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Ice Fishing Canadarago Lake
Otsego County
Canadarago Lake is very popular for panfish (especially yellow perch) and walleye during the winter months. Jigging small ice lures tipped with maggots (spikes or mousies) will usually yield good numbers of panfish. Try finding a weed line in this relatively shallow lake, with an average depth of 33 feet. These areas tend to hold the most fish, as they forage here for food. Early morning and late evening are usually the best times to get a good bite. NY is Open for Fishing and Hunting!
Stewart State Forest Offers Great Snowmobiling
Orange County
Looking for a great place to snowmobile? Look no further than 6,700-acre Stewart State Forest in the heart of New York's Hudson Valley. When temperatures drop and drifts pile up, you'll enjoy snowmobiling here on 22 miles of major trails. Take in winter's wonders as you drive through snow-covered woodlands and fields and past frozen ponds and wetlands. Parking areas are conveniently located off the property's surrounding roadways. For more information, see DEC's Stewart State Forest webpage.
Watchable Wildlife: Birding in Central Park
An amazing array of wildlife can be found throughout Central Park's 800+ acres, even when the landscape is covered in snow and ice. The wooded, 38-acre Ramble, in the center of the park, offers the best birding. Turtle Pond is also an excellent bird-watching area, while Harlem Meer attracts ducks and geese.
Most birds are more active in the early morning and late afternoon, with some activity throughout the day. No matter the time of year, you can go on a birding adventure with one of the Central Park Conservancy's discovery kits. They are available to borrow at Belvedere Castle from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily. Each kit contains binoculars, a guidebook, maps and sketching materials.
Central Park's many landscapes are connected by an extensive trail system, which accommodates a variety of year-round activities.
Hiking the Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Peru, Clinton County
Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area encompasses 660 acres adjacent to Lake Champlain and is open to the public year-round. A mile-long foot trail along the dike enables hikers and cross-country skiers to reach various points of interest, including scenic vistas and unique ecological communities.
The Ausable Point Campground, adjacent to the WMA, is closed to camping in winter, but it is a great spot for birding. Signs along the campground's access road provide information on the many species of wildlife found in the WMA. Watch for bald eagles, greater and lesser scaup and common goldeneye as you cross-country ski or hike throughout the area.
The WMA has a level boardwalk leading to a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform along the Ausable Point Campground Road.
Want to Learn More?
Read these Conservationist articles to learn more about topics in this issue:
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