HuntingNY-News

"I consider it ludicrous to be prevented from using an archery implement during archery season, but then being allowed to use it during gun and muzzleloader seasons," he said. Bill Donnelly, 74, of Morrisville, wrote me this week and shared a letter he wrote to Sen. David Valesky. He called me and said it'd be OK to share with readers of this blog.Here it is: "I first want to commend you (Valesky) and thank you for the legislation you introduced in 2010, with the result that crossbows are now allowed for at least part of our big game hunting season. I realize that your bill was modified several times in order to gain passage, so my criticisms of the current law are not aimed at you. You at least got us a "foot in the door"."Let me share some of my thoughts on the overall issue: I refer largely to David Figura's Outdoors column in the May 13, 2012 issue of the Post-Standard."I'm a 74 yr. old avid hunter and outdoors enthusiast, and have been a bow hunter since 1980. I keep myself fit and use a climbing treestand and a compound bow,and in some circumstances hunt from the ground. I have had enough success w/the compound bow to eagerly anticipate each season, but would consider buying a crossbow for it's certain advantages if allowed to use it during archery season. I consider it ludicrous to be prevented from using an archery implement during archery season, but then being allowed to use it during gun and muzzleloader seasons. In those seasons I'll use a gun and muzzleloader, respectively. I like to come home w/venison."I consider the whole issue to be idealogical or philosophical, with essentially one well organized and vociferous lobby group imposing their viewpoint on all. I'm disappointed that the legislature succumbed to pressure based on superficial reasoning. This is the same as if fly fishermen lobbied to ban spinning tackle or bait casting tackle during trout season. "I thought David Figura's article was objective and balanced, but he did refer to the issue as being an emotional one. It was also mentioned that N.Y. Bowhunters, Inc. was "not against crossbows; they just didn't want to share the woods w/them at that time.""Well, that's simply not their call. State land is the public domain. State policy affects all. A policy based on opinion, rather than fact is not valid. As it now stands it's a bad law and needs to be changed to be just."I wonder if the current law would stand up in court if challenged?"Removing the restriction on crossbows would have both economic and conservation benefits. More hunters would be attracted to the archery season, generating revenue from license and permit sales. Some of that revenue would go to the conservation fund, beneficial to all. There would probably be an increase in the deer harvest in the archery season, resulting in a healthier deer herd. Small businesses would enjoy a boost, especially archery shops."Finally, it is socially desirable to provide expanded recreational opportunities to the citizens of our state." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught and released a marlin! Seems like Jeremy Lin's knees are healthy. Nothing like a little R&R and time on the water to clear your head. And it's amazing what you find on Twitter these days. Caught (and released) a marlin in cabo...best vacation ever! Excited to start training again and knees fully healthy!! twitter.com/JLin7/status/2…— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) June 2, 2012 View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught it on Tuscarora Lake. Submitted photoFinly Jackson Hagan, 4, hoists a big perch he caught this weekend.His father, Sean Hagan, wrote: "He decided he would go fishing before church out on Tuscarora Lake where we live."Nice fish! View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The pro anglers love coming here, because even though the fish are not as big as they are down South, they catch a lot them. Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardA smallmouth bass breaks the surface after being caught using a crayfish on Oneida Lake’s South Bay. For decades, Oneida Lake’s claim to fame has been its walleye fishery.In recent years, though, it has developed a national reputation as a bass lake. This spring, Bassmaster Magazine listed Oneida at 14th on its list of the 100 best bass lakes in the country.On Aug. 23-26, B.A.S.S. is finishing its eight-tournament Elite Series on Oneida Lake, which will include crowning one of the circuit’s pros as Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year. For the first time, the tournament will hold its final weigh-in at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes.All of that will be televised on ESPN.“We are very excited to welcome B.A.S.S. back to Syracuse,” said Tracey Kegebein, a spokeswoman for the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau. “According to our (calculations) this group will spend an estimated $2 million in our community during their event. This includes lodging, food and beverage, attractions, shopping, transportation and other direct spending.”With the opening day of New York’s bass fishing season set for Saturday, three experts were interviewed about what makes Oneida so great for bass fishing, and why B.A.S.S. keeps coming back.Those interviewed were:š Randy Jackson, associate director at Cornell’s Biological Field Station in Bridgeport;š Chris Bowes, senior tournament director at B.A.S.S.; andš Mike Cusano, of Clay, a local bass angler and former president of the N.Y. B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation. Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardOne angler's catch of smallmouth bass awaits a weigh-in at Oneida Shores Park during a tournament last fall. Oneida Lake hosted bass tournaments on 66 days last year.Contributing factors “Our research showed that the lake’s smallmouth and largemouth numbers started coming on in the late 1980s and’90s,” Jackson said.A big factor was the introduction of zebra mussels, which changed the water’s clarity. As the water became clearer, the lake’s weeds — good holding areas for bass, particularly largemouths — increased dramatically. The clear water also benefited the fish as they searched for food because “bass are sight feeders,” Jackson said.In addition, about a decade ago, the rusty crayfish, an invasive species mostly likely introduced by anglers emptying their bait buckets, overtook the native crayfish population. That provided the smallmouth bass with a wealth of food. Gizzard shad, another invasive species, also arrived on the scene, providing even more to eat.Jackson said Oneida had bass tournaments on 66 days last year.“And these fish aren’t stocked,” Jackson said. “All these tournaments are catch and release. Although there’s a lot of pressure, the lake doesn’t realize it. It’s not like walleye fishing, which requires more intense management (and stocking).”Finally, the gradual warming of the lake in recent years has benefited young bass, Jackson said. Reeling’em in Jackson said creel surveys show an average catch rate of 0.8 bass every hour on Oneida.“That’s roughly one keeper bass an hour. That’s an average, covering all levels of anglers,” Jackson said.Cusano, who fishes the lake regularly and has organized and participated in a variety of bass tournaments on it, said the lake doesn’t have the huge largemouths that you see in the southern lakes. But it does have a hungry population of largemouth and smallmouth in the 2- to 3-pound weight class.He said Jackson’s creel survey was taken during the hot summer months and that the average is probably more like three fish an hour in the late fall.Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardPr Angler Mike Iaconelli, of New Jersey, hoists a couple of nice largemouth bass he caught during the Bassmaster Northern Open last September. The B.A.S.S. Elite Series returns to Oneida on Aug. 23-26.The tournaments Bowes, who is a native of Westhill, grew up fishing on Oneida.“Oneida Lake is a diverse fishery as far as techniques you can use to catch the fish. You can be drop-shotting in 20 feet for smallies, or flipping in the grass for largemouths — all within a couple of minutes of the Oneida Shores launch,” he said.He said the pro anglers on the B.A.S.S. circuit fish a lot of man-made reservoirs that have little variation in their bottoms. He said Oneida is a natural lake with a good mix of rocks, shoals and weeds.Bowes said B.A.S.S. keeps coming back to Oneida for a variety of reasons. Apart from the fishery, the area’s Syracuse Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Onondaga County parks department has been “extremely accommodating. There’s great lodging, restaurants and other fishing friendly businesses “within a short range of the boat ramp.”In addition, the moderate temperatures are a welcome relief from the heat in the South, where many tournaments are held.“We’re particularly excited about our partnership this year with the state fair,” he said. “We’re hoping to draw in a whole new group of fans.”Bowes said pro anglers love coming here, because even though the fish are not as big as they are down South, they catch a lot them.“I’d just be guessing, but I’d say 90 to 95 percent of the pros, with their diversity of techniques, limit out each day,” he said.“That’s unheard of.”With the great numbers of fish caught within a smaller range, Bowes said, the end result is a competition that’s often determined by a few ounces of weight.“That makes for great television,” Cusano said.Ranking the bass lakes Three of the top 15 bass lakes in the United States are in New York state, according to Bassmaster Magazine: 1. Falcon Lake, Texas 2. Lake Okeechobee, Fla. 3. Lake Guntersville, Ala. 4. Lake Erie, Mich./Ohio/N.Y./Pa. 5. Lake Champlain, N.Y./Vt. 6. Lake Amistad, Texas 7. Lake Minnetonka, Minn. 8. San Joaquin Delta, Calif. 9. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 10. Clear Lake, Calif. 11. Rainy Lake, Minn. 12. Pickwick Lake, Ala./Miss./Tenn. 13. Lake St. Clair, Mich. 14. Oneida Lake, N.Y. 15. Toledo Bend, Texas/La. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Mark Kratz, sales manager at the Bass Pros Shop store at the Fingerlakes Mall. said his store sells a wide variety, including a Princess pole, a Batman pole, a Cars pole (from the movie), a SpongeBob SquarePants pole, a Mickey Mouse pole and a Buzz Lightyear pole Calling all Snoopy fishing pole owners. Make that owners of Barbie and Scoobie Doo poles, too.I’d like to see photographs of fish caught by Central New York youngsters this summer with their small, theme “toddler” poles. These fishing outfits generally sport closed-face, push- button reels; 6- to 8- pound monofilament line and sturdy, 3-foot-long poles.Mark Kratz, sales manager at the Bass Pros Shop store at the Fingerlakes Mall said his store sells a wide variety.“We have a Princess pole, a Batman pole, a Cars pole (from the movie), a SpongeBob SquarePants pole, a Mickey Mouse pole and a Buzz Lightyear pole” he said. “We also have some where the reels light up and blink as you reel them.”I’m looking for the following types of photos of young anglers with their toddler poles:Š Ones with large fish.Š Ones with unusual fish.Š Ones that just plain cute or funny.Send your photos and stories (no more than 150 words) to me at [email protected] and include a daytime phone number in the email. . Make the photos a jpg. attachment and at full resolution.The deadline is July 11. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

