Fish senses are survival tools that aid fish in finding food and eluding predators, and an angler who pays attention to these senses is likely to see an increase in the number of fish at line’s end.

While hearing, smell, taste, and feel play a part in fish survival, vision and lateral line are a fish’s primary survival tools.

Vision

Because of the position of eyes on the sides of the head, fish can pretty much see in all directions except for minor blind spots directly behind, directly in front, and directly below. Obviously vision plays a more significant role in clear water than in murky water.

In very clear water, fish can see more than 100 feet, while in very murky water, fish may see only a matter of inches.

On the average, fish probably rely on their vision out to the 20-foot-or-so range. Species like northern pike and brown trout have good long-range vision because they swim out from a hiding place to attack their prey.

The size of a fish’s eyes also affects the importance of sight. For example, catfish and bullheads have small eyes and are basically nearsighted so they rely more on other senses for survival.

Large eyes translate to effective feeding in low-light conditions so walleyes and muskellunge can see effectively under dark conditions when their smaller-eyed prey does not see well.

Fish see colors, too, and colors play a more significant role in shallow water than in deep water because the deeper an offering goes, the more the water filters out color ,and the more the bait or lure appears in a shade of gray to fish.

In clear water, baits emit their natural colors and lures emit their painted colors, but in dark water, fish see a silhouette more than color. The colors red, orange, and yellow fade fastest as a lure descends while the colors green and blue hold up best.

Lateral Line

The lateral line is a sensory structure consisting of a longitudinal line running the length of a fish’s body. The lateral line consists of vibration-detection sensors that enable the fish to detect vibrations from anything moving the water.

Because fish are such vibration-sensitive creatures, the ability of the lateral line to detect vibrations plays a key role in finding prey and avoiding predators.

Experts believe the lateral line also plays a role in detecting pressure changes, temperature changes, sound and current flow.

While the lateral line does play a role in clear water, that role becomes even more important in stained water where fish have to rely less on vision and more on vibration for survival.

No matter what conditions an anglers fishes, though, he is advised to create as little “negative” vibration as possible when wading or controlling a boat. Vibrations will likely put the fish in a defensive mode rather than a feeding one.

Hearing, Smell, Taste AND Feel

To a lesser degree than vision and lateral line, fish also rely on their other senses for survival.

Fish have an inner ear that allows them to pick up sound while traveling through water. Some people believe that talking will scare fish; that is unlikely, though, as the sounds of normal talking do not travel through the water.

For the most part, sound is not an issue when using live baits, but the sound features of such lures as top-water ones and rattle baits can certainly get a fish’s attention.

The use of the sense of smell varies in different fish species, but nostrils on either side of the head allow fish to take in water and identify odors of both prey and predator.

For feeding purposes, trout rely on their sense of smell more than other species do.

A highly developed sense of smell is necessary for survival of the species among anadromous fish that live in salt water and must return hundreds or even thousands of miles to their native freshwater stream to spawn.

From an avoidance-of-predator perspective, fish go on the alert when baits or lures carry foreign odors from humans, when baitfish and other fish become alarmed and emit chemicals, or when a large predator such as a northern pike fins nearby.

Fish have sensors in their mouths that facilitate the tasting and feeling of would-be foods. These senses of taste and feel often result in a fish expelling a lure before the angler has a chance to set the hook.

Slow-moving, bottom-feeding species such as carp, bullheads, and catfish rely on taste and feel more so than other fish do.

The use of natural baits has certainly the edge over most artificial lures when it comes to taste and feel, but soft plastics impregnated with fish attractants do offer a realistic appeal.

Outdoors Calendar

Monday: Trap and Skeet Shooting at Lisbon Sportsmen’s Club (Pray Rd.).

Saturday: Cape Vincent C of C hosts Annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

Saturday: Kids Free Fishing Classes at Wellesley Island State Park (482-2479).

May 28: SLC Fisheries Advisory Board meets at Canton BOCES at 7 p.m.

May 31: Spring Turkey season closes in NYS.

June 8: Bowhunter Education Course at SLVSC (Pre-register at 393-3775).

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center at Wellesley Island State Park has announced the dates for the annual series of Kids Free Fishing Classes, and the first session is slated for May 25. The other dates are June 15, July 6, Aug. 31, Sept. 14, and October 5. Again this year, noted outdoor writer and book author, Spider Rybaak of Canastota, will be the instructor.

Two separate classes will be held on each date. Traditional fishing with worms and lures will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day while fly-fishing will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. All sessions include actual fishing at the Nature Center’s dock, an area frequented by sunfish, yellow perch, and rock bass, as well as the occasional bass and northern pike.

Students 16 years and older are reminded that they must have a valid fishing license. At the event, Rybaak will have signed copies of his popular books (“Fishing Eastern New York” and “Fishing Western New York”) for sale. For more information, contact the Nature Center at 482-2479.

The Kids Free Fishing Classes are made possible thanks to the efforts of Spider Rybaak, Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, and industry sponsors. Sampo Swivels underwrites the program; Shakespeare, Berkley, and Mustad provide the fishing tackle; and Morgan Lyle donates the flies.

Catch-and-release Bass Season

The traditional bass season in New York State runs from the third Saturday in June until Nov. 30. Several years ago, though, DEC adopted statewide regulations that created a catch-and-release, artificial-lures-only bass season that extended from Dec. 1 through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June.

While the majority of waters across the state are open to bass fishing during the catch-and-release season, there is no catch-and-release season for the waters of Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. In these four counties, anglers are prohibited from fishing for bass, including catch-and-release fishing, until the traditional season opens on June 15.

