Freshwater Fishing & Boating News - August 1st Edition

Surveying Owasco Lake 2020

Staff from DEC's Region 7 Fisheries Unit will be conducting multiple surveys on Owasco Lake this coming August and September. Sampling efforts will assess:

• Current lake trout population characteristics
• Relative abundance of adult brown trout, rainbow trout and walleye
• Wild production of juvenile salmonids in area tributaries 
• Relative abundance of smelt and alewife in the lake (forage assessment) new in 2020

These surveys inform decisions about the number of lake trout to stock, as well as help gauge long-term fisheries responses in the lake after a 10-year experimental walleye stocking that ended in 2006.

More information
Owasco Lake fishing
Owasco Lake Monitoring and Management (2019 Owasco Lake Angler Diary report, page 5)

Consider joining our group of dedicated cooperators by visiting our Finger Lakes Angler Diary page today!

Hatcheries vs. Herons

DEC’s nine cold water fish hatcheries collectively produce over 6.4 million fish annually. Unfortunately, a significant number of these trout and salmon are lost to a variety of predators in search of a “free meal.” One predator that causes most fish losses is the great blue heron. At the Caledonia Hatchery it’s not uncommon to have upwards of 40 great blue herons surrounding the ponds during the spring.

Over the years a host of methods have been employed to deter herons from preying on hatchery fish: from sound cannons, to balloons, to dancing “tube men” and decoys - even getting a watch dog to chase them off the property. The only way to effectively prevent fish losses from predation is to totally enclose the ponds within a building structure.

The Rome Hatchery, and just recently the Bath Hatchery, have built pole barn style buildings over some of their outdoor ponds and have greatly reduced their fish losses. Bath went from about eight percent fish losses, down to less than one percent!

Besides essentially eliminating fish losses, the pond enclosures also:

• Reduce algae growth in the ponds
• Keep water temperatures down
• Keep leaves out of the ponds in the fall
• Prevent fish diseases 
• Make the working environment safer for hatchery staff

The enclosed ponds benefit everyone, except…. the great blue herons.

Catch and Release Anglers - Help Trout and Salmon Beat the Heat this Summer

During the hot days of summer, it is important to remember that trout and salmon experience serious physical stress when water temperatures climb above 70°F.

For tips on protecting New York's trout and salmon resources, visit DEC's website (PDF).