David Detlor shot a 19-pounder. Submitted photoDavid Detlor loves his work and he loves to hunt.The 86-year-old Liverpool barbershop owner is an active sportsman. This spring he got his gobbler during the turkey hunting season, which ended at the end of last month.The bird weighed 19 pounds and sported a 9½-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs. He shot him on land in Central Square with his single-shot, 20-gauge shotgun.“Stop by the shop and I’ll show you the fanned tail feathers and beard,” he said.Detlor said he continues to work nearly every day in his First Street barbershop. He’s a member of the Greatest Generation, having fought in World War II and survived the Battle of the Bulge.He’s also a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and said he has hunted nearly every opening day of the turkey and deer hunting seasons for more than 50 years.Each fall for the regular deer season, he and his wife, Ceaira, take their small camping trailer and set up on private property near Truxton. They stay for 3½ weeks and both hunt deer, he said.When he’s gone from the shop at that time, he said, he takes a deer head mount down from the wall and puts it on a barber chair with a sign that says, “GONE HUNTING.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was the annual Salmon River Women’s Fly Fishing Seminar given by the Tug Hill/Black River chapter of Trout Unlimited. Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardInstructor Kim Goppert, of Webster, helps Linda Burch, of South Sandy Pond, as she fly fishes on the Salmon River in Altmar.It wasn’t about who caught the biggest fish.Last weekend’s two-day Women’s Fly Fishing Seminar was more about two dozen women from around the state gathering on the banks of the Salmon River, learning the basics of fly fishing, bonding with each other and sharing their love for the outdoors.“Everyone was on a high. Afterward, there was lots of stuff posted on Facebook. Lots of photos. It was a riot,” said Lindsay Agness, a veteran fly fishing angler from Honeoye Falls, who organized the seminar, which has been offered for the past six years.The gathering was sponsored by the Tug Hill/Black River chapter of Trout Unlimited. A total of 25 women met for lectures early Saturday and Sunday at the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar.During the late morning and afternoon, they went to the nearby Salmon River to apply what they learned, assisted by 24 volunteers.“There were lots of small Atlantic salmon and steelhead in the river and everybody caught fish,” Agness said.She said the women at the seminar had varying levels of angling expertise. She particularly enjoyed helping those who had never donned a pair of waders, tied a fly or handled a fly rod.“Some people have this notion that fly fishing is hard, that you need to be a strong, athletic type,” said Vicky Lane, of LaFayette, one of the instructors. “It’s not that way at all.”Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardA seven-inch Atlantic salmon, is brought to the net by Martha Paye, of Cleveland, who caught the fish on a fly she tied herself that dayLane said it was quite a sight to see all the women in the water, “catching fish and just having fun and relaxing.”Agness said she’s offering an identical course June 23-24 on the river to accommodate women who couldn’t participate last weekend. However, it’s already filled and there are 50 more women on the waiting list.To help participants connect afterward, Agness said she gives each one a list of everyone’s names, home addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.“I made 25 new girlfriends this weekend,” she said. “After this, they don’t need Lindsay there. They can just call each other up and say, ‘Hey, let’s go fishing.’” Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardVolunteer instructors and students fish the upper fly fishing zone of the Salmon River in Altmar on Saturday during a Salmon River Women’s Fly Fishing Seminar given by the Tug Hill/Black River chapter of Trout Unlim´ited. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He said it got so close he could have petted it. My recent tale about a ground hog (woodchuck) that scaled a tree in my front yard to escape my dog, Cali, resulted in an email from Fred Neff, of Baldwinsville. Neff said he once saw a woodchuck swimming across a trout stream.“When I was a younger lad down in Pa., I was fishing a stream that I cannot recall anymore,” he said. “I was standing in the middle of the creek fishing a deep run close to the other bank. Suddenly, I saw something running downstream toward me on the far bank.”Neff said he initially figured it was a beaver or a large muskrat.“Nope! It was a woodchuck,” he said. “And when it got opposite to me, it entered the water and started swimming directly toward me. .¤.¤.’’When it reached me, it climbed up on the rock next to me. It sat there within touching distance, shaking itself off. It never seemed to notice me, even though I could have petted it. Eventually it left the rock and continued its swim to the other side.”“By the way, I did not catch a fish on that cast, even though my fly was in the water for a couple of minutes,” Neff concluded. “No way was I going to move a muscle.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This includes a listing of shooters who shot 25 out of 25 clays. CNY Trap League Northern Division Central Square 193 (0)South Shore 196 (2) North Sportsman 190 (0)Pathfinder 200 (2) Bye 0 (0)Toad Harbor 0 (0) Southern Division Pompey198 (0)Skaneateles199 (2) Dewitt195 (2)Bridgeport193 (0) Three Rivers197 (1)Camillus197 (1) Standings Northern Division Team, points and birds Pathfinder 13 1,377 South Shore 11 1,562 Toad Harbor 10 1,379 North Sportsman 4 1,501 Central Square 1 486 Southern Division Team, points, birds Pompey 16 1,976 Skaneateles 11 1,952 Camillus 11 1,952 Bridgeport 11 1,938 Three Rivers 9 1,903 Dewitt 2 1,895 25 of 25 Bridgeport: Doug Carr Camillus: 75 Tom Anthony + 25s Len Kallfelz + Bill Parfitt + Jack Gutchess + John Major Central Square: Myron Johnson + Bob Barr Dewitt: Joe Sacco 1st + Tim Craner + Rick Kenyon North Sportsman: Gary Loope + Henry Gass Pathfinder: 50 Norm Nelson + 25 Dennis Chillson + John Wallace + Dan Gregory 1st + Bob Weldin + Todd Lund + Doug Carroll + George Davies Pompey: 100 Cliff Haaf + 50 Jeff Cain + 25s Don & Nathan Stroup + Wayne Wilcox + Tim Wilcox Skaneateles: 50 Ken Banner + Justin Slater + 25s