Henderson Harbor Classic

Sponsored by the Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Center, the always popular Henderson Harbor Spring Classic is set for May 16-19. The 2013 derby features a $1,000 first-place prize in the brown trout, northern pike, and walleye divisions and a $500 first-place prize in the pickerel and lake trout divisions. In addition, prizes will be awarded for second through fifth places in all divisions.

Interested individuals can register ($20 for adults and $5 for youths 16 and under) and get a complete set of rules at Henchen Marina in Henderson Harbor, Gander Mountain in Watertown, or BJ’s Bait Shop in Dexter. Weigh-ins will take place at West View Lodge from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday and from noon until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Opening Weekend Fishing

Last Saturday and Sunday, I was fortunate enough to fish the St. Lawrence River for the opening weekend of walleye and pike seasons. Overall the fishing was slow, and I attributed that to the cold water temperatures (45 degrees), bright sun, and lack of a breeze to break up the water’s surface.

For walleyes, we trolled diving plugs along structural edges in 22 feet-or-so water. Those efforts produced a couple of nice fish, but we didn’t encounter numbers of fish in any of the areas we worked.

For northern pike, we cast buck-tail jigs and swim baits. Even though we caught a released a few hefty pike, the action was uncharacteristically slow for early May. Most of the bays we fished were pretty much void of weeds, and when we did find fish, they were in the weedy areas. During the outing, we saw 16 different pike that saw our lures but ignored them, looked at them, followed them, or nudged them without striking the lures as pike typically do.

Bowhunter Education Course

The St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club (Rte. 37 River Rd., Ogdensburg) will host a Bowhunter Education Course from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 8. The course is limited to 30 students, and interested individuals must pre-register by calling instructor Paul Montpetit at 393-3775.

Outdoors Calendar

Tuesday: Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of SLC meet at Canton BOCES at 7 p.m.

Saturday: Gary Strader Coyote Seminar at SLVSC at 3 p.m. (393-5318).

Thursday-Sunday: Henderson Harbor Spring Classic Fishing Derby for trout, pike, walleye, and pickeral.

May 25: Cape Vincent C of C hosts Annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

May 25: Kids Free Fishing Classes at Wellesley Island State Park (482-2479).

May 31: Spring Turkey Season closes in NYS.

June 8: Bowhunter Education Course at SLVSC (Pre-register at 393-3775).

June 15: Traditional Bass Season opens on NYS waters.

June 15: SLRWA hosts Annual Smackdown Walleye Tournament at Massena (384-3450).

June 15: SLVSC hosts Annual Opening-Day Bass Derby at Ogdensburg.

June 29-30: Free Fishing Days on NYS waters.

Northern pike season is now open, and early season offers some of the best fishing of the calendar year. This first-rate angling typically holds up throughout May and into early June on the many area waters that hold pike.

During most of the year, northern pike are scattered throughout a water system, and many of the fish inhabit deep water.

In contrast, spring pike tend to congregate in prime locations adjacent to their spawning grounds where the fish remain readily accessible to anglers.

Prey species are also at their lowest number of the year so pike have fewer feeding options. In addition, early-season pike have longer feeding windows than summertime fish that tend to be active primarily during the early morning and early evening hours.

Wise Harvest

While early season offers good fishing for the angler, a word of caution is needed as pike populations are vulnerable to “overfishing” at this time of the year just as they are during the ice fishing season.

For anglers who want to keep some pike filets for eating, selective harvest is recommended. Selective harvest involves keeping smaller or medium-sized fish for eating and releasing the larger fish.

Location

Locating spring pike means heading to the bays. The best bays generally in early spring are south-facing ones and wind-protected ones while the best bays in later spring are north-facing and wind-blown ones. Anglers should seek cooler bays later, and apply the same principles to portions of large bays.

No matter which bay an angler fishes, though, specific locations in that bay will attract packs of pike. One such gathering spot is a tributary mouth. Another is any shoreline that breaks into deep water as pike tend to lie at the bottom of such breaks. If the bay has a channel, the edges of that channel will certainly hold some pike. Also, points and shoal edges are can’t-miss spots.

Like other times of the year, weed beds, especially the outside edge and openings, are pike magnets. Flats, both large and small, tend to hold northern pike.

The best flats will have scattered weeds, and the most productive spot on any flat will be the edge that drops, even if only a few feet, into deeper water. In fact, any offshore break-line in the bay will attract pike.

Another prime spot in any bay is the deepest hole there, especially around its edges. The mouths of bays, too, will hold pike, and check out any points or weed growth there.

Techniques

Effective techniques include casting artificial lures, suspending live minnows, and trolling minnow plugs or spoons. No matter what technique an angler utilizes, the best advice is to employ a SLOW presentation as pike are not overly aggressive in cold water. Once water temperatures creep into the 60s, though, pike will strike a faster presentation.

Casting artificial lures such as plugs, plastics, spoons, spinners, or jigs is the most popular technique. Minnow plugs and plastic jerk-baits are best worked in a stop-and-go fashion to simulate struggling baitfish.

One disadvantage of hard baits is removing sets of trebles from a pike’s toothy mouth. A key aspect of casting spoons and spinners is to allow them to flutter toward bottom, an action that gets the offering to the fish’s depth and simulates an injured baitfish.

If an angler was limited to a single lure for casting, that lure should be a jig. Jigs allow anglers to cover a lot of water, to fish a variety of depths, to imitate injured baitfish and to make that all-important, slow presentation in the cold-water conditions of spring.

A jig descending along a structural edge is irresistible to pike. Popular jigs include oversized tubes, roundheads tipped with a plastic worm and bucktails. A bucktail jig tipped with a minnow is an unbeatable pike offering. An asset of jigs is the single hook, a feature that allows for easy unhooking, minimal damage to the fish and a nearly 100 percent successful release rate.

