June 30, 2009
Breaking News: Brook Trout Record Shattered
It was just a matter of time before New York produced another "new" state record brook trout, and this time the lucky angler was
well-known Utica wildlife artist Tom Yacovella.
Actually, if you know Yacovella, than you also know "luck" had little to do with it. He is a brook trout specialist with a nose for where the big ones live.
The monster female brookie tipped the scales at 5 pounds, 4 ½ ounces on four different state-certified scales. While the 21-inch length is impressive, it is dwarfed by the fishes' amazing girth of 15 inches.
Yacovella was fishing on Raquette Lake. He was using an interesting three-way swivel with a pencil lead sinker. His lure of choice was a 3½-inch floating Rapala with a shad finish.
In recent months there have been rumors of
other potential record brook trout coming out of the Adirondacks which have turned out to be splake. Yacovella's fish was examined by NY DEC biologists
who confirmed it was indeed a brookie.
One way to differentiate between brookies and splake is to count the pyloric caeca (the finger-like projections in the small intestines). Brookies have 23 to 55 pyloric caeca, and splake have 65 to 85. Yacovella’s fish had 37, thus confirming its status.
This is considered a new record in New York as all the old records dating back to the 1800s, including a rumored 14-pounder by well known politician and dictionary founder Daniel Webster caught in the Carmans River on Long Island in 1827, were retired within the past decade. The previous "modern" record was 4 pounds, 15 ounces taken by Jesse Yousey on a Lake Clear Wabbler somewhere in the Five Ponds Wilderness in 2006.
Look for the complete story of Yacovella's amazing fish in the September issue of Outdoors Magazine.
May
18, 2009
Outdoors Magazine Expands
James Austin, the president of Elk Publishing, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Wilson Farms and Express Mart which will expand the distribution of
Outdoors Magazine to over 260 new stores, primarily in Western New York, beginning in August.
"It is a great fit for Outdoors Magazine," said Austin.
"Outdoors is already very popular with select sportsmen in that area, but the biggest complaint we hear is that they can't find it in their local store. Now, thanks to Wilson Farms and Express Mart, we will be in an additional 260 locations in the heart of a very vibrant hunting and fishing area."
Outdoors Magazine will also be celebrating the new distribution by expanding their regional coverage of Western New York including
in-depth reports on fishing the Great Lakes written by some of the region's most knowledgeable charter captains.
May 12, 2009
Dec Revises Campground
Closure Plan
Four of Six Facilities
to Open for Shortened Season
Working in collaboration with local
governments, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) has revised its original plan for closing
six campgrounds for the 2009 season, Commissioner Pete Grannis
announced today. The new plan will allow the state to
capitalize on peak camping times while reducing operational
costs.
Under the new plan, DEC will operate four
of the six campgrounds for shortened seasons, from June 26
through Labor Day. In addition, after partnering with local
officials, DEC will substitute one Piseco Lake-area campground
in Hamilton County on the closure list for another. At the
campgrounds that will remain closed, DEC will allow use of its
hiking and horse trails and climbing routes.
“New York is facing tough economic
times and closing campgrounds was not an easy choice. With the
help of local officials, DEC has devised a way to soften the
impact,” Commissioner Grannis said. “Each of the targeted
facilities historically suffered from low occupancy over the
course of a full season. By shortening the season, we can open
the campgrounds during traditional peak occupancy periods.
This plan will help local tourism and provide opportunities
for affordable getaways while still reducing annual our
operating costs.”
The Adirondack revisions for the 2009
season are:
Point Comfort, Arietta, Hamilton
County.
The campground will be operated under an
abbreviated season – from June 26 through Labor Day.
However, DEC will not open Poplar Point, which is also
in the Piseco Lake area, for 2009.
DEC will explore options to work cooperatively with
Arietta officials to continue to potentially offer a day-use
facility at Poplar Point in future years.
Sharp Bridge, North Hudson, Essex
County.
The campground will be operated under an
abbreviated season - from June 26 through Labor Day.
Tioga Point, Raquette Lake, Hamilton
County.
The campground will be operated under an
abbreviated season – from June 26 through Labor Day.
Poke-O-Moonshine, Keeseville, Essex
County.
The previous decision to close this
facility remains in effect. Hikers, rock climbers and other recreational users will be
able to access hiking trails and climbing routes by parking in
the entrance area. No
fee will be charged for parking.
DEC will work closely with ReserveAmerica,
the state’s camping reservation service contractor, to
contact visitors whose reservations were previously cancelled,
to offer them their original reservations and to re-open the
camping site inventory to them before it is made available to
the general public. DEC will cover the cost of the reservation
fees to lessen the impact to the visitors that will be
affected.
DEC is responsible for managing 52
campgrounds and 7 day-use areas in New York’s Adirondack
Park and Catskill Park.
“I appreciate the cooperation of
Commissioner Peter Grannis, the DEC and local officials
working together to operate the Beaverkill,” said State
Senator John Bonacic. “The State has an obligation to the
people of the Catskills to ensure the assets the State owns
are operated and accessible to the public. I want to particularly commend Sullivan County Legislative
Chairman Jonathan Rouis and Legislator Alan Sorensen for their
efforts and initiative in relation to the Beaverkill."
“I’m very happy the Department of
Environmental Conservation listened to our concerns and worked
with local officials to revise their plan,” said State
Senator Betty Little. “A
cooperative approach ensures the best outcome in tough
times.”