Charlie Faes + Dave Barron + Jim Dries + Ted Kochanik + Bruce Card South Shore: 75 Marc Young + 25s Collin Coogan + Chris Coogan + Ray Kubacki Three Rivers: 75 Joe Fredericks + 25s Wes Woolridge Sr + Rick Liberty + Nick Dunn + Ray Burgett Toad Harbor: Bye View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Anglers are still catching lots of panfish and catfish on Cross Lake. CNY FISHING FORECAST Reminder: The regular bass season opens June 16. Bait stores (list and map). INLAND TROUT STREAMS Streams across the area are low, but in good shape thanks to rains earlier this week. To find out how many trout (and what kind) are stocked in your favorite Onondaga County stream, call 689-0003. To hear the DEC’s weekly fishing report, which includes a list of streams that have been stocked in Region 7, call 607-753-1551. LAKE ONTARIO Fishing continues to be slow. Anglers report catching lake trout in 120 feet of water on the bottom, using cowbells (a series of flashers) with peanut rigs (floating jighead, with beads and a treble hook). Also, some are having luck using heavy (2- or 3 –ounce) bucktail or butterfly jigs and vertically jigging off the bottom. SALMON RIVER Water has gone down recently. A few smallmouth are being caught and released in the lower end, with an occasional sighting of a skamania or an Atlantic salmon. Also, some small stocked steelhead are being taken.OSWEGO RIVER Occasional walleye are hitting night crawlers, leeches, bucktail jigs and large stickbaits. Sheepshead and rock bass continue to be active throughout the river. Try using crayfish or worms. ONEIDA LAKE Walleye anglers continue to do well on the lake with fish being taken in 15 to 25 feet of water. Good baits continue to be bucktail jigs tipped with a fathead minnow and spinners and worm. Anglers are also catching perch and bluegills on minnows. Pickerel fishing continues to be very good in most of the lake. Pickerel, though bony, are good eating. The easiest way to deal with the bones is to filet the fish and then grind the filets in a food processor and make fish patties with them. Size limit for pickerel is 15 inches and the daily limit is 5. CROSS LAKE/SENECA RIVER Anglers are still catching lots of panfish and catfish on the lake. Nothing to report from the river.CAYUGA LAKE Lake trout are coming on flasher and fly rigs fished 40 to 120 feet down over 60 to 150 feet of water. Fishing stickbaits or spoons from the surface down to 30 feet, in 40 to 100 feet of water is still working for brown trout and Atlantic salmon.SENECA LAKE Atlantic salmon and brown trout fishing continues to be good fishing 15 to 20 feet down. Spoons fished off Dipsey Divers have been working well. Lake trout fishing has been good for anglers trolling flasher/flies or spoons with downriggers. Lakers are near bottom over a wide variety of depths ranging from 40 to 120 feet.OWASCO LAKE A few lake trout are being taken in 60 to 100 foot of water on spoons with the afternoon bite being better. Northern pike are hitting large minnows on the south end, while yellow perch are still hitting small minnows and night crawlers on the north and south ends. Also, some nice-sized sunfish are being taken, near the northern end. Occasional reports of walleyes being taken by anglers drifting with mooneyes in about 25 to 30 feet of water near northern end.OTISCO LAKE Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers getting out for the catch-and-release season with jigs working well. An occasional tiger muskie is being taken around the lake on minnows, and a few walleye are being taken off the causeway and from other, off-shore locations after dark. SKANEATELES LAKE Bass fishing along the shore has been good with plastics. Remember its catch and release only until June 16. Perch are still hitting in the north end of the lake in the 20- to 30- foot range using small minnows. SODUS BAY Perch fishing has slowed but bluegills and rock bass have been active. Pike are hitting along the weed edges.SANDY POND Northern pike fishing has been good and fish are being taken on Rapalas and spinnerbaits. Walleye fishing has been slow on the pond.WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Trolling around the islands and fishing below the spillway is producing some walleye. Yellow perch channel catfish and bullhead are being caught north of the islands. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm looking for someone who is currently allowing the U.S.D.A. staff to trap wild boar on their property in southern Onondaga and northern Cortland counties. Call me at 470-6066 or email me at [email protected] Here's the plan for this week's Outdoors Page in the Post-Standard.FRIDAYMain piece: Story and photos from last weekend's two-day fly fishing seminar for women on the Salmon River hosted by the Tug Hill/Black River chapter of Trout Unlimited.Column: Bits and pieces.. results of last Sunday's walleye tourney on Oneida Lake and an anecdote from one reader who actually saw a woodchuck swim while trout fishing.SUNDAYMain piece: Oneida Lake ranks 14th on Bassmaster Magazine's list of the top 100 bass lakes in the country. Why is that so?Column: Bits and pieces preceding next week's season opener of the regular bass fishing season.. including how I recently took an informal course, "Bait Casting 101" on Oneida Lake, courtesy of instruction from bass angler Mike Cusano.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.-Folks I'd like to get in contact with for future stories/columns:- Planning on starting a series of stories on "Favorite Fishing Spots," which will profile off-shore locations that continue to draw anglers year after year -- I'm talking about such places as the causeway on Otisco, or the breakwater at Verona Beach. I need some help here.- Someone who fishes on Oneida Lake the old-fashion way, pulling copper wire for walleyes. - Individuals who has, continues to successfully hunt wild boar in the Cortland County/Onondaga county area.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