Suspending a minnow below a bobber is a time-honored technique that works well in shallow water for both shore and boat anglers. Most bobber fishers use two or three rods as permitted by state regulations. This method is a relaxing way to fish, but for best results, anglers should change their locations periodically.

The live-bait technique involves drifting a live shiner below a split shot or an ear sinker. Advantages of this method include the option of fishing various water depths as well as the ability to cover a lot of water.

Boat control, especially on windy days, and intimate knowledge of structural edges in an area are two keys to success when drifting live minnows.

Like the previous method, trolling, too, allows an angler to cover large expanses of water and to fish a variety of depths. One key is to select a lure that matches the water depth.

The use of planer boards also allows anglers to present lures without having their boat spook fish, especially shallow-water ones.

Outdoors Calendar

May 14: Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of SLC meet at Canton BOCES at 7 p.m.

May 16-19: Henderson Harbor Spring Classic Fishing Derby for trout, pike, walleye, and pickeral.

May 18: Gary Strader Coyote Seminar at SLVSC at 3 p.m. (393-5318).

May 25: Cape Vincent C of C hosts annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

May 31: Spring Turkey season closes in NYS.

June 8: Bowhunter Education Course at SLVSC (Pre-register at 393-3775).

“Hooks and Antlers” is hoping for an accident-free season for turkey hunters this May. In light of that, today’s column looks at safety in the turkey-hunting woods.

Most turkey-hunting accidents occur when one hunter mistakes another hunter for a turkey, or when a gun is mishandled and accidentally discharges causing harm to the handler or someone nearby. Such incidents are preventable, though, by using common sense, by following some guidelines for safe turkey hunting, and by practicing the basics of firearm safety.

Since red, white, and blue are the colors of spring gobblers, safe hunting calls for hunters to avoid wearing those colors. When setting up, hunters are advised to select a spot with good visibility and with back protection such as a tree that is wider than the shoulders and taller than the head. If another hunter approaches your set up, avoid making any motions and speak out in a loud voice to make the hunter aware of your presence.

Too, turkey hunters should always avoid the temptation to sneak up on a bird for a shot. For one thing, you may be moving in on another hunter’s calling and set up. From a practical perspective, a turkey would likely spot your movement before you got close enough for a shot anyway. When setting out a decoy, place it in an open area and where you would not be in the line of fire from an approaching hunter. Also, if other hunters may be in the area, it is generally advisable to avoid using gobbler calls as such sounds might attract other hunters toward you.

Common sense calls for spring hunters to always positively identify their target as a bearded turkey and to always avoid shooting at sound or movement. From both a safety and ethical perspective, avoid encroaching upon another hunter who is already in an area or who is already working a bird.

The basics of firearm safety hold true for all shooting and hunting situations, and the first fundamental is to always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Also, firearms should always be treated as if they are loaded. When shooting, it is critical that the shooter be sure of his target and what is in front of and beyond that accurately identified target. To prevent any accidental discharge, the trigger finger should be kept outside of the trigger guard until the individual is ready to shoot. Too, hunters are reminded to avoid running, jumping, or climbing with a loaded firearm.

HENDERSON SPRING CLASSIC

Sponsored by the Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Center, the always popular Henderson Harbor Spring Classic is set for May 16-19. The 2013 derby features a $1,000 first-place prize in the brown trout, northern pike, and walleye divisions and a $500 first-place prize in the pickerel and lake trout divisions. In addition, prizes will be awarded for second through fifth places in all divisions.

Interested individuals can register ($20 for adults and $5 for youths 16-and-under) and get a complete set of rules at Henchen Marina in Henderson Harbor, at Gander Mountain in Watertown, or BJ’s Bait Shop in Dexter. Weigh-ins will take place at West View Lodge from 2-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and from noon until 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

COYOTE SEMINAR

Gary Strader, who had a 40-year career as a predator control agent and who authored “Master Wolfer,” is presenting a coyote seminar at the St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club at 3 p.m. May 18. Topics include calling, hunting, and trapping coyotes. The event features a drawing for a 3-day hunt for mountain lion, bobcats, and coyotes in New Mexico where Strader currently lives and practices his craft. For more information, call Ken Tynon at 393-5318.

ANGLERS’ ALLEY

In conjunction with the St. Lawrence River Bassmaster Elite tournament at Waddington this summer, organizers are putting together an expo titled “Tastes and Talents of the North Country.”

Part of that expo includes a section called Anglers’ Alley, and this section includes angling professionals, fishing guides, bait and tackle shops, and other fishing-related individuals or businesses. The folks at Bassmaster Elite, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, and FISHCAP envision Anglers’ Alley as a one-stop spot for fishing information for visitors in hopes that those visitors will return to the area for future fishing ventures. Dates of the expo are August 9-11, and interested parties should contact Jo Ann Roberts at 386-4000.

Outdoors Calendar

Wednesday: Spring Turkey Season opens in New York State.

Saturday: Northern Pike and Walleye seasons open in New York State.

Saturday: St. Lawrence River Walleye Association hosts Opening Day Derby (384-3450).

Saturday: St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club hosts annual Opening Day Walleye Derby.

May 14, 17, 18: Hunter Education Course at Adams Center Sportsman’s Club (Pre-register at 232-2942 from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.).

May 16-19: Henderson Harbor Spring Classic Fishing Derby for trout, pike, walleye, and pickeral.

May 18: Gary Strader Coyote Seminar at SLVSC at 3 p.m. (393-5318).

May 25: Cape Vincent C of C hosts Annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

The Ogdensburg-Massena stretch of the St. Lawrence River boasts exceptional fishing opportunities for early season walleyes.

In celebration of that fishing, the St. Lawrence River Walleye Association (SLRWA) and the St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club (SLVSC) are hosting opening-day derbies on May 4.

