NYSDEC, lure manufacturers and fishing guides will provide a great experience at the Expo in Niagara Falls this weekend. Submitted Image
Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day. Not to mention the chocolate kisses, but we’ll start now with the forecast of a bright spot over the weekend. New York state will offer free fishing days this weekend: Feb. 17-18. No fishing license is required for residents or non-residents. It was originally intended to allow beginners to experience ice fishing for the first time, but the ice this year seems to be history.
Don’t worry, the rest of the winter of 2024 offers local outdoor shows that can provide the perfect indoor adventure prospect where everyone can learn more about all things outdoors. . In many cases, the outing is free, table fare can be provided, and is a great opportunity to prepare for the 2024 WNY spring and summer fishing season.
The Musky Expo held earlier this month in the friendly big fish village of Mayville saw a host of local lure makers, seminar speakers and anglers taking notes to find a way to catch a musky. This is a fun show with a specific focus to get more kids interested in fishing with free lure giveaways for youngsters. Good thing.
Continuing through Sunday, the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo will offer a large outdoor show venue with vendor booths, learning-station exhibits, the walleye fishing school ($100), fishing manufacturers and outdoor experts at every corner. Educational seminars only will provide detailed highlights on how to get started fishing for bass, walleye, perch, trout and salmon. Walking around the show will offer an array of vendors and products, local bait shops, outdoor guides, and the NYSDEC free information stop-in-and-see booth.
DEC staff will offer an open house at the show on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm in the Cataract Room. Show-goers can meet and chat with biologists and managers who oversee New York state fisheries. Fishing and wildlife experts will man the tables and answer questions about Lake Erie and its tributaries; the rivers Niagara and St. Lawrence; Lake Ontario and its tributaries; Great Lakes fish production and stocking; Chautauqua Lake and inland fisheries management; Law enforcement; and the newly revamped DEC HuntFishNY app, which includes the popular “Tackle Box” interactive fishing map. DEC will also participate in Salmon School, Walleye School and Fishing Socials to meet with participants and provide insight into the management of our Great Lakes fisheries. As usual, DEC will continue to operate its popular booth in the main exhibit hall throughout the Expo, now through Sunday. These are innovative learning opportunities.
Captain Jim Klein of Eye-Fish Lure Company of East Aurora will offer Lake Erie walleye fishing advice at the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo this weekend. Photo submitted
Anyone and everyone can add to their knowledge of fishing whether it is a first-timer or an advanced angler who needs another secret to enter the circle of competition winners. Seminar speakers in the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo format include how, where, and when for specific local lakes and fisheries here. There are specific seminars for boat rigging, personal watercraft, kayaks, a marine electronics education seminar and more.
Word got out that Western New York had one of the top freshwater fisheries in the world. There are many fishing options; maybe that’s the biggest bonus of living in WNY as a sportsman. Our smallmouth bass fisheries are highly sought after, says the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. Each year, BASS releases a “100 Best Bass Lakes” list. Again, in 2023, the waters of our Eastern Basin Lake Erie from Buffalo to Pennsylvania (including the Niagara River) cracked the top 10 bass lakes in the country. It’s big news in the world of bass fishing, which checked in at a solid ninth place. We dropped a slot from last year, but being recognized as one of the top 10 smallmouth bass destinations is something to be proud of. Chautauqua Lake and Cayuga Lake also made the list of top northeast bass fisheries.
On that note, Scott and Alex Gauld, a father and son fishing duo from Tonawanda, will discuss bass fishing in the seminar program. Alex will cover the Niagara River with tactics for smallmouth bass, and Scott will offer veteran tips on how to find small areas that hold big fish. I fish with these incredible anglers, and they can offer the smallest tip that makes the biggest difference. Alex has participated in fishing competitions in high school and college and can provide insight into what school fishing teams involve and how it has helped him grow as an angler.
A big question that every fisherman who fishes for any kind of animal wants to know more about is the electronics of the boat. From an electronics perspective, legendary tech expert Mark McQuown of Garmin will conduct seminars to help answer tough questions.
“Garmin fishing electronics help you maximize your time on the water,” McQuown said. “Starting with our ECHOMAP Ultra and UHD2chartplotter lineups, which offer premium mapping, wireless networking, and sonar, these units help you find points of interest and fish. Our industry-leading Force Trolling Motor lineup will help you stay on the fish, and our LiveScope live-scanning sonar will help you target and catch individual fish.”
Yes, he is also a sales guy.
Another clever electronics wizard is Capt. Lance Valentine of the widely established “Teach the Fishin’ School.” Valentine was one of the keynote speakers on the innovative Walleye School at the show. Regardless of your level of expertise, Valentine will help you get the most out of your electronics. His expertise is in the Lowrance brand, but he can help you with other popular brands as well.
Fish Hawk (downrigger temperature and subsurface speed) will also have a booth to help explain the importance of this electronic fishing tool in locating your lures in the water column. The device allows anglers to decide where to fish and present their baits, especially on stratified lakes like Erie and Ontario.
Similarly, Darrell Huff of Smart Troll is another electronics expert tidbit on the expanded list of seminar options. When it comes to rigging your boat, whether it’s for Great Lakes trolling, small lake or river fishing, or personal watercraft and kayaks, there are educational seminars available to anglers of all expertise levels. I like the spectrum of possibilities to learn more. The New York Kayak Bass Federation will share rigging tips. The US Coast Guard will also promote boater safety to help keep everyone safe on the water. Incidentally, 2024 is the last year you can operate a boat or personal watercraft (based on your age) without a boating safety certificate from New York State Parks (or other approved source).
To enter the show, a daily adult pass is $10. A four-day multi-pass is $25. Children 12 and under are free with a paying adult. All veterans, active duty military personnel, career and volunteer firefighters, and EMTs receive a $5 discount off a one-day pass. Tickets are available at the show or online at www.niagarafishingexpo.com. The show will be held at the Niagara Falls Convention Center, 101 Old Falls St., near the Niagara Falls casino.
The final item for this week is a tribute to the late Toby Keith. He provided some of the most patriotic songs that helped the country recover from the 911 tragedy, and he tirelessly performed on 18 USO tours in his 62 short years of life. He helped comfort more than 250,000 military veterans worldwide while visiting 17 countries during his career. Toby Keith lost his battle with cancer last week on Monday, and the free world lost a true patriot of American freedom and what it stands for. My favorite song? Red Solo Cup. Some days, it’s OK to fill it in and reflect.
CALENDAR
Feb. 15-18: Niagara Outdoor Expo, Niagara Falls; Information: 716-278-2100; www.niagarafishingexpo.com.
Feb. 17-18: Free NYS Fishing Days, no fishing license required.
Feb. 20: Children-In-The-Stream-Youth 4H Fly Fishing Program, Free, SUNY Fredonia Rockefeller Art Center — Costello Room, 7-8:30 pm, Info: Alberto Rey: 716-410-7003.
Feb. 24: Ducks Unlimited, Northern Chautauqua Chapter — annual banquet and auction, Blessed Mary Angela Parish, 324 Townsend St., Dunkirk; $60/ticket or $90/pair; Info: 716-785-1409 716-410-2409.
March 8-10: WNY Sport, Travel & Outdoor Expo; Hamburg; www.eriepromotions.com/wny-sport-show.
Note: Submit Calendar items to [email protected].
