Fishing, hunting options aboundLEO ROTH – Staff writer
Our Towns – April 25, 2012 - 5:00am
As a tournament bass fisherman, Irondequoit’s Ron Penders has fished all across New York state in pursuit of the “big one.”
But if he had to pick one place to hook a kid on fishing, it would be Honeoye Lake just south of Rochester.
“There are tons of 13- to 14-inch fish in Honeoye Lake, and you can use a lot of different techniques,” Penders, a member of the Rochester Bassmasters club. “In order to get kids interested in fishing, you have to catch fish. … So even if the fish are small, at least you’re still catching and still active.”
Thanks to an abundance of year-round fishing and hunting options, the Rochester region is a perfect place for outdoorsmen to stay active.
Just north of downtown is Lake Ontario, the world’s 14th-largest lake renowned for its trophy-class Chinook, Coho and Atlantic salmon. Fishing for steelhead, brown and lake trout is also on par with some of the world’s best sport fishing centers.
A fleet of experienced charter guides, many working out of the Port of Rochester, take customers out daily from April through September, with the waters off Niagara, Orleans, Monroe and Wayne counties taking turns as “hot spots” for salmon that migrate in search of bait fish.
The 11 Finger Lakes comprise 134,000 acres of fresh water holding trophy-sized trout, bass, walleye and pike.
Meanwhile, some of the best trout streams in the Northeast are located here, headed by Naples and Oatka creeks. The state stocks 2.4 million brook, brown and rainbow trout into more than 300 lakes and ponds and 3,000 miles of streams. Even the historic Erie Canal holds abundant pan fish.
Rochester is just as much a paradise for hunters. Regulated seasons exist not only for whitetail deer, but also for black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and small-game species.
Some of the best counties to deer hunt are in western New York, including Steuben, Yates and Ontario counties, and bear hunting zones have been expanded to help curtail a growing population.
The Department of Environmental Conservation, whose local headquarters is located in Avon, Livingston County, is responsible for management of all fish and wildlife.
Even though most hunting is done on private property, hunters have access to nearly a quarter-million acres of public land, according to the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.
Anyone 16 and older needs a license to fish. Licenses are available at all town halls and bait shops.
Hunting in New York requires a license obtained after taking a comprehensive safety course offered by the DEC. There are special courses for archery hunters and trappers.
For all state hunting and fishing regulations, tips, and maps, contact the DEC at (585) 226-2466 or go to dec.ny.gov.
To locate a Lake Ontario charter boat service, contact the Genesee Charter Boat Association at geneseecharterboat.com or nyfisherman.net.
2012 SEASONS
• Whitetail deer (Southern zone): Archery, Oct. 13-Nov. 16, Dec. 9-18. Firearms regular season, Nov. 17-Dec. 9.
• Black bear (Central/West zone): Archery, Oct. 13-Nov. 16, Dec. 9-18. Firearms, Nov. 17-Dec. 9.
• Turkey: Spring season, May 1-31.
• Pheasant: Oct. 13-Dec. 31.
• Rabbit: Oct. 1-Feb. 28.
• Squirrel: Sept. 1-Feb. 28.
• Coyote: Oct. 1-March 23.
• Trout (Finger Lakes tributaries): April 1-Dec. 31.
• Black bass: June 16-Nov. 30.
• Walleye, northern pike: May 5-March 15.
• Perch, other panfish: Open all year.
BEAR HUNTING BOOM
Bear hunting continues to gain popularity thanks to a growing population in western/central New York. Improved habitat over the past 15 years has allowed bears to expand their range from the Pennsylvania border north. Last season, hunters harvested a record 353 bears locally; the old record was 193 in 2008.
* THE DAILY CATCH http://fishingnews.posterous.com/fishing-and-hunting Fishing, hunting options aboundLEO ROTH – Staff writer Our Towns – April 25, 2012 - 5:00am As a tournament bass fisherman, Irondequoit’s Ron Penders has fished all across New York state in pursuit of the “big one.” But if he had to pick one place to hook a kid on fishing, it would be Honeoye Lake ju ...
