It's time to dig out the fishing pole, organize the lures, search for some bait and drop the boat in the lake. During the next several days, three special events will spur along the summer fishing season.
With bass season opening Saturday, anyone looking for bragging rights that come with landing the season's biggest catch will have plenty of opportunity to clinch glory at one of several fishing events going on throughout the region.
Jack Wellauer, owner of South Shore Marina in Moravia, said the competitive nature of his event is what makes it exciting for everyone.
“When it's a competition, just like anything else - like pick-up basketball or a game of football - guys like to compete and prove they are the best,” Wellauer said. “It's not just men - women win too, and they have taken the big prize here in the past.”
While participants will compete within their own individual fishing class, such as lake, brown or rainbow trout, small and large mouth bass, and perch, walleye and northern pike, there will also be a clunker pool where the person with the single largest fish could walk away with an extra $1,500.
The same categories will be available in the children's tournament as well, Wellauer said, but there are more prizes available for them this year compared to previous years. Wellauer said his goal is to ensure that every child leaves with a prize in hand.
“I want to encourage more participation with kids,” Wellauer said. “If they participate every year and don't win anything, they get discouraged, and I don't want that to happen. This is a great opportunity for them to go outside and participate, learn about nature and just be outdoors. No television or games.”
Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge will also promote a fishing event catered toward children.
Fern Twomey, a park employee at the hatchery, said the Grandparent-Grandchild Fishing event has been a big attraction for more than a decade.
“We teach children about ecology, nature and fishing, but it's really a chance to spend quality time together,” Twomey said. “Each grandparent is allowed to bring two grandchildren; so two grandparents can bring four grandchildren to the park, and they go fishing right in our pond.”
While most fishing events require participants to have a fishing license, Twomey said the hatchery's event is different.
“People always ask us if they need a license, and the answer is no,” Twomey said. “You don't need a license to go fishing in our park, and I think that is a big appeal for a lot of people. They don't have to go out and buy one just for this event.”
If you go.
South Shore Marina
Fishing Tournament
When: Sunrise Saturday, June 20, to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21
Where: South Shore Marina, 2810 Fire Lane 1, off Route 38, Moravia
Cost: $15 adults, $5 children 12 and younger, extra $5 for lunker pool; register by 6 p.m. Friday, June 19, at marina
Info: Call 497-3006 or visit www.ssmonowasco.net
Grandparent/
Grandchild Fishing
When: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monda through Friday, June 22 through June 26
Where: Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge
Cost: $2 per grandchild
Info: Call 689-9367
Lake Ontario Counties' Summer Fishing Derby
When: Saturday, June 20 through July 19
Where: Lake Ontario
Categories: Salmon, brown, lake, rainbow or steelhead trout and walleye
Info: Call (888) 733-5246 or visit www.loc.org
Fishing Tips
ß Use a boat: While people can fish off of their docks or in shallow inlets, Jack Wellauer, owner of South Shore Marina, said most of the people who participate in his facility's fishing tournament use a boat. Wellauer said the bigger fish are generally found out in deeper waters.
ß Night fishing: For some fish, such as walleye, Wellauer said fishing at night will be the best chance to land the bigger fish. If night fishing in shallow waters, people should take the time to learn layout of the area where they will go while there is still daylight in order to avoid obstacles that will be hard to see once the sun sets.
ß Gut hook or deep hook: If practicing catch and release and a fish swallows the hook, the state Department of Environmental Conservation recommends leaving the hook in the fish's stomach by cutting off the line as close to the hook as possible. The fish's body will breakdown the hook and remove it from its body naturally, ensuring the fish will survive to eat another day.
Jack Wellauer, owner of South Shore Marina in Moravia, said the competitive nature of his event is what makes it exciting for everyone.
“When it's a competition, just like anything else - like pick-up basketball or a game of football - guys like to compete and prove they are the best,” Wellauer said. “It's not just men - women win too, and they have taken the big prize here in the past.”
While participants will compete within their own individual fishing class, such as lake, brown or rainbow trout, small and large mouth bass, and perch, walleye and northern pike, there will also be a clunker pool where the person with the single largest fish could walk away with an extra $1,500.
The same categories will be available in the children's tournament as well, Wellauer said, but there are more prizes available for them this year compared to previous years. Wellauer said his goal is to ensure that every child leaves with a prize in hand.
“I want to encourage more participation with kids,” Wellauer said. “If they participate every year and don't win anything, they get discouraged, and I don't want that to happen. This is a great opportunity for them to go outside and participate, learn about nature and just be outdoors. No television or games.”
Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge will also promote a fishing event catered toward children.
Fern Twomey, a park employee at the hatchery, said the Grandparent-Grandchild Fishing event has been a big attraction for more than a decade.
“We teach children about ecology, nature and fishing, but it's really a chance to spend quality time together,” Twomey said. “Each grandparent is allowed to bring two grandchildren; so two grandparents can bring four grandchildren to the park, and they go fishing right in our pond.”
While most fishing events require participants to have a fishing license, Twomey said the hatchery's event is different.
“People always ask us if they need a license, and the answer is no,” Twomey said. “You don't need a license to go fishing in our park, and I think that is a big appeal for a lot of people. They don't have to go out and buy one just for this event.”
If you go.
South Shore Marina
Fishing Tournament
When: Sunrise Saturday, June 20, to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21
Where: South Shore Marina, 2810 Fire Lane 1, off Route 38, Moravia
Cost: $15 adults, $5 children 12 and younger, extra $5 for lunker pool; register by 6 p.m. Friday, June 19, at marina
Info: Call 497-3006 or visit www.ssmonowasco.net
Grandparent/
Grandchild Fishing
When: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monda through Friday, June 22 through June 26
Where: Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge
Cost: $2 per grandchild
Info: Call 689-9367
Lake Ontario Counties' Summer Fishing Derby
When: Saturday, June 20 through July 19
Where: Lake Ontario
Categories: Salmon, brown, lake, rainbow or steelhead trout and walleye
Info: Call (888) 733-5246 or visit www.loc.org
Fishing Tips
ß Use a boat: While people can fish off of their docks or in shallow inlets, Jack Wellauer, owner of South Shore Marina, said most of the people who participate in his facility's fishing tournament use a boat. Wellauer said the bigger fish are generally found out in deeper waters.
ß Night fishing: For some fish, such as walleye, Wellauer said fishing at night will be the best chance to land the bigger fish. If night fishing in shallow waters, people should take the time to learn layout of the area where they will go while there is still daylight in order to avoid obstacles that will be hard to see once the sun sets.
ß Gut hook or deep hook: If practicing catch and release and a fish swallows the hook, the state Department of Environmental Conservation recommends leaving the hook in the fish's stomach by cutting off the line as close to the hook as possible. The fish's body will breakdown the hook and remove it from its body naturally, ensuring the fish will survive to eat another day.
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