July Outdoor Discovery

Bass Fishing in Central and Western New York

What better way to spend a beautiful summer day than pursuing one of New York State's premier gamefish, the black bass.  Two species of black bass are found in NY, the largemouth bass and the smallmouth bass. Largemouths prefer shallower weedy water, while smallmouths are more often found in rivers or in deeper water in lakes.

Oneida Lake in central New York has healthy populations of both species and is a very popular bass fishing location. As one of the country's top bass fisheries, Oneida Lake will host the 2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open, September 5-7.

Chautauqua Lake is a top bass fishing destination in western New York. Although less abundant in the lake than largemouth, smallmouth bass also offers good action for those fishing the right spots. Promising areas for smallmouth include deep dropoffs, points, rocky shoals, gravel bars near creek mouths, and the sunken islands in the south basin.

There are plenty of state boat launches and shore access locations on both lakes.

Fishing and Diving New York’s Artificial Reefs: Long Island’s Sunken Treasure

New York State is building 12 artificial reefs off the shores of Long Island, the largest expansion of artificial reefs in state history. The materials for the reef expansion are strategically placed to improve New York’s diverse marine life and boost Long Island’s recreation, sport fishing, and diving industries.

From Atlantic cod to bluefish, black sea bass and striped bass, anglers can find a variety of fish along the reefs. Divers can observe a variety of unique marine habitats, organisms, and environmental conditions.

Camping at Frontier Town Now Open

Camping at DEC’s newest campground opened on June 28, and reservations are accepted until Columbus Day. 

Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area is located on 91 acres on the shores of the Schroon River. There are accessible hiking, biking and equestrian trails throughout the campground and a picnic area along the river. The town of Schroon Lake, with restaurants, shopping and a public beach are nearby.

Camping for Seniors and People with Disabilities at John Dillon Park

Long Lake, Hamilton County

A rare gem in the Adirondack wilderness, John Dillon Park was designed as a fully accessible facility. All nine lean-to campsites and more than three miles of trails are accessible to those with limited mobility.

The lean-tos are easy to reach and enter. and have fully accessible outhouses. You’ll find several overlooks with places to sit down and enjoy splendid lake views. If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse loons or bald eagles. Water lovers can fish or launch canoes and kayaks from the accessible dock. Day visitors are also welcome to hike the trails and use the picnic areas.

The 200-acre park, a partnership among International Paper, Paul Smith's College, and New York State, is open seven days per week, and gates are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for day-use visitors. Online reservations are required for overnight camping.

This year, organized groups of seniors or people with disabilities can receive limited travel cost subsidies for day use and overnight camping. For more information, contact Keith Oborne, Director, at 518 265-2399 or koborne@paulsmiths.edu.

Watchable Wildlife: Rome Sand Plains

Rome, Oneida County

Rome Sand Plains is one of only a handful of inland pine barrens in the nation. Encompassing thousands of acres, this natural treasure consists of high sand dunes, low peat bogs, pine barrens, hardwood forests, meadows, wetlands, and one of the largest beaver ponds in the state. The sand plains are a favorite place for nature lovers. Unique bird life, butterflies, and plants make it a popular destination for student field trips, bird-watching groups, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Wood Creek, which flows through the southern portion of the sand plains, figured prominently in American history as an important trade route for the Iroquois people and as the template for the Erie Canal.

Walking through tall pine, hemlock, and oak forests, listen for the songs of woodland warblers and the territorial drumming of ruffed grouse. Cottontail rabbits and white-tailed deer are often spotted warily nibbling on tasty plants. Steep slopes of ancient sand dunes drop to the shrubby floodplain of Wood Creek, another habitat where you’ll see a variety of birds and mammals.

Hike of the Month: Jay Mt. Trail

Jay, Essex County

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the Northeast can be viewed from the Jay Mountain Trail. At 2.5 miles, the trail reaches the ridge of Jay Mountain, where a short spur leads to an overlook with a spectacular 360-degree scenic view. The High Peaks, Whiteface Mountain, Ausable River Valley, Lake Champlain. and the Green Mountains of Vermont can all be seen from this vantage point.

The first overlook is located at 2.5 miles on this strenuous hike. Hikers can continue along the ridgeline, following rock cairns, for about 1.5 miles to the summit of Jay Mountain. The ridgeline is largely open and provides numerous opportunities to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Nature Notes

Male black bass construct nests and guard the eggs and fry (young fish) until they are old enough to disperse. Females typically provide no parental care and leave nest sites soon after depositing eggs.

Upcoming DEC Events

Summer Family Fishing at Lake Ronkonkoma, 7/10 at 5:30 p.m., Town of Brookhaven

Butterfly Super Senses, 7/11 at 2 p.m., Reinstein Woods EEC

Monarch Larva Monitoring, 7/17 at 1 p.m., Five Rivers EEC

Brooklyn Bridge Park Free Fishing Clinic, 7/20 at 11 a.m., Pier 5

Friends of Five Rivers Summer Family Fun, 7/26 at 10 a.m., Five Rivers EEC

June Conservationist

Be sure to check out the June Conservationist to learn about New York’s flying squirrels. You can also get a sneak peek at a map of DEC’s newest campground facility: Frontier Town, and travel to the Adirondacks with a West Coast couple. Learn what you can do to protect our waters, enjoy photos that highlight and celebrate the growing number of women hunters in New York, and read how DEC is working to save white pine trees and turn abandoned mines into productive use. There’s all this and more in the June Conservationist.

Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399 to receive the Conservationist year-round.