The two organizations certainly have the right to celebrate the kickoff of walleye season as the groups’ on-going stocking programs have been instrumental in enhancing walleye numbers in the river.

SLRWA DERBY

The St. Lawrence River Walleye Association’s Opening Day Walleye Derby is a two-person team event, and the winning team will be determined by the total weight of its four largest fish. Eligible fish include three walleyes between 18-23 inches and one walleye over 23 inches. Derby organizers ask that fish be kept alive so that they might be released after being weighed in. Non-releasable fish will be subject to an 8-ounce penalty.

Interested anglers can register ($50 per two-person team) at JC River Run Bar & Grill in Waddington from 6-7:30 p.m. on May 3. On-site registration ($10 penalty fee) will also be available prior to 5:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Also, participants who are not members of SLRWA will be assessed a $5 re-stocking fee. The derby is a 100 percent payback affair (minus $200).

The Waddington Boat Launch at Whitaker Park will serve as the starting point for all participants, and the launch will also serve as the weigh-in station. Fishing boundaries extend from the Ogdensburg International Bridge to the top side of Robert Moses Dam in Massena. Fishing hours are from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. Weigh-ins will be conducted at the boat launch from noon until 3 p.m., and awards will be presented at the nearby JC River Run Bar and Grill at 3 p.m. In addition to cash prizes for the winners, numerous door prizes will be awarded.

The derby also includes an Optional Big Fish Contest. The entry fee is an additional $20 per team, and there will be 100 percent payback for the largest walleye entered. In addition, that winning walleye will be mounted courtesy of Ralph Miller of Nature’s Trophies Taxidermy.

SLRWA conducts four tournaments during the open-water season, and those events are the Opening Day Walleye Tournament (May 5), Opening Day Bass Smackdown (June 15), Annual Walleye Challenge (Aug. 3), and Fall Bass and Walleye Classic (Sept. 14).

Based on the results of those four derbies, the SLRWA will crown its Subway Angler of the Year, a title won by Jon Paul Gagner in 2012.

For more information on any of the derbies, call Mike at 384-3450, and for a complete set of rules for the Opening Day Walleye Derby, visit www.stlawrenceriverwalleyeassociation.com.

SLVSC WALLEYE DERBY

In efforts to raise funds for its walleye stocking program and to promote St. Lawrence River walleye fishing, the St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club is hosting its seventh annual SLVSC Walleye Derby on opening day. The event is an open-boundary one, and fishing hours extend from midnight until 4 p.m. Winning fish will be determined by weight.

Interested anglers can register ($20) in Ogdensburg at Hosmer’s Marina, Bill’s Tire Center, Vinn’s Tavern, and Fisher’en Chips, and in Lisbon at Sandy’s Bait and Tackle. Eligibility requires that all anglers in the boat be registered for the derby, and the minimum length for eligible walleyes is 21 inches. Weigh-ins will be held on the waterfront at Hosmer’s Marina from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The waterfront weigh-in site allows anglers who wish to do so to release their catch.

Based on 100 entries, the prizes will be $500 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third. In addition, numerous door prizes will be awarded. For more information, call Kevin Bateman at 393-0206 or Jerry Lincoln at 393-7506.

Like the SLRWA, the SLVSC will host an opening-day bass derby on June 15.

TAKE A SOLDIER FISHING

The New York Bass Chapter Federation is holding its Take A Soldier Fishing event next Saturday on Oneida Lake for the fifth year.

An announced 135 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division stationed at Fort Drum are invited as guests for the activities based out of Oneida Shores Park.

The NYBCF assembles volunteer boaters from across the Northeast and Canada to take soliders out for a free day of fishing.

Participant registration is the day of the event at 6:30 a.m. The group launches at approximately 8:30 a.m. and fishes under 1 p.m. Awards and a barbecue-style luncheon follows.

For additional information, call the Fort Drum Family and MWR - Community Recreation Division (315-772-6071 or 315-772-5001).

Outdoors Calendar

Today-April 30: PFDs must be worn when aboard any boat, canoe, or kayak less than 21 feet.

Saturday-Sunday: Racquette Valley F&G Club hosts gun and knife show at 233 Coldbrook Drive, South Colton.

May 1: Spring turkey season opens in New York.

May 4: Northern Pike and walleye seasons open in New York.

May 4: St. Lawrence River Walleye Association hosts Opening Day Derby (384-3450).

May 4: St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club hosts annual Opening Day Walleye Derby.

May 11: Homestudy Hunter Education Course at Potsdam Town Hall (In-person registration at Town Hall, April 22-26).

May 25: Cape Vincent C of C hosts annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

Turkey hunters have just over two weeks to prepare for the May 1 opener of New York’s spring turkey season. While sound preparation doesn’t guarantee that hunters will fill their two tags, such preparation does up the odds for success.

Here is a look at four areas that merit preseason attention by hunters.

Places to Hunt

Private landowners have the ideal situation for a place to hunt as landowners can control who hunts the property and have an intimate familiarity with the landscape. Many hunters don’t own hunting property, but they have permission to hunt private land. Such hunters should not assume they have hunting privileges from year to year. Instead, hunters should check with the landowner prior to the season to verify the privileges still exist.

Unless the landowner grants exclusive hunting rights, a hunter is advised to communicate with the other hunters who will be using the property. In addition to a safety factor, such communication reduces the chances of interfering with another’s hunt. Too, communication creates camaraderie, and hunters can share information that may prove helpful on future hunts.

Public hunting lands abound across the north country. For those not familiar with the area’s public lands, I’d recommend visiting the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov. The hunting tab has a link to “All Public Land Areas” in Region 6, and that link has maps identifying the various State Forests and Wildlife Management Units in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis counties.