May 6, 2009
Dec Announces Opening
Of Limited Public Access To Adirondack Easement Lands
Three parcels of conservation easement
land formerly owned by International Paper Company and
currently owned by Lyme Timber are now open for limited public
recreation, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation announced today. The public will be able to
access the lands for non-motorized recreation at this time;
motorized access will be provided in the future.
The three parcels are the 17,125-acre
Black Brook Tract in the Town of Black Brook, Clinton County;
the 7,870-acre Altamont Tract in the Town of Tupper Lake,
Franklin County; and the 19,000-acre Kushaqua Tract in the
Towns of Brighton and Franklin, Franklin County. The parcels
are part of one of New York State’s largest land
conservation projects - 256,649 acres of land - which was
announced on Earth Day in 2004.
The Black Brook, Altamont and Kushaqua
Tracts had a five year waiting period before the properties
could be opened to the public, which expired on April 22. The
three tracts are open to public access for non-motorized
recreation only- on foot, mountain bike, on horse, or
canoe/kayak - at this time. The full array of recreation
rights purchased will not be available at this time due to
lack of resources. Permitted recreational activities include
hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking,
hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing and
canoeing/kayaking. Camping and campfires are prohibited until
such time as camping sites can be designated. Otherwise all
state land use regulations are in effect and will be enforced
by DEC Forest Rangers.
May 6, 2009
Sable Highlands
Recreation Proposals Include Improving Camping, Hiking,
Fishing And Mountain Biking
A new draft plan for recreational uses of
the Sable Highlands in the northeastern Adirondacks includes
proposals to construct camping sites, improve old and create
new hiking trails, enhance fishing access and open two new
mountain biking routes, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Betsy Lowe
announced today.
The Sable Highlands Conservation Easement
Lands consist of approximately 84,000 acres of land in the
towns of Ellenburg and Saranac in Clinton County, and Bellmont
and Franklin in Franklin County.
“The plan outlines extensive and varied
recreational opportunities, including motorized recreation, on
the Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Lands,” said
Regional Director Lowe. “DEC
is pleased to have worked with Chateaugay Woodlands and the
Nature Conservancy in developing public access on these lands,
while protecting the natural resources and retaining timber
management jobs.”
The public will have an opportunity to
comment on the plan, technically known as the Interim
Recreation Management Plan (IRMP).
DEC will also accept written comments until June 1,
2009.
The Sable Highlands Conservation Easement
Lands consist of lands formerly owned by Domtar Industries,
Inc., which were purchased by Chateaugay Woodlands LLC, a
subsidiary of the Lyme Timber Company, in 2004. In December
2008, Chateaugay Woodlands and the DEC closed on a working
forest conservation easement that included development rights
and sustainable forestry requirements on all 84,000 acres.
The easement also includes public access to over 28,000
acres of the property and many miles of the existing road
system.
Earlier this year, Chateaugay Woodlands
was purchased by the Forest Lands Group.
The conservation easement is part of the deed and
remains in effect in perpetuity. The landowner’s primary
focus is on actively managing the lands for timber.
Also, the landowner is continuing leases of numerous
parcels of lands to private hunting clubs.
The recreation plan was developed to
facilitate and manage public recreational use of the easement
lands and complies with the terms and conditions of the
easement. It was
developed in consultation with, and review by, the landowner.
Input was obtained from a variety of stakeholders
including local governments, snowmobile and ATV clubs,
sportsmen, hikers and private lease club members.
The Sable Highlands Conservation Easement
Lands consists mainly of low rolling mountains typical of the
northeastern corner of the Adirondack Park. The lands also
feature numerous high quality ponds and streams, forested
uplands and wetland areas, providing habitat for a wide
variety of fish and wildlife species. Brook trout, moose and a
number of endangered and threatened species are found on the
lands. For hunters and trappers, the area features good
habitat for whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, and snowshoe hare.
The existing road system offers opportunities for public use
and access with cars, trucks, snowmobiles and ATVs.
The IRMP proposes facilities and
opportunities for a variety of recreational activities for
recreationists with a broad range of skill levels. Proposed management actions include:
-
Constructing up to 56 primitive and
drive-in camping sites;
-
Developing or enhancing access to
Fishhole, Figure 8 and Grass Ponds; North Branch Saranac,
Little Trout River, and Salmon Rivers; Plumadore and True
Brooks and Ragged Lake Outlet;
-
Rehabilitating the existing hiking
trails on Owls Head Mountain (approximately 1 mile);
-
Constructing new hiking trails to
access cliffs in the Plumadore area and the summits of
Norton Peak, Haystack Mountain, Wolf Pond Mountain
(approximately 14 miles);
-
Opening two designated mountain
biking routes on existing roads (approximately 7 miles);
-
Designating over 60 miles of existing
roads for public use including:
-
32.5 miles to be open to
snowmobiles and ATVs or passenger vehicles (roads
opened to ATVs will be opened to groomed
snowmobiling);
-
20 miles of roads to be open
seasonally to passenger vehicles only; and
-
8 miles of road to be open for
motorized use by persons with disabilities.
The IRMP is for public review at DEC
headquarters in Albany, DEC regional offices in Ray Brook and
Warrensburg. The plan will be available for review at the town
offices of Ellenburg and Saranac in Clinton County, and
Bellmont and Franklin in Franklin County.
Copies are available in electronic format
for distribution on compact disc and may be requested by
calling DEC at (518) 897-1291.
A limited number of printed copies are available as
well. The
complete document will be available on DEC's website at:
html://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/53931.html
Public comments will be accepted until
June 1, 2009, and may be sent to Sean Reynolds, Forester
NYSDEC, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977, or emailed to
r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.usr
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