He caught it on a Mr. Twister. Submitted photoBobby Eberle holds up a nice brown trout he caught on Oneida Lake.His fishing buddy, Mike Mcclusky, wrote: "I've been asking around and a lot of guys have been saying that they have heard of brown trout being caught in Oneida Lake, but not this big."Bobby caught this monster out on the lake Saturday afternoon while we were fishing for walleye. He caught him in 15 feet of water, jigging with a Mr. Twister." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was the first tournament put on by the newly formed, Oneida Lake Team Walleye Trail. The winning team walked away with a $3,100 check. Submitted photoThe winning team of Bill Alexander and Andy Pruitt won $3,100 for their five fish, weighing 14.44 pounds.The Oneida Lake Team Walleye Trail Tournament held Sunday on Oneida Lake was a big success. Despite the rainy, windy weather, a total of 53 teams from around the state and beyond participated.Alicia Stevens, the tournament director wrote:"What an amazing day we had. We pulled in anglers from Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and all across New York!"The winning team with the most total weight was Bill Alexander, of Sylvan Beach, and Andy Pruitt, of Yorkville. Their five fish weighed 14.44 pounds. They won $3,100."The biggest fish was turned in by Louie DePasquale and Jeffrey Tripp. It weighed 4.06 pounds. They won $500.Submitted photoThe biggest fish winners were Louie DePasquale and Jeffrey Tripp. The won the James Wallace Memorial Trophy for the fish, along with a $500 check. The fish weighed 4.06 pounds. The trophy and prize were donated by the Syracuse Realty Group. Representatives from the company and members of the Wallace family were on hand for the presentation." We ended up with 53 boats and when it came to weigh in time we had about 200 people there, Stevens continued."I gave away gift bags at the meeting, made homemade baked cookies and had fresh hot coffee for them at the launch site. The anglers were beyond appreciative of everything I did."I have received so many phone calls, emails, and even text messages thanking me and my volunteers for everything."There was a special moment when The Syracuse Realty Group gave away the James Wallace Memorial Trophy (for the biggest fish), and what made it even greater was that James Wallace's family was there to help present it."I have also decided that we are not going to leave Oneida Lake for future tournaments. My first thought was to keep it local....I got 53 boats to come to Oneida Lake....there is no reason to leave!"FINAL RESULTS:Oneida Lake Team Walleye Trail Tournament Results For more, see the tournament Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught five nice ones, using corn as bait. Submitted photoDalton Caruso, 14 1/2, of Kirkville, holds up a nice carp he caught during Memorial Day weekend at Mayfair Campground, located on Fish Creek, which flows into Oneida Lake.His mom, Cindy, wrote: It weighed 24 pounds. He used corn as his bait. Dalton also caught 4 others of similar size and weight."(Editor's note: I love the mud splattered on the boy. The fish obviously put up a fight!) View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fish bit the gaff hook right out of the captain’s hand while landing the fish. Submitted photoTim Burr, 12, of Cazenovia caught this 100-pound, Goliath grouper while fishing with his family on Marco Island Florida over Memorial Day weekend.The fish bit the gaff hook right out of the captain’s hand while landing the fish. That is why there is no picture of anyone holding the fish up. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught it on a piece of corn. Submitted photoJason Powers, of Brewerton, caught this 35-pound carp last month while fishing on Oneida Lake.He caught it on a piece of corn. Man, that's a big fish. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Capt. Woody Erickson, head of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7’s environmental conservation officers staff, spent his last day in the Syracuse last week. He retired. His last day officially is June 30, but he had “unused vacation and furlough leave” day to use up. “After 35 great years as a law man, with 28 of those years... Capt. Woody Erickson, head of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7’s environmental conservation officers staff, spent his last day in the Syracuse last week.He retired.His last day officially is June 30, but he had “unused vacation and furlough leave” day to use up.“After 35 great years as a law man, with 28 of those years as an environmental conservation officer and the last 12 years as the chief environmental conservation officer for Region 7, I am moving on,” Erickson said.Lt. Dave McShane, who is the supervisor of the environmental conservation officers in Onondaga and Cayuga counties, will be the officer-in-charge until Erickson’s replacement is named.Erickson said last week he flew out to Seattle to visit his granddaughter.“At this point, it’s been so busy, it’ll just feel good to do nothing for a while and be bored,” he said. “I also plan to get back into hunting and fishing and other things I haven’t had time to do.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Baldwinsville resident Fred Neff, who has been advocating this for more than two decades, said the mourning dove population is plentiful and that it would generate more hunters, resulting in more income from license sales and hunting-related expenses. Is it finally time for a mourning dove hunting season in this state?Senate Bill 6968, sponsored by Sen. John A. DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, could get things moving on this front.The bill would reclassify mourning doves as “migratory game birds,” allowing the state Department of Environmental Conservation to set up a dove hunting season. The bill is before the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee.Currently, mourning doves are classified as song birds in this state. That status does not exist, however, in 40 other states, where the birds are hunted with varying bag limits.“This happens to be the most popular and hunted game bird by far in this country and South America,” said Baldwinsville resident Fred Neff, who has led the charge on this issue for more than two decades.He said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classifies mourning doves as a migratory game species, and the Audubon Society is neutral on dove hunting.He has also lined up a number of federal and state hunting organizations to back the proposal.Neff said the mourning dove population in this state is plentiful and that an open season would generate more hunters, resulting in more income from license sales and hunting-related expenses.“It’s been a long, long fight,” Neff said. “I came from a state (Pennsylvania) where you could hunt them. I’d like to see it happen here.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I was using 12 lb mono Extra Tough line, but no steel leader, I thought for sure I was going to lose the fish after every single leap it took. So I knew I had to act quickly and precisely, and when it gave me the opportunity, I reached over and bear-hugged it into the kayak." Submitted photoKayak angler Kevin Spillet, hoists a 43-inch northern pike he caught recently on an undisclosed Onondaga County waterway.He wrote: "So last Thursday, May 24th, my buddy and I took the kayaks to a little honey hole that I've been fishing for over 10 years in Onondaga County (sorry, location will remain anonymous)."We were targeting Largemouth Bass, but I was well aware of the presence of big pike, because I have caught dozens over the years there."However, about 8-9 years ago I showed up one day to fish, only to witness a complete massacre...every pike in the area was belly up on the shore... but not a single largemouth bass."After pondering on it for awhile, I realized why that may have happened. We had just went through about 8-10 days of straight 90 degree weather that summer, and I believe it choked out all the Northerns. I'm pretty sure they require a cooler water temperature, and a higher oxygen level than the bass do, in order to survive."Back in '02 and '03 you were liable to catch a 1:4 ratio of northern pike to largemouth bass...now a days, its more like a ratio of 1:24...but catching about 24 largemouth in a matter of 2-3 hours in this spot is not uncommon, in fact, its expected....and at least 10 of them are going to be over 3 pounds, and 2 or 3 over 5 pounds."The reason there are so many big bass is due to the abundance of baitfish, and pan fish that they have to feed on year round. I caught a trophy 10 pounder there 2 years ago (I knew there had to be a real pig in there because of how many 5lb+ fish i have caught and released there over the years.)"So now, anytime I go there with my buddy (who I have sworn into secrecy) we make it a point to elect what we refer to as "Angler Of The Day" to whoever catches a Northern Pike, since they are now more of a rarity to catch...and we both just happen to love hookin' into Northerns."Now this time of year the area starts to become very weeded out-- 6 foot tall weeds that extend to the surface, making it extremely difficult to throw certain lures, but it also happens to open the opportunity to utilize topwater lures, such as jitterbugs, poppers, and weedless frogs (which is my absolute favorite technique for fishing)....but seeing as how most topwater lures have treble hooks that catch the top of the weeds every time, the best bet was to use weedless frogs."And I was feeling beyond confident that day when I showed up and the bull frogs were sounding up a storm all around us, and there was spawning Largemouth all along the shoreline waiting to attack the frogs that were hiding among the cattails. The situation was ideal, to say the least."The plan was to try and stick together and stay close to each other because I was the only one who had a net, and seeing as how it can be difficult to land a 2 pound fish in a kayak, it can be extremely difficult to land a hard fighting 5lb+ fish from a 'yak, especially without a net. We got right into the action after we stealthfully approached the opening spot in our kayaks. My buddy hooked into a nice 4 pound largemouth on his first cast."I hooked up a few casts later with a nice 3 1/2...and it was just on from there. The anticipation of a strike on a topwater frog is like nothin' else, and it seemed liked I was getting one on every cast. But after about an hour of fishing, the action slowed down a bit."So my buddy and I split up to try and cover water, and find some more hungry bass. He paddled the opposite direction over to a spot that we call Pike Bay, a deeper area that seems to hold Northerns often (we've caught a few decent ones over the past couple years in that spot.) "He made it clear earlier that he wanted to be the one to catch the Northern, and earn the title of "Angler Of The Day". I paddled over to a different spot on the other side, and started working the frog hard and casting it as close to the cattails as possible. I could here my buddy battling with bass across the way, so he was catching a few, but it seemed I had gone cold."I was starting to get discouraged because it seemed like forever since my last strike, and I can remember my mind was starting to wander a bit, and just as this was happening I was retrieving a cast I made just off of a small point, and out of nowhere the surface of the water exploded around the frog."I set the hook, and knew instantly that I had a biggin' on...but I honestly thought it was a huge largemouth, possibly the 10 pound female from 2 years ago. So I yelled to my buddy, "I got a biggin' on...I think its her...""But when the fish broke the surface a second time, making an acrobatic flip through the air, it was clear that it was no largemouth bass. After an extremely aggressive battle with the fish, I was able to bring it just close enough to