Syracuse.com - Figura writing about outdoors volunteers and upcoming carp tournament (May 16-19)

[HuntingNY-News]

Spring is back in Central New York, and the outdoors events are beginning to ramp up.

OK, we had a bit of a cold snap Monday. By Tuesday, everything was fine. Spring is back in Central New York, and the outdoors events are beginning to ramp up.

With Memorial Day weekend a little more than a week away, here's what I'm working on this week:

- Volunteers sprucing up local hiking trails, nature centers and hiking trails.

- The upcoming Wild Carp Week Triathlon, with the featured event kicking off Saturday evening with anglers being allowed to bait their fishing areas. They'll start fishing Sunda morning and stick with it for -- get this -- 75 straight hours!

- The Hobie Cat Madcatter Fleet 204 Sailing Regatta on Oneida Lake

- A report that Canadian officials plan to apply lampricide to a tributary on Oneida Lake.

- A damaged research buoy on Lake Ontario that an angler appearently cut and that drifted to shore.

- When's the best weekend (weatherwise) to take a vacation in Central New York. (Meteorologist Dave Eichorn is helping me with this one)

- Free DEC family fishing clinics (one is set for this weekend at the South Otselic Fish Hatchery), and another next month at Carpenter's Brook.

Two new features:

1). "Keeping Watch" a weekly or bi-weekly report from the Region 7 DEC office noting the fional dispositions of recent tickets issued by local conservation officers. Only ones where the defendant has pleaded guilty or is found guilty will be listed.

2). "Ask the Outdoors Guy" a weekly posting noting a question or questions from readers about the outdoors. If I can't provide an answer, I'll find someone who will. Send your questions to d[email protected].

Other upcoming "stuff":

- A new series a "HIke or Kayak/Canoe trip of the Week" sort of thing.

- Profiles on 3-4 local trout streams

- Continuing last year's series "Shoreline Hot Spots," noting good areas to fish from shore on local lakes and rivers if you don't have a boat.

- The great blue heron rookery up at the Sterling Nature Center.

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