumble of Phoenix starts catching white bass right off the bat, landing several in less than an hour; and three-year-old Hannibal resident Andrew Kranze lands three of his own with mom's (Farah) help. Loaner Shakespeare Classic rod and reel combos were available for the day. Berkley, Marukyu and Spider provided the bait . Spider and McGrath are holding another fishing class on Lake Neahtahwanta from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19. For more information, contact Spider, [email protected]; or McGrath, [email protected]; 315-882-1549. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He won awards for his story about a licensed falconer hunting squirrels with Harris's hawks, and his column about getting his first deer with his father's shotgun. Lake Placid, N.Y.--The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards and second- and third-place certificates and cash awards at the annual meeting of the organization at its joint conference with the Outdoor Writers Association of America on Monday. David Figura, outdoors writer for syracuse.com/The Post-Standard, won two awards: a second place in the newspaper feature category for his story, "Airborne Hunter" about an Auburn man who is licensed falconer and uses Harris's hawks to hunt squirrels; third place in the newspaper column category for "First Deer Was Shot with Dad's Old Gun," a column about how he got a buck with his deceased father's Ithaca Deerslayer shotgun. The organization of 100 active members--professional communicators--and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor and travel industry--gathered in Lake Placid Friday through Monday for its annual conference. The Excellence in Craft writing competition and Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, The Sportsman Channel and Redding Reloading Equipment, were judged by respected professionals of national repute from outside the organization. Figura with his first deer, a 4-point buck shot with his deceased father's Ithaca Deerslayer.Nancy Neiley photo "Our judges commented on the professionalism of the entries," said Glenn Sapir, chair and administrator of the Excellence in Craft program. "It was gratifying that such seasoned professionals thought so highly of our members' work." The photo competition was administered by Bridget Keesler, daughter of the namesake of the photo competition, who played a major role in initiating and administering the photo awards program in its earliest days. First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2012 were: Newspaper Feature--Steve Piatt, Elizabethtown, for "Perfect Game Plan: Baseball and Fishing Combos," in the Aug. 10 Outdoor News; Magazine Feature--Joe Hackett, Lake Placid, for "Mystery of the Monument in the Marsh," in the Summer Central New York Sports; Magazine Column--Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, "Hallowed Ground," in the Sept.-Oct. Tide Magazine; Newspaper Column--Joe Hackett, Lake Placid, for "A Mountain Pond Matter," in the April 7 Adirondack Daily Enterprise Online Publication--Angelo Peluso, for "Santee's Last Woodcock," in the May 17 northshoreoflongisland.com. In the photo competition, first-place winners were: Hunting and Fishing--Steve Piatt, Elizabethtown; Outdoor Recreation--Mike Lynch, Saranac Lake; Outdoor Scenic--Chris Kenyon, Wolcott; Published Photograph--Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson Wildlife - , Angelo Peluso, Jefferson Station. The judges, from all over the country, were all well respected professionals with long, prominent careers in outdoor communication and photography. Six of the 17 judges are past presidents of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. The New York State Outdoor Writers Association is made up of more than 100 individual members and more than 60 supporting members in the outdoor industry. The organization was formed with several goals, two of which, relevant to this awards program, are o improve the art and media of expression relative to the out-of-doors and its enjoyment and to keep the public informed on matters relating to the earth's natural resources. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

One thing is for certain. Whenever a moose shows on or near a roadway, or some other public area, it draws a crowd. There's lots of moose loose in this state's North Country. "I'd say there's about 600 to 800, but that's a soft number," said Gordon Batcheller, chief wildlife biologist for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Their presence raises many questions. What should be done with these animals, which can get up to 1,000 pounds in weight? Do they pose any danger to humans? Should there be a hunting season for them? "We realize if we're going to develop a long-term, defensible plan for the future we need to have better estimates," he said. "We not only need to know the population, or at least a good estimate, we need to have the rate of growth of the herd. "It's unclear at this point. The rate of growth may be flat, it may be positive, it may be negative," he said. To determine that, the DEC is "embarking on research," overseeing an effort that will be done by Cornell University and SUNY ESF staff. "We're developing the scope of the work. What are our objectives? How we going to do it? How much will it cost?" Batcheller said, adding research will likely begin next year. A wide variety of techniques will likely be used, he said, including observation of the animals from aircraft, DNA work and feedback from hunters and others frequently the areas where moose are located. He said there's a place on the DEC website for persons to submit their moose photos. AP "They can cause a lot of difficulty for people, particularly if they follow (and frequent) a transportation corridor," Batcheller said. "There's implications for people driving, implications for commercial forestry and some implications for agriculture." Batchellor said there's been a small number of moose/vehicle accidents, and that this year's accident rate is "flat" compared to last year. At this point, there's been no fatal accidents. However, they have occurred in other neighboring states, and it may only be a matter of time before one occurs here. "The reason behind that is the moose's size," he said. "When a moose collides with a motor vehicle, the legs get knocked out and the moose comes into the windshield. That's unlike with a deer, where it's just a hit and plow type of situation." The DEC is working with the state Department of Transportation to develop warning methods for motorists in moose country, including the posting of moose crossing signs. "Research in other states has shown that vehicle speed is the most common factor leading to moose collisions, so the best way to avoid hitting a moose is to slow down, especially from dusk to dawn," according to the DEC website. At this point, moose are a "protected" species. Batcheller conceded there's probably more than a few trophy-sized animals out there now. Other states, such as Maine, hold a lottery for moose hunting tags each year to raise money for state coffers, in addition to keeping the herd size under control. 'How many moose does there need to be before hunters can hunt them? "The answer could be 10. If you take only one a year you will still have a positive growth rate," he said. "We're comparable to North Dakota as far as our (estimated) moose population. They have had a moose hunting season for decades, but the quota (for tags) is very, very low." He did say, however, that hunting moose in this state is not a given. "The moose management plan can be as simple as, 'How do we keep track of moose in New York?'" he said. Some have suggested that managing moose may be a moot point in this state, thanks to climate change that has resulted in increasing warmer temperatures in the North County. The moose may move out, or not be able to survive here. "I don't buy that," Batcheller said. "There's some evidence in Massachusetts and Connecticut that suggest that warmer temperatures are not as significant a factor. They manage to find places to keep cool." One thing is for certain. Whenever a moose shows on or near a roadway, or some other public area, it draws a crowd. "It's a very popular attraction. People will come from miles around to see that moose, so there's some implications for tourism," he said. Batcheller's advice to novice moose watchers? "If you come across a moose, the most important thing is to stay out of their way. Moose can be very aggressive," he said. "A cow with its calf is a real dangerous animal. They'll run you down and stomp on you until you look like pizza." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog