Fishing a Lake Erie walleye tournament
Strategy is key for fishing a tournament. While catching a big fish is certainly a plus for your daily total, consistency for bigger fish is what really makes a difference at the end of the day.
New York – Bill Hilts Jr
Early season goose hunting tips
The early September season for Canada goose hunting is already here and with the changes in the regular Canada goose season for most of the state, more and more people are taking advantage of the early hunt. The season, which runs from Sept. 1-25 in much of the state, offers plenty of opportunity with less restrictive regulations. The bag limit…
VIP fishing days important for promotion, education
August is the perfect month for promoting our Great Lakes resources. The weather is nice, and the fish are hungry. It is also a great time to share these outdoor resources with Very Important People who may not normally experience these angling attractions on a regular basis. Thanks to progressive thinking fisheries advisory boards in Niagara, Erie and Chautauqua counties,…
Learning something new for Lake Erie walleyes
Long time charter captain Jim Hanley of Angola is a local legend of sorts. He’s been a licensed U.S. Coast Guard skipper for 43 years on the local waters of Western New York. He recognized early on that he was in a very special place when it came to freshwater fishing. “The waters of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and…
Figuring out Lake Erie fishing
What is going on with the fishing on Lake Erie?
Keeping it simple for Lake Erie walleyes
Lake Erie continues to be one of the best places to be for walleye in the entire world. With an estimated population of nearly 100 million fish, there are plenty to catch. For Capt. Ryan O’Neill of Orchard Park, his attitude for catching these fish is a philosophy that has been handed down from his mentors – keep it simple….
A day on the water with Capt. John Oravec
Like the saying goes, what goes around comes around. As I stepped into the Lund boat of Capt. John Oravec of Lyndonville (aptly named the Johnny O) during a recent fishing trip, he immediately informed me that he had taken my father (Bill Hilts, Sr.) out fishing some 45 years earlier during a writer outing on Canandaigua Lake, when he…
Encouraging the next generation to hunt, fish
Parker Costello of Lockport is 7 years old. There are two things he is passionate about – fishing and wrestling. They are interchangeable with the seasons. With the arrival of spring, fishing has firmly established itself as the outdoor activity to do whenever his father (Kyle) or grandfather (me) are available. “What is the biggest freshwater fish you have ever…
Night walleye fishing a fun experience
My phone notification for a text sounded off as I helped dig up a flower bed for my stepdaughter. It was a welcome relief. “Want to go night walleye fishing this week?” It was Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga and we had tried to hook up for a trip last year, but COVID-19 and the weather got in the way. “Absolutely…
Turkey tips from a novice
Time in the field is the number one learning tool for everyone.
‘Seal Hike’ spurs memories of past April 1 Adventure
While checking out Twitter notifications from New York State Parks earlier this month, an announcement came through for a “Seal Hike” from Montauk State Park. Yes, there are seals spotted regularly on Long Island, having witnessed some at a recent state writers conference. Have you ever seen a seal in the Niagara River though? It was about 20 years ago…
Hunting hares with beagles becoming a lost art
“Tally Ho” is more than just a cry of a participant at a hunt to encourage the hounds when the quarry is sighted, as it explains in the dictionary. It is also the name of a new book by John Jarzynski of Lawtons, with a sub-heading of “Confessions of an Old Beagler.” Jarzynski, a retired English Teacher from Gowanda Central School, grew…
Learning new waters: Oatka Creek confidence
Opening new waters to fresh angling experiences should be on everyone’s radar. I first learned about Oatka Creek in detail by reading Trout Streams of Central New York penned by friend J. Michael Kelly of Marcellus. As one of the first people to read his 2015 book (he sent me an uncorrected proof to read over), he honored me by…
Promoting fishing and the outdoors is important
It was 35 years ago that I was hired by Niagara County to start up a brand-new program. I was brought in to serve as the county’s Sportfishing Promotion Program Coordinator. Yes, it was a mouthful to say. To shorten it up, Town of Newfane Supervisor Tim Horanburg would simply call me the “Fish Head.” Sometimes it would “Head Fish.”…
The push for kids and crossbows
Discussion has started to allow 12- and 13-year-old junior hunters to take the next step to hunt big game with firearms here in New York.
In New York, making a point – and losing one – on new state record buck
Somewhere along the way, 19-point buck became an 18-point animal after the final measurements were taken and documented.
Promoting Lake Ontario through Sportfishing Promotion Council
I received a call from Capt. Rob Westcott of Hamlin, the skipper of Legacy Charters out of Bald Eagle and president of the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association. Through his leadership and guidance, the charter fishing industry became part of Phase One in the Empire State when things began to open back up in May 2020. That was huge. However,…
Future looks brighter for 2021
For the ranks of fishermen and fisherwomen who turned to fishing for relief from a pandemic, everyone should make one new resolution moving forward – become a mentor for another angler or two.
A resolution for 2021: Know hunting and fishing regs
If you are going to be a true hunter or angler, you need to know and understand the regulations for the waters you intend to fish or the woods, fields, and waters you intend to hunt. It cannot be any plainer than that. Hunting and fishing come with a certain amount of responsibility. As the stewards of our natural resources,…
Dealing with a pandemic’s effect on nature, educating anglers/hunters
Let us all lend a hand in this process to ensure a brighter future for hunting and fishing, as well as our natural resources.
Shooting preserves are important
In this new world of COVID-19, social distancing, and masks, shooting preserves can play an important role in getting new hunters afield in a safe and responsible manner. Whether it is the next generation of junior hunters or older adults who are new to upland bird hunting, chasing pheasants or chukars on a preserve is the perfect way to get…
Preserving fishing history is important
Mark Schmitkons has a passion for collecting antique fishing gear. Mark Schmitkons, of Newfane, is crazy about antique fishing stuff. His passion is collecting old fishing tackle that truly means something, a piece of equipment that has a story to tell. His primary focus is Western New York, but he is also quite knowledgeable about the value of gear outside…
What lurks beneath the waters of Lake Ontario?
Many bodies of water have their own scary stories involving mysterious sightings and unexplained creatures. Lake Ontario is no different. However, I have personal knowledge through a couple friends that will leave you shaking your head, wondering what it could have been. My grandparents had a cottage on Lake Ontario, and I can remember seeing three large fish cruising the…
A bird in the hand
Like the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The proverb turned out to prophetic for our Canada goose hunt on the final day of the early season. The day started nice enough. Cool temperatures in the morning helped to keep sweat to a minimum on Sept. 25 at 5 a.m. when our group…
Gearing up for fall walleye fishing on Chautauqua Lake
The combination of successful stocking and natural reproduction has significantly improved the fishery.
Fish Odyssey spans from 9/11 to pandemic
Sometimes there is a silver lining in those storm clouds. Keep an open mind. It helps to spend as much time outdoors as possible, maintain a positive attitude and let Mother Nature work her magic.
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