Familiarity with the landscape is one key to success on public lands. If you plan on hunting unfamiliar land, acquiring a map is a good starting point. Begin by identifying several access points and parking locations. Having several access points allows you to go to another area if vehicles and other hunters are present at a given site. How much time you spend familiarizing yourself with a new hunting area prior to the season is a judgment call. By spending preseason time in the woods, a hunter gains familiarity with the area, but he also “educates” the birds.

Preseason Scouting

At the very least, preseason scouting efforts should verify that turkeys are in the area you will be hunting. In a best-case scenario, scouting efforts would result in identifying and patterning particular birds and their roosting, feeding, strutting, and travel areas. In essence though, patterning birds is a season-long endeavor.

To avoid “educating” birds, some hunters opt to do their scouting from a distance by using binoculars. Up-close scouting, like on-site land familiarization, is a judgment call. While up-close scouting may reveal signs, sightings, and patterns, that type of scouting can also “educate” turkeys. For those who have permission to hunt private land, the landowner may be an excellent source of preseason information regarding turkey patterns in the area.

Some hunters use calling as part of their preseason scouting. Again, we have another judgment situation as calls will definitely locate gobblers, but calling likely puts more turkeys on alert than any other human intrusion.

For those who opt to locate preseason birds via calling, the general guideline is to keep calling to a minimum and to use locator calls rather than actual turkey calls.

Gear Preparation

Turkey hunters use a fair amount of paraphernalia, so readying gear such as calls, guns, decoys, and vests merits hunter attention prior to the May 1 opener. Regarding calls, today’s market offers plenty of quality, easy-to-use ones so hunters are advised to have several types of calls, to make sure they are in good working order, and to do some practice calling. Since I am not a skilled caller, I envy those whose calling allows them to converse with live turkeys in efforts to lure the birds within shooting range.

Regarding your turkey gun, it’s advisable to do some practicing in order to learn how your gun performs with various brands, shot sizes, and shooting distances. Finding the proper load familiarizes the hunter with the limits of his gun, and this knowledge gives confidence in deciding what shots to take and what shots to pass up when a gobbler approaches the setup.

Regarding decoys, make sure all the components are there, and actually set the decoys up to ensure that they have a proper shape and profile. If there is a means of adding motion to your decoy, such motion often makes the difference between a tom being out of shooting range and being within shooting range.

Regarding gear, make certain your vest is stuffed with the paraphernalia you deem necessary for a spring hunt. On the comfort side, repellent can keep mosquitoes away, a cushion helps those hard-ground sits, and pruning shears clear the way of bothersome brush. From a legal perspective, a pen is necessary for filling out your tag, and an attachment device is necessary for attaching that tag to the carcass.

Spring Youth Hunt

Perhaps the best preseason action of all is to take a youth hunting during the Youth Spring Turkey Hunt slated for next Saturday and Sunday. While such an outing may “educate” birds in a given area, a few educated turkeys are well worth the reward of introducing youths to the sport of turkey hunting.

Youths between the ages of 12-15 who hold a junior hunting license and a turkey permit are eligible to hunt.

Youths must be accompanied by an adult who also possesses a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist in calling, but he may not carry or shoot a firearm. The bag limit is one bearded turkey during the youth hunt, and the regular turkey hunting regulations are in effect.

Outdoors Calendar

Today-April 30: PFDs must be worn when aboard any boat, canoe, or kayak less than 21 feet.

Saturday-Sunday: Youth Hunt Days for spring turkey.

Sunday: Racquette Valley F&G Club hosts 3-D Archery Shoot at 233 Coldbrook Drive, South Colton.

April 26, 27: Hunter Education Course at Sackets Sportsman’s Club (Register at 232-3407 after 5 p.m.).

April 27-28: Racquette Valley F&G Club hosts Gun and Knife Show at 233 Coldbrook Drive, South Colton.

May 4: St. Lawrence River Walleye Association hosts Opening Day Derby (384-3450).

May 4: St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club hosts annual Opening Day Walleye Derby.

May 11: Home-study Hunter Education Course at Potsdam Town Hall (In-person registration at Town Hall April 22-26).

May 25: Cape Vincent C of C hosts annual Spring Fishing Derby (654-2481).

While attending sportsmen’s shows in Syracuse and Oneida this past winter, I had the chance to visit with Captain Bob Dick, who had a display for Moby Dick Charters, his sport fishing charter service out of Henderson Harbor.

Dick and I are fellow members of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association, but our conversations were not about writing. Instead, the dialogue focused on two interests we have in common: Syracuse basketball and fishing out of Henderson Harbor.

SU Basketball

Dick and I are avid followers of SU hoops, and since the team had Saturday afternoon games during the Syracuse and Oneida shows, the two of us constantly consulted Dick’s wife, Dawn, who was monitoring the games on her cell phone. Syracuse then was in a bit of a slide, but Dick and I agreed that downturns were common over a long season and that the team would turn things around. The Orange did, as evidenced by its recent performances in the Big East and NCAA tournaments.

What I found most interesting in our conversations about Syracuse basketball was that coach Jim Boeheim is a regular client of Moby Dick Charters. The brochure for the charter business includes two photos of the SU coach.

He and former SU star guard Gerry McNamara display an impressive catch of walleyes in one photo, while the other shows Boeheim with a mixed catch of brown and lake trout.

Commenting on the coach’s fishing skills, Dick said, “Boeheim is a really good fisherman.”

Henderson Harbor Fishing

In addition to being fans of SU basketball, Dick and I are fans of Henderson Harbor fishing, and we have sung the area’s praises in many newspaper and magazine articles over the years. Henderson Harbor is a gateway to world-class fishing.

Dick is a fan because the waters have allowed him to operate a successful charter service that puts plenty of big fish at line’s end, and big fish translate to happy customers.