the side of the kayak to where I could net it."My net was not larger enough for this size of fish, and I had no choice but to try and net it head first, so I did...but after one hard head thrash, the Pike managed to bite right through the bottom of the net, and off it went back into the water, with the frog still hooked into the back of its mouth."So the battle continued for what felt like forever, until I was able to bring the fish close enough again to where I could try and land it by hand. Mind you, I was using 12 lb mono Extra Tough line, but no steel leader, I thought for sure I was going to lose the fish after every single leap it took. So I knew I had to act quickly and precisely, and when it gave me the opportunity, I reached over and bear-hugged it into the kayak. "The fish measured 43" in length, and I had to make a rough estimate in weight, but it was easily 15 pounds. I made sure to pack my new Digital SLR professional camera with me, which I just recently purchased, mostly for fishing and wildlife photography."My buddy ended up catching 2 more Northerns after that, that were both under 18" long. But I was thrilled to see this because it indicates a resurgence in the Northern Pike population." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I saw some fish breaking the water feeding on bait in 15 feet and I assumed it was a school of smallmouth." .Submitted photoClay Mike Cusano holds up a nice, 4.93-pound brown trout he caught on Oneida Lake opening day of walleye season.He wrote: "I caught it on a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 suspending jerk bait. "I saw some fish breaking the water feeding on bait in 15 feet and I assumed it was a school of smallmouth."Two casts with the pointer and I hooked a fish. Saw the flash of brownish-gold so I assumed it was a thick walleye, but then the fish started to fight in a rather weird circular spinning motion – so I assumed bowfin."As it got to the net, my partner Burnie Haney and I both said “It’s a trout?!”…. Pretty cool. Only the 2nd trout of my life and both have come from rather unique places. (I wrote two years ago about how Cusano landed a big brown on Onondaga Lake on opening day of trout season.)"This fish, because we had a IGFA certified scale (Burnie’s), gave me some size perspective regarding the brown I got on Onondaga."That fish on Onondaga was bigger than the 7 lbs I guesstimated it at – apparently I’m much better at estimating the weight of bass than trout. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It's like stepping back in time." Frank Ordonez/The Post-StandardSean Cornell instructs Dawn Cornell in shooting and arrow during a CNY Primitive Skills Group session in Pompey. By Jon Krouner Contributing writer Want to carve and shoot your own bow and arrow like Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games?”Then, join the Central New York Primitive Skills Group for one of its, twice-monthly meetings held on 59 acres of woodlands in Pompey.At the meet-ups, adults and children learn wilderness survival techniques like animal tracking, bird song identification and how to differentiate between edible and poisonous plants.It all began back in 2008, when Jon Harshbarger was looking for a group or class to share his love of nature. He said he was disappointed by a dearth of options in the Syracuse area.“Syracuse is devoid of these types of programs,” he said.Harshbarger lives in Jamesville with his wife, Laura, who is an attorney, and their three children, ages, 4, 7 and 10. He has a master’s degree in outdoors education, is a stay-at-home dad who also drives a school bus.Anxious share his passion for the outdoors, Harshbarger formed his own outdoors group, opening it up to the public for free, using the Meetup.com Web site to put the word out. He scheduled get-togethers at preserves, marshlands and conservatories around Central New York.His first respondent was Sean Cornell, 32, a senior and conservation biology major at SUNY-ESF.Frank Ordonez/The Post-StandardEthan Harshbarger, 10, throws an arrow during a primitive bow and arrow session of the the CNY Primitive Skills Group which assembles on a personal property in Pompey.Together, Jon and Sean pooled their knowledge of the wilderness with the idea of building an “outdoors-minded” community.His first respondent was Sean Cornell, 32, a senior and conservation biology major at SUNY-ESF.Together, Jon and Sean pooled their knowledge of the wilderness with the idea of building an outdoors-minded community.Last year, the success of his meet-ups inspired Harshbarger to purchase the 59 acres off Route 91. The idea was to stage the outdoors meet-ups at one location, rather than bouncing around the area.The property, formerly known as the Pompey Heritage Farm, includes more than a half dozen buildings and cabins. One houses a woodworking shop; another an apple cider press. Harshbarger has renamed the property, the Waykeeper Primitive Skills School, and has already put into motion plans to offer more formal, paid classes and seminars there.Harshbarger said he’s noticed a rise in public awareness of survival skills during the past few years due to reality shows like “Survivorman” and “Man vs. Wild.”Interest piqued with the smashing success of “The Hunger Games” trilogy and its recent theatrical release.Harshbarger said he got the idea for the bow-making class when a friend told him that his 14-year-old daughter wanted to make her own bow just like Katniss.The bow-making clinic, which recently took place over the course of three days, drew more than 30 participants, he said. Each paid $40 to help cover expenses.