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Bill Hilts Jr.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Fishing New York’s Canandaigua Lake is another item off the bucket list

Featured, Features, Fishing, National Fishing, New York /

Having just turned 70 years old, it’s fun to have bucket lists to help achieve personal accomplishments. When Capt. Ned Librock of Catching Dreams Charters invited me along to fish Canandaigua Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, I jumped at the chance. I had never fished in that Finger Lake before (and neither had he), and this would be a perfect opportunity. Our target species would be yellow perch.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Fishing New York’s Canandaigua Lake is another item off the bucket list Read More »

New York DEC updates waterfowlers at online meeting

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, National News, New York, News /

As predicted in 2025, Canada goose regulations became a bit more liberal in upstate New York with 45-day seasons and a three-bird bag limit in areas that had been impacted last year.
That was some of the good news that was announced when the 2026 Online Waterfowl Meeting was held on Oct. 5, keeping waterfowl hunters appraised for all things happening in the world of ducks and geese in the Empire State.

New York DEC updates waterfowlers at online meeting Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Another outdoor section prints its final page in Buffalo, N.Y.

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, New York, Opinion /

Western New York offers fishermen some of the top freshwater fishing in the world, rods and reels down. Helping to get the word out to local anglers was The Buffalo News. Before that, there was a second paper in town, the Buffalo Courier Express.
When the doors closed on the morning paper in 1982, The Buffalo News (TBN) became a one-horse town. Through the years, top outdoor writers for TBN included Will Elliott and Mike Levy. For the Courier Express, it was William R. (Bill, Sr.) Hilts, and he wrote four or five times a week. For the last 10 years, I have had the honor and privilege to write for TBN, twice a week offering a fishing report on Thursdays and an outdoor page on Sunday. However, that ended with the final outdoor page on Oct. 4, 2026. 

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Another outdoor section prints its final page in Buffalo, N.Y. Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Trip on Lake Erie helps remember a friend through a fishing lure

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, New York, Opinion /

Keeping the memories alive of a friend or loved one is important in the scheme of things when it comes to living life. When I received my annual Lake Erie walleye fishing invitation from Tom Vogt of Lockport, N.Y., the first thing that popped into my head was an opportunity to use a worm harness that was hand-tied by the late Ted Malota of Hamburg.

It brought back smiles and positive memories of a trip in 2025 when Tom and I limited out on ‘eyes off Buffalo…as well as reflections of Ted. Ted passed away in 2024, and we were never able to go out fishing together even though we both had vowed to get on Lake Erie for some walleye fishing time and time again.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Trip on Lake Erie helps remember a friend through a fishing lure Read More »

Angler wins LOC Fall Derby with nearly 31-pound king

Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, National News, New York, News /

Year after year, Jack MacDowall of Hancock, N.Y. has been plying the waters of Lake Ontario to catch a big salmon.
After fishing these Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derbies for more than 25 years, he finally caught a big king that earned him the $20,000 grand prize – a 30-pound, 13-ounce Chinook salmon that the Catskills lumberjack caught on the second day of the derby while fishing out of Oswego, N.Y.

Angler wins LOC Fall Derby with nearly 31-pound king Read More »

Fish passage project in New York helps Great Lakes emerald shiners

Leave a Comment / Discussions, Featured, Fishing, Free Content, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York, News /

It was a big project for a small fish. The emerald shiner, arguably one of the most important fish in the Great Lakes, received a significant amount of funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – $13.4 million to be exact – to help the tiny baitfish overcome the strong currents of New York’s Niagara River.

Fish passage project in New York helps Great Lakes emerald shiners Read More »

Western New York angler prevails at Bassmaster Lake Erie Open

Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, National News, New York, News /

Alex Korol of Fairport, in New York’s Monroe County, overcame several challenges – including a bout of bronchitis and some boat-related issues on the final day of action – to win the Bassmaster Lake Erie Open tournament held out of Buffalo Aug. 20-22. It was the final Open tournament for Division 1 of the year for this Bassmasters circuit.

Western New York angler prevails at Bassmaster Lake Erie Open Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Revisiting New York’s record chinook salmon, and the terrific 1990s

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, New York, Opinion /

The year was 1991. George H.W. Bush was president, a gallon of gas was $1.14, the World Wide Web was made available to everyone around the world, the Soviet Union was formally dissolved, and “Dances with Wolves” won the Best Picture Oscar.
In the world of sports, the New York Giants won the Super Bowl (over the Buffalo Bills and the famous “wide right” kick), the Pittsburgh Penguins were the Stanley Cup champions, and the Minnesota Twins won the World Series. And on Sept. 7, Kurt Killian of Berwick, Pa. caught the state record Chinook salmon for New York. The guide was longtime skipper and guide Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing, and he recalls that day vividly.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Revisiting New York’s record chinook salmon, and the terrific 1990s Read More »

Politics affecting Canadian tourism in New York

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York, News /

For what is a long list of reasons, Canadians have slowed their visitation to the Empire State – be it for shopping, vacationing, fishing, camping, and general tourism activities. The state already knew about the decline in 2020 relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, but things were starting to improve as the economy picked up and travel restrictions lessened.
However, after a brief surge in border crossings in 2024, numbers began to drop again. The most recent announcement of 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods coming into the U.S. at the end of August could be another nail in the coffin.

Politics affecting Canadian tourism in New York Read More »

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