Our Towns – April 25, 2012 - 5:00am
As a tournament bass fisherman, Irondequoit’s Ron Penders has fished all across New York state in pursuit of the “big one.”
But if he had to pick one place to hook a kid on fishing, it would be Honeoye Lake just south of Rochester.
“There are tons of 13- to 14-inch fish in Honeoye Lake, and you can use a lot of different techniques,” Penders, a member of the Rochester Bassmasters club. “In order to get kids interested in fishing, you have to catch fish. … So even if the fish are small, at least you’re still catching and still active.”
Thanks to an abundance of year-round fishing and hunting options, the Rochester region is a perfect place for outdoorsmen to stay active.
Just north of downtown is Lake Ontario, the world’s 14th-largest lake renowned for its trophy-class Chinook, Coho and Atlantic salmon. Fishing for steelhead, brown and lake trout is also on par with some of the world’s best sport fishing centers.
A fleet of experienced charter guides, many working out of the Port of Rochester, take customers out daily from April through September, with the waters off Niagara, Orleans, Monroe and Wayne counties taking turns as “hot spots” for salmon that migrate in search of bait fish.
The 11 Finger Lakes comprise 134,000 acres of fresh water holding trophy-sized trout, bass, walleye and pike.
Meanwhile, some of the best trout streams in the Northeast are located here, headed by Naples and Oatka creeks. The state stocks 2.4 million brook, brown and rainbow trout into more than 300 lakes and ponds and 3,000 miles of streams. Even the historic Erie Canal holds abundant pan fish.
Rochester is just as much a paradise for hunters. Regulated seasons exist not only for whitetail deer, but also for black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and small-game species.
Some of the best counties to deer hunt are in western New York, including Steuben, Yates and Ontario counties, and bear hunting zones have been expanded to help curtail a growing population.
The Department of Environmental Conservation, whose local headquarters is located in Avon, Livingston County, is responsible for management of all fish and wildlife.
Even though most hunting is done on private property, hunters have access to nearly a quarter-million acres of public land, according to the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance.
Anyone 16 and older needs a license to fish. Licenses are available at all town halls and bait shops.
Hunting in New York requires a license obtained after taking a comprehensive safety course offered by the DEC. There are special courses for archery hunters and trappers.
For all state hunting and fishing regulations, tips, and maps, contact the DEC at (585) 226-2466 or go to dec.ny.gov.
To locate a Lake Ontario charter boat service, contact the Genesee Charter Boat Association at geneseecharterboat.com or nyfisherman.net.
2012 SEASONS
• Whitetail deer (Southern zone): Archery, Oct. 13-Nov. 16, Dec. 9-18. Firearms regular season, Nov. 17-Dec. 9.
• Black bear (Central/West zone): Archery, Oct. 13-Nov. 16, Dec. 9-18. Firearms, Nov. 17-Dec. 9.
• Turkey: Spring season, May 1-31.
• Pheasant: Oct. 13-Dec. 31.
• Rabbit: Oct. 1-Feb. 28.
• Squirrel: Sept. 1-Feb. 28.
• Coyote: Oct. 1-March 23.
• Trout (Finger Lakes tributaries): April 1-Dec. 31.
• Black bass: June 16-Nov. 30.
• Walleye, northern pike: May 5-March 15.
• Perch, other panfish: Open all year.
BEAR HUNTING BOOM
Bear hunting continues to gain popularity thanks to a growing population in western/central New York. Improved habitat over the past 15 years has allowed bears to expand their range from the Pennsylvania border north. Last season, hunters harvested a record 353 bears locally; the old record was 193 in 2008.
* THE DAILY CATCH http://fishingnews.posterous.com/fishing-and-hunting Fishing, hunting options aboundLEO ROTH – Staff writer Our Towns – April 25, 2012 - 5:00am As a tournament bass fisherman, Irondequoit’s Ron Penders has fished all across New York state in pursuit of the “big one.” But if he had to pick one place to hook a kid on fishing, it would be Honeoye Lake ju ...
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