“We took everyone from stave to shooting,” Harsbarger said. “We used B-50 dacron (a synthetic, waxed nylon material) for the strings because we had so many people. Typically, we would have used (animal sinew), plant fibers or rawhide.”Rick Schamp, who has been to several of the meet-ups, said that he started attending after being laid from his job at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Schamp said that he was tired of staring at a computer all day and the Primitive Skills Group gave him a chance to re-awaken his love of nature.Meet-ups typically include 7 to 8 people and are tailored around learning one skill, like building a fire through friction or making rope from plant fibers. Other classes include “Edible Plants” in which Cornell and Harshbarger teach which plants are safe to eat throughout the property.“There are a few people with economic issues that want to know what they can eat in their yard,” Cornell joked.While Cornell and Harshbarger don’t hunt on the property, both agreed some of their classes would be helpful to hunters.For example, the “Bird Language” segment could help a hunter “recognize a song, from an alarm call.” “Animal Tracking” shows where animals are headed by following footprints and disturbed bushes.At all the meet-ups, attendees observe and participate in nature by using their senses and instincts, rather than relying on modern electronic crutches like GPS devices.“It’s like stepping back in time,” Harshbarger said. “Next month we’re going to make bark baskets and collect wild strawberries.”WANT TO JOIN? To find out more about the Central New York Primitive Skills Group, see the Meetup Web site. There’s no charge. For information on the Waykeeper Primitive Skills School, see Facebook. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The idea is to have hikers cover the trail’s entire length in one day. This will be accomplished by breaking the trail down to 75 different sections and having hikers setting out in simultaneous treks of 5 to 10 miles each. It’s a trail worth toasting.The 560-mile Finger Lakes Trail, which meanders through Central New York, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. On top of that, Saturday is National Trails Day.That being the case, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the 1,400-member, volunteer group that created and maintains the Finger Lakes Trail, is planning something special.The idea is to have hikers cover the trail’s entire length in one day. This will be accomplished by breaking the trail down to 75 different sections and having hikers setting out in simultaneous treks of 5 to 10 miles each.Gene Bavis, of Walworth, in Wayne County, is executive director of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. He expects some 400 to 700 people to be out Saturday on all sections of the trail.Bavis said the trail begins in the western part of the state at Allegany State Park and spans eastward. It goes through Tompkins, Cortland and Chenango counties, heading south into Delaware County and the Catskills. A branch of the trail goes through parts of Onondaga and Madison counties, but that stretch will not be included in Saturday’s event.To participate, check out the Finger Lakes Trail Conference Web site . View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

There's still time to sign up. A walleye tournament that had its beginning with a business woman wanting to keep her fishing boyfriend close to home is set for Sunday on Oneida Lake.The newly formed Oneida Lake Team Walleye Trail’s first competition has more than 50, two-person teams registered. The anglers will compete to see which team can get the most total weight of fish caught. Teams can enter five fish and each must be longer than 15 inches.The competition goes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the final weigh-in at Oneida Shores County Park in Brewerton.“Our sponsors have made it possible for us to be able to guarantee a minimum of $3,000, plus prizes and trophy, for the first- place team. In addition there will be a ‘big fish’ pot at no extra charge worth $500 for the biggest fish and $250 for second, plus prizes,” said Alicia Stevens, the tournament’s director.Back in March, I interviewed Stevens, who owns the Genesis II Hair Replacement Studio in North Syracuse, about the tournament. She said she decided to get involved getting tired of hearing her boyfriend, Karl Elsner, talk about how great Oneida Lake is a walleye fishery, and how he had to travel to Pennsylvania, Ohio and beyond to compete in tournaments.Stevens said she’s determined to organize additional walleye tournaments next year on Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Chautauqua Lake.For more information, or to register today for the tournament, see the event's Web site. The registration fee is $175 per team and late comers can sign up until 6 p.m. Saturday at Gander Mountain in Cicero, Stevens said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The winner got $5,000 for his 14.89 pound lake trout. Jerry Perrin, of Clifton Springs, walked away with the $5,000 grand prize for the biggest fish in the 48th Annual National Lake Trout Derby held last weekend on Seneca Lake. His fish weighed 14.89 pounds, said Colin Morehouse, a tournament spokesman.The three-day, tournament featured 1,283 anglers, up slightly from last year’s total of 1,263. The second biggest fish was a lake trout weighing 11.79 pounds, caught by Michael Rollo Sr., of Geneva.The fishing contest featured $21,225 in cash prizes and money was also handed out for categories including the biggest brown trout, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon. For complete results, see the event's Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

All the poles and bait will be supplied. It's a catch and release situation. No fishing license is required. Family Fishing Day is set for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery on Route 321 in Elbridge.The event, hosted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Friends of Carpenter’s Brook, is free and no fishing license required. All bait and tackle will be supplied. It will be held at the hatchery’s pond and all fish caught will be released.For more, call the hatchery at 689-9367 or the DEC at 607-753-3095, extension 213. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog