ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in a renovated concentration camp in post-war Germany, to slave laborers deported from Ukraine by the Nazis during the conflict, Spider learned early in life the spiritual, emotional and practical benefits of fishing. A freelance writer and photographer since the early 1980s, Spider has published numerous features in magazines, ranging from In-Fisherman, Outdoor Life, and Great Lakes Angler to The American Legion Magazine, Log Home Living, and Boating Life. He is also the author of Fishing Eastern New York and Fishing Western New York (both from Falcon Guide), and writes a blog for Oswego County Tourism: huntingandfishinginoswego.blogspot.com.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
COMPLETING A WORK this ambitious all by myself would have taken more years than I have leftnot to mention gas, money, and time away from Susan, the cats, and my favorite fishing spots. Adding to the burden was Governor Cuomos directive forbidding New York State Department of Environmental Conservation personnel from talking spontaneously to the media. Surprisingly, some DEC employees obeyed the order and wouldnt talk to me, forcing me to clear questions through the press office in Albany, a lengthy process complicating matters by involving way more people than was necessary, and often resulting in dull statistics. Fortunately, some of my old DEC contacts ignored the order, and their help, combined with the NYSDEC website and numerous private sources, provided everything from local fishing tips and techniques to secret fishing spots and charter trips, helping me complete the work. So heres a list of those I bugged most of all, at all hours: Marc Arena, Ron Bierstine, Captain Frank Campbell, Corky Cansdale, Raymond Chittenden, Janet Clerkin, Gary Fisher, Frank Flack, Todd Frank, Captain Ryan Tiny Gilbert, Captain George Haskin, Captain Matt Heath, Bill Hilts Jr., Mike Kelly, Chris Kenyon, Roger Klindt, Captain Nick Lee, Captain Mark Lewis, Captain Tom Marks, Captain Dick McDonald, Mike McGrath, Captain Rick Miick, Mark Moskal, Larry Muroski, Stan Ouellette, Captain Darryl Raate, Captain Dick Stanton, Mike Todd, Dave Turner, Scott VanderWater, Harvey VanDewalker, Fran Verdoliva, Captain Bob Walters, Captain Mike Waterhouse, Migell Wedderburn.
APPENDIX
IN MOST CASES, fishing information can be obtained toll-free by contact ing county tourism offices or regional councils such as the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council. If that doesnt work or if you require detailed, site-specific information like stocking reports and future management plans, contact the fisheries office in the regional New York State Department of Environmental Conservation office.
Visitor Bureaus, Visitor Associations, and County Tourism Offices
Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau
617 Main Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14203-1496
888-228-3369
www.visitbuffaloniagara.com
Cayuga County Tourism
131 Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
800-499-9615
315-947-6348 (fishing hotline)
www.tourcayuga.com
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 1441
Chautauqua, NY 14722
800-242-4569
www.tourchautauqua.com
Clayton Chamber of Commerce
517 Riverside Drive
Clayton, NY 13624
800-252-9806
www.1000islands-clayton.com
Henderson Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 468
Henderson Harbor, NY 13651
888-938-5568
Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
10 Rainbow Boulevard
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
800-338-7890
www.niagara-usa.com
Orleans County Tourism
14016 Route 31 West
Albion, NY 14411
800-724-0314
585-589-3220 (fishing hotline)
www.orleanscountytourism.com
Oswego County Tourism
46 East Bridge Street
Oswego, NY 13126
315-349-8324
800-248-4386 (Fish-n-Fun line)
www.visitoswegocounty.com
Visit Rochester
45 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604
800-677-7282
www.visitrochester.com
Wayne County Tourism
9 Pearl Street
Suite 3
Lyons, NY 14489
800-527-6510
315-946-5466 (fishing hotline)
www.waynecountytourism.com
Regional Councils, Associations, and Commissions
Seaway Trail, Inc.
401 West Main Street
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
800-732-9298
www.seawaytrail.com
Thousand Islands International Tourism Council
P.O. Box 709
Wellesley Island, NY 13640
800-847-5263
www.visit1000islands.com
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Website: www.dec.ny.gov
Fisheries Office
NYSDEC Region 6
State Office Building
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601-3787
315-785-2261
Fisheries Office
NYSDEC Region 7
1285 Fisher Avenue
Cortland, NY 13045-1090
607-753-3095
Fisheries Office
NYSDEC Region 8
6274 East Avon-Lima Road
Avon, NY 14414-9519
585-226-2466
Fisheries Office
NYSDEC Region 9, Lake Erie Unit
178 Point Drive North
Dunkirk, NY 14048
716-366-0228
www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9217.html (Lake Erie Fishing Hotline report)
State Parks
State parks generally charge a day-use fee from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reservations for camping can be made by calling the NY State Parks Reservation Center at 800-456-2267 or online: www.reserveamerica.com.
Burnham Point State Park
34075 Route 12E
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
315-654-2324
Cedar Island State Park
County Route 93
Hammond, NY 13646
315-482-3331
Cedar Point State Park
36661 Cedar Point State Park Drive
Clayton, NY 13624
315-654-2522
DeWolf Point State Park
45920 County Route 191
Fineview, NY 13640
315-482-2722
Summer: 315-482-2012
Evangola State Park
10191 Old Lake Shore Road
Irving, NY 14081
716-549-1802
Fair Haven Beach State Park
14985 State Park Road
P.O. Box 16
Fair Haven, NY 13604
315-947-5205
Four Mile Creek State Park
1055 Lake Road
Youngstown, NY 14174
716-745-3802
Golden Hill State Park
9691 Lower Lake Road
Barker, NY 14012
716-795-3885 or 795-3117
Grass Point State Park
42247 Grassy Point Road
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
315-686-4472
Hamlin Beach State Park
1 Camp Road
Hamlin, NY 14464
585-964-2462
Keewaydin State Park
45165 NYS Route 12
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
315-482-3331
Kring Point State Park
25950 Kring Point Road
Redwood, NY 13679
315-482-2444
Lakeside Beach State Park
Route 18
Waterport, NY 14571
716-682-4888
Long Point State Park (Lake Ontario)
7495 State Park Road
Three Mile Bay, NY 13693
315-649-5258
Mary Island State Park
36661 Cedar Point State Park Drive
Clayton, NY 13624
315-654-2522
Sandy Island Beach State Park
3387 County Route 15
Pulaski, NY 13145
315-387-2657
Selkirk Shores State Park
7101 State Route 3
Pulaski, NY 13142
315-298-5737
Southwick Beach State Park
8119 Southwicks Place
Henderson, NY 13650
315-846-5338
Wellesley Island State Park
44927 Cross Island Road
Fineview, NY 13640
315-482-2722
Westcott Beach State Park
Route 3
Henderson, NY 13650
315-938-5083
Wilson-Tuscarora State Park
3371 Lake Road
P.O. Box 324
Wilson, NY 14172
716-751-6361
County and Town Parks
Monroe County Parks Department
171 Reservoir Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620