I am a fan because I love to experience good fishing, and on my numerous trips with Captain Bill Saiff III of Saiff Charters, the fishing has been great.

Dick has an intimate knowledge of the fishing out of Henderson Harbor because he spends six days a week from April through September on the water there.

I asked him to give an overview of the spring fishing opportunities out of Henderson Harbor so that I could share the information with readers of this column. Here’s what Dick had to say:

Walleyes

“Henderson Harbor may be No. 1 in the nation for catching trophy walleye. We have been blessed with a fishery that produces 10-141/2 pounders consistently.

Some of the best places are Campbell’s Shoal, Gull and Bass Islands, the Stony Creek area, and most of the areas around Pillar Point in Black River Bay. Popular stick baits for trolling include Bombers, No. 18 Rapalas, Thundersticks, Husky Jerks, and Reef Runners, and the best colors are black-silver, blue-silver, and fire tiger. Worm harnesses and crawler tipped jigs also produce excellent catches. In order to help protect the fantastic walleye fishery, more anglers are practicing catch and release.”

Brown Trout

“Brown trout fishing has been fantastic the past few springs. Some of the best areas are the sand beach from the mouth of North Sandy Creek and South Sandy Creek to Stony Creek and continuing north anywhere in Sawyer’s Bay, Ray’s Bay, and the shoreline continuing off the trench in to Henderson Harbor. Best trolling depths are between 3 and 30 feet, and favorite lures of the charter captains include Michigan Stingers spoons, Jr. Thundersticks, Smithwicks, and Rapalas. What is nice about targeting browns is you can also catch a lot of lake trout some days as well as the occasional steelhead.”

Northern Pike

“The northern pike is the bread and butter fish off Henderson Bay in the spring. Just about any spoon or stick bait will catch fish, and popular colors include black, blue, orange, chartreuse, and silver. Some of the best places are the sail boat moorings, White’s Bay, Lime Barrel Shoal, Gull Island, Bass Island, Horse Island, Campbell’s Shoal, and the east shore from Treadwell Point to the Gill House. The best depths are 8 to 35 feet of water. Use floating lures in the shallows and deep divers or weighted set-ups for fishing deeper.”

More Information

Henchen Marina is the center of fishing in Henderson Harbor. The marina has everything to meet an angler’s needs, and since the marina serves as the location where most guides pick up their clients, the folks at Henchen have access to the most up-to-date information on the fishing action.

For more information on fishing the Henderson Harbor area, visit www.henchenmarina.com, www.mobydickcharters.com, and www.billsaiffoutdoors.com.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Today and Monday: Hunter Education Course at Massena R&G Club (In-person registration with Massena Town Clerk).

Friday and Saturday: Hunter Education Course at Duffany’s Body Shop, Watertown (Pre-register at 788-2161).

April 12-14: Hunter Education Course at Fisher’s Landing Fire Hall (Pre-register at Clayton Library).

April 12-14: Clayton Boat Show at Clayton Arena (686-3771).

Saturday: Hunter Education Course at Beaver River F&G Club (Pre-register at Buckingham Hardware, Croghan).

April 13-14: Massena R&G Club hosts annual Sportsmen’s Expo.

April 20: Hunter Education Course at Moose River F&G Club (Pre-register at 351-6673).

Even though trout season opens Monday, May actually offers better fishing opportunities for local anglers as stream conditions are more favorable then, and the majority of DEC trout stockings for area streams occur that month.

Still, fishing opportunities do exist in April, and today’s column looks at some tips that will hopefully up the odds for successful outings.

Stocked Flows

Stocked waters make ideal destinations for early-season anglers, and 18 flows in St. Lawrence, Lewis, Jefferson, and Franklin counties are expected to receive trout before May.

In St. Lawrence County, the Oswegatchie River downstream of the Cranberry Lake outlet in the town of Clifton is expected to be stocked with 2,000 brook trout for Monday’s opener.

Other St. Lawrence County streams slated for April stockings are Hopkinton Brook in the town of Hopkinton (620 brown trout), Trout Brook in the town of Stockholm (1,240 brown trout), and Van Rensselaer Creek in the town of Pierrepont (220 brown trout).

Numerous stockings are planned for Lewis County waters during May, but the only flows scheduled to receive April stockings are Crystal Creek in the town of New Bremen (400 brown trout), Fish Creek East Branch in the town of Lewis (650 brown trout), and Point Rock Creek in the town of Lewis (1,090 brown trout).

DEC expects to stock seven flows in Jefferson County during April.

The four waters where brook trout will be stocked are Black Creek West Branch in the town of Wilna (500), Felts Mills Creek in the towns of Champion and Rutland (1,200), Jacobs Creek in the towns of Watertown and Rutland (850), and Townsend Creek in the town of Champion (900).

Brown trout will be stocked in Black Creek in the towns of Philadelphia and Wilna (2,910), Sandy Creek in the town of Adams (1,450), and Skinner Creek in the town of Ellisburg (290).

Six Franklin County waters slated for early-season stockings are Chateaugay River in the towns of Chateaugay and Bellmont (6,700 brook trout and 1,090 brown trout), Little Salmon River in the towns of Moira and Bangor (2,110 brown trout), Little Trout River in the towns of Burke and Constable (2,040 brown trout), Salmon River in the town of Malone (3,800 rainbow trout and 7,780 brown trout), Saranac River in the town of Harrietstown (400 rainbow trout), and Sumner Brook in the town of Bloomingdale (300 brook trout).

Early-Season Tips

Spring is a time of change for trout flows, and because tackle shops are in daily contact with anglers, these businesses are excellent sources of up-to-date, fishing information.

In addition to providing the most current information on stockings, hatches, effective techniques, water temperatures, flow levels, water clarity, access, and more tackle shop carry needed supplies.

