Sunday, May 10th, 2026
My Account

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Search
My Account
Sunday, May 10th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Subscribe to Outdoor News

Bill Hilts Jr.

What anglers and boaters need to know about Harmful algal blooms in New York waters

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

Harmful algal blooms, referred to by most as simply HABs, seem to be more and more prevalent as we come to understand them.
It seems to be a work in progress – what they are, how they are formed, and how do they impact humans and other animals. There is a serious push to help create a better awareness for HABs, especially within the fishing and boating community.

What anglers and boaters need to know about Harmful algal blooms in New York waters Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Targeting Sharks (on purpose) during a fishing trip to South Carolina

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, New York, Opinion /

We needed a break. After going through all the anguish of trying to get our house ready to sell, we were in the final phase of listing the house with a realtor. It was time for a getaway to Garden City, South Carolina. 
An invitation from my brother-in-law, Tom Calvert of Lynchburg, Va., and his wife, Kathy, was all it took to accompany them on an ocean getaway, staying in a house they rented in a gated community just a few minutes via golf cart from the ocean. Tom and I agreed that at least one fishing trip was in order.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Targeting Sharks (on purpose) during a fishing trip to South Carolina Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Oswego shines for New York’s spring writers conference

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, New York, Opinion /

Oswego County truly is a sportsman’s paradise in New York.
Located on the southeast corner of Lake Ontario, it is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country. This made it the perfect place for the annual conference of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association as we mix business with, well, business.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Oswego shines for New York’s spring writers conference Read More »

Last-minute salmon nets $15K top prize in New York tournament series opener

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

It was only fitting that the Spring Lake Ontario Counties Trout, Salmon, and Walleye Derby came down to the wire on the final day of the popular contest. George Prentice of Smicksburg, Pa., caught a 25-pound salmon at 11:30 a.m. on May 12 and needed to rush his prize catch to the Boat Doctors in Olcott, N.Y., to beat the 1 p.m. deadline in order to cash in on the $15,000 grand prize.

Last-minute salmon nets $15K top prize in New York tournament series opener Read More »

New York’s Erie, Niagara counties dole out annual sporting awards

Fishing, Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York, News /

The outdoor conservation community, including fishermen, hunters, trappers and the like, honor the stewards of New York’s natural resources every year through the county’s federation of clubs. The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs held its annual gathering at Kloc’s Grove in West Seneca on April 13.
Sportsman of the Year for Erie County was Jeff Jondle, of Marilla, current president of the Erie County Federation, a position he has held since 2018. Under his tenure, the Federation has been more proactive with community support activities. It has also become more financially stable as the group pursues available grant money.

New York’s Erie, Niagara counties dole out annual sporting awards Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: New York’s Niagara River surprises lead to a huge walleye, media memories

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

For more than 25 years, some of the top outdoor media mavens in the country have converged in the village of Lewiston, N.Y., a cast away from the lower Niagara River.

It is a base of operations for all things fishing in western New York — Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River bass and walleye; trout, bass, and walleye in the Lower Niagara River; Lake Ontario salmon and trout. Even when the weather throws the group a curve ball, they can still manage to find some place to get on the water and catch fish. There is always a back-up plan.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: New York’s Niagara River surprises lead to a huge walleye, media memories Read More »

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Remembering New York’s rainbow/steelhead record fish 20 years later

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

Do you know what the New York State freshwater fish record catches are? 
Based on my personal experiences, I would have to say most people would not. They may know a few of their favorites (ballpark weights) but actual records would be limited. I had a couple friends through the years catch record fish and either didn’t realize it or didn’t care to enter it for personal reasons. One was an 18-plus pound walleye in the lower Niagara River 30 years ago.

Bill Hilts, Jr.: Remembering New York’s rainbow/steelhead record fish 20 years later Read More »

2024 New York Great Lakes Preview: How good can the fishing be on Lake Erie?

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

“It’s getting better all the time!”
If the Beatles were still around today, they may have written a song about Lake Erie and its tremendous fishery that emphasized how good it is … and that it keeps getting better all the time, year after year. This year appears to be no different when you look at the big picture.

2024 New York Great Lakes Preview: How good can the fishing be on Lake Erie? Read More »

2024 New York Great Lakes Preview: Lake Ontario full of promise and choices

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, New York /

Lake Ontario, a shared natural resource between two countries, may have been named after the Iroquois Native American word meaning “beautiful lake” or “sparkling water.” The name appeared on maps for the first time as early as 1656, shortly after the first Europeans called it “Ontario” 15 years before that.
There is a long and storied history in this Great Lake, a body of water that receives most of its sustenance from the upper four Great Lakes – primarily through the Niagara River as a final conduit. Fish and fishing have been an important component to its history, and it still is today.

2024 New York Great Lakes Preview: Lake Ontario full of promise and choices Read More »

GET THE OUTDOOR NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 2 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.

This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)

Email Address(Required)
Password(Required)
Name
What outdoor activities interest you?(Required)

PLEASE READ

Accessing Your Full Subscription Just Got Easier. Introducing Single Sign On.

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Click Continue below.
  2. You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
  3. Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
  4. After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue.
  5. You’ll either:
    1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
    2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

One login. Every edition. Easy.

Let’s get you reading!

Continue...

PLEASE READ

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

• Click Continue below.

• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.

• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!

• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:

  1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
  2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

Continue...

Help Shape the Future of OutdoorNews.com!

We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.

Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!

Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.

Take the Survey

Introducing The Outdoor News Foundation

Donate Today

For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!

Sign Up Now

Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.

Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.