When deciding where to fish at this time of the year, anglers should look for streams in lower elevations as these waters will warm before those at higher elevations.

Anglers also may want to fish smaller flows as they typically have less current, less turbidity, and higher water temperatures than larger flows. Another good bet is to fish tributaries because they typically offer improved conditions.

When fishing larger waters in April, the best chances of catching trout are in the upper stretches or the deep-water stretches of the flow. Prime locations include calm pools, outside bends, pools below waterfalls, and the slack water behind bridge abutments.

The basic motto of anglers for early-season presentations is “slow and low,” and the technique of adding split shot is the standard method of slowing an offering and getting in down to bottom-holding trout.

An offering that also appeals to multiple senses has the best odds for success. In essence, live baits (where permitted) such as crawlers and minnows work well because of their realistic appearance, taste, scent, and texture, and live baits lend themselves to a “slow and low” presentation.

The best fishing times of early spring occur when water temperatures are at their warmest so trout are likely to be most active during the midday hours, on sunny days, on consecutive warm days, and after a warm, rain shower.

Outdoors Calendar

Monday: Trout season opens on NYS waters.

Saturday: Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce hosts Sportmen’s Show at Golden Dome (393-3620).

Saturday-Sunday: Hunter Education Course at Osceola R&G Club (Pre-register at 963-1158).

April 7-8: Hunter Education Course at Massena R&G Club (In-person registration with Massena Town Clerk).

April 12-13: Hunter Education Course at Duffany’s Body Shop, Watertown (Pre-register at 788-2161).

April 12-14: Hunter Education Course at Fisher’s Landing Fire Hall (Pre-register at Clayton Library).

April 12-14: Clayton Boat Show at Clayton Arena (686-3771).

April 13: Hunter Education Course at Beaver River F&G Club (Pre-register at Buckingham Hardware, Croghan).

April 13-14: Massena R&G Club hosts annual Sportsmen’s Expo.

April 13-14: The Parishville Sportsmen’s Club will host a Gun Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a concession both days. Admission is $3 per person.

April 20: Hunter Education Course at Moose River F&G Club (Pre-register at 351-6673).

April 25-27: Hunter Education Course at Dexter/Brownville (Pre-register at 785-2533).

April 27: Hunter Education Course at Dexter (Pre-register at 649-5977).

Adirondack hunters harvested 606 black bears in 2012, and that figure represents a 220 percent increase over the 2011 take of 275 bears in the Adirondacks. The 2012 kill is a return to more typical harvest numbers after the poor 2011 take that marked the lowest kill in the past 20 years.

The majority of the 2012 bear kills occurred during the early season, and, according to a DEC press release, “This pattern was expected after a summer of low natural food availability.

“The early season harvest is always high in such years because bears are moving more in search of food and many are closer to human food sources, which in both cases makes them more vulnerable to harvest.

“In fact, towns along the western and southern fringe of the Adirondacks saw some of the highest harvests as bears were found feeding in corn fields during the early season. Bears also tend to den early when natural foods are scarce, so fewer bears were available to hunters during the regular season.”

Adirondack Take by Season

Hunters took 386 black bears or 64 percent of the Adirondack harvest during the early season, 39 bears or 6 percent of the harvest during the bow season, 49 bears or 8 percent of the harvest during the muzzleloader season, and 132 bears or 22 percent of the harvest during the regular season.

The overall Adirondack total was slightly ahead of the five-year-average kill of 547 bears, and the 2012 total was the fifth highest take in the past 20 years. Forty percent of the bears taken in the recent season were females, while 60 percent were males. These percentages are similar to the 20-year, historical take of 43 percent females and 57 percent males.

Adirondack Take by County

Of the 13 counties in the Adirondack region, Lewis County led the way with a take of 84 black bears, while St. Lawrence and Essex counties had kills of 73 bears. The other counties and their respective harvests were Herkimer (66), Warren (62), Clinton (54), Fulton (47), Jefferson (38), Hamilton (38), Franklin (35), Oneida (24), Saratoga (9) and Washington (3).

In Lewis County, 25 bears were taken in the town of Croghan, 14 in Diana, 12 in Greig, 11 in Watson and nine in New Bremen.

In St. Lawrence County, 15 bears were harvested in the town of Hopkinton, eight in Fine, seven in Piercefield and six each in Clare and Colton.

In Jefferson County, hunters killed 22 bears in the town of Wilna, seven in Antwerp, five in Philadelphia and four in LeRay. In Franklin County, seven bears were taken in the town of Brandon, five each in Tupper Lake and Dickinson, and four apiece in Malone and Franklin.

Statewide Bear Take

The 2012 statewide bear take of 1,337 marked the third highest harvest in the past 20 years and an increase of 79 bears over the 2011 kill of 1,258 bears.

The central-western bear hunting area saw a harvest of 289 black bears, the second highest in the area’s history, while the southeastern bear hunting area had a 2012 kill of 442 bears, a number that is representative of the average harvest for the past 10 years.

The 2012 take in both the central-western and southeastern areas was a drop from 2011 when those areas saw record takes of 353 bears and 630 bears, respectively.

According to a DEC press release, “In both areas, take during bow season contributed substantially to the overall take (51 percent southeastern, 37 percent central-western) and increased from 2011, reflecting the longer bow season initiated in 2012 and greater availability of bears during this period. Notably, take during the regular season dropped in both areas.

“The drop was most pronounced in southeastern New York where biologists anticipated a potential reduced harvest due to early denning behavior associated with the general lack of soft and hard mast (apples, acorns, and beechnuts).”

DEC Seeks Waterfowl Input

April 5 is the deadline for hunters who wish to have their voices heard regarding the dates for the 2013 season.

Interested hunters can express their ideas to members of the Northeastern Zone Task Force, and among the region’s members on that task force are Pete Barney representing the Northern NY Area (pmb10@cornell.edu), Andrew MacDuff representing DEC (785-2534; ajmacduf@gw.dec.state.ny.us), Nick McNamara representing Northern WMAs (344-6580; mcnamara624@yahoo.com), and Bill Saiff III representing the Ontario-St. Lawrence Area (771-3514; saiff@gisco.net).

Outdoors Calendar

Tuesday: SLC Fisheries Advisory Board meets at Canton BOCES at 7 p.m.

Sunday: Crow season closes in NYS.

Sunday: Coyote hunting season closes in NYS.

April 1: Trout season opens on NYS waters.

April 6: Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce hosts Sportmen’s Show at Golden Dome (393-3620).

April 6-7: Hunter education course at Osceola R&G Club (Pre-register at 963-1158).

April 7-8: Hunter education course at Massena R&G Club (In-person registration with Massena Town Clerk).

April 12-13: Hunter education course at Duffany’s Body Shop, Watertown (Pre-register at 788-2161).

April 12-14: Hunter Education Course at Fisher’s Landing Fire Hall (Pre-register at Clayton Library).

April 13: Hunter education course at Beaver River F&G Club (Pre-register at Buckingham Hardware, Croghan).

April 13-14: Massena R&G Club hosts annual Sportsmen’s Expo.

April 20: Hunter Education Course at Moose River F&G Club (Pre-register at 351-6673).

Gary Strader’s passion for the outdoors began in his youth when he and Dick Barkley took to the woods in pursuit of game for the dinner table, and that early life passion evolved into a 40-year career as a predator control agent for the Lisbon native.

Strader’s career has taken him to states such as New York, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico, where he currently lives, and that career has earned him the title of “Master Wolfer.”

Strader shares the knowledge he has gained from pursuing coyotes for more than 40 years in his book entitled “Master Wolfer.”

Subtitled “Reveals a Lifetime of Coyote Knowledge,” the book presents insightful information on coyote behavior, trapping coyotes and calling coyotes.

I particularly enjoyed the 15-page chapter on coyote behavior because I have a strong interest in learning the ways of wild creatures.

Individuals seeking knowledge on trapping coyotes will find information on equipment, trap preparation, human scent, location, trap placement, types of sets, winter trapping, and non-target catches.

Because of a conviction that coyotes prey on area deer populations, more local hunters have taken up coyote hunting. Those individuals will find useful information in the chapter related to calling coyotes, and that chapter covers such topics as equipment, training dogs, hunting with dogs, and lures and baits.

Coyotes Are Team Hunters

Strader’s career of pursuing coyotes has allowed him to see things that most hunters would never witness. One thing that Strader has observed is how coyotes hunt as a team, and here are three incidents that he relates in his book.

“Coyotes are efficient at killing big game animals and not just fawns. One time I saw three coyotes chasing a mule deer doe. They started chasing her, and after while two of the three quit and circled back. One coyote kept up the chase, and the deer kept running in a big circle with the coyote behind her. They got back to a mile from where the chase started when all of a sudden up pops the two coyotes that quit the chase earlier. They killed that deer in 500 yards because she ran out of gas, and the coyotes were rested. They do hunt as a team enabling them to kill big game.

“Another time I was calling coyotes on a big sheep operation, and a pair of coyotes howled back to my siren, which I use to locate coyotes. I got my dogs and walked in quite a way to get set up. I started glassing and saw a coyote acting strangely. Then I saw a doe antelope start to chase the coyote. That antelope would chase the coyote and stop.

“When the antelope would stop, the coyote would come back and chase her again. This went on for a few minutes. Then I saw some movement a few hundred yards to the west where the antelope had started chasing the coyote. That movement was another coyote, and it had an antelope fawn in its mouth. These two coyotes were hunting as a team. One coyote kept the doe occupied while the second coyote hunted until it found the fawn.

“Coyotes will depredate lambs being watched by guard dogs. One coyote will distract the guard dogs and get the guard dogs to chase him. The coyote will bark and tease the dogs, and they will chase him away while other coyotes move in to kill lambs.”

Book Availability

Copies of the 85-page “Master Wolfer” are available at Gray’s Gun Shop in Lisbon or by contacting Dave Strader, the author’s brother, at (315) 713-4104.

Coydogs

Some individuals refer to area coyotes as coydogs, crosses between dogs and coyotes, but such references are likely invalid according to the Peterson field guide entitled “Mammals of North America.”

According to the Peterson guide, such crosses are possible and can result in viable offspring, but most pups die early.

The guide further notes that a close analysis of 200 animals suspected to be coydogs showed that most were either dogs or coyotes, and only a few were hybrids.

The book also notes that the reproductive cycles of the two species are somewhat incompatible because male coyotes seldom mate with female dog and, while female coyotes can mate with male dogs, the female coyotes are left to raise the pups alone that translates to poor pup survival.

Outdoors Calendar

Friday-Sunday: Great Outdoor Family Expo at Watertown Fairgrounds YMCA.

March 24: Borderline Longbeards Chapter of NWTF hosts 13th Annual Fund Raising Banquet (769-8028).

March 26: SLC Fisheries Advisory Board meets at Canton BOCES at 7 p.m.

March 31: Crow season closes in NYS.

March 31: Coyote hunting season closes in NYS.

April 1: Trout season opens on NYS waters.

April 6: Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce hosts Sportman’s Show at Golden Dome.

April 13-14: Massena R&G Club hosts annual Sportsmen’s Expo.

May 4: St. Lawrence River Walleye Association hosts Opening Day Derby (384-3450).

May 4: St. Lawrence Valley Sportsmen’s Club hosts annual Opening Day Walleye Derby.