‘Good Fishing’ still one of best fishing books
By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist
After 14 years and three editions, "Good Fishing in the Catskills" by Jim Capossela is still the best book on the market for fishing the legendary streams and large impoundments of that area. My opinion may be a bit biased, for it was Capossela, owner of the North East Sportsman’s Press, who enlisted me in 1989 to be the editor of "Good Fishing in the Adirondacks," the fourth part of what was then the "Good Fishing in New York’ series.
Now, as back then, Capossela provides complete information on all aspects of fishing that region. This is not a fishing guide written by some armchair fisherman who compiled most of his information via phone calls, but rather first-hand experience based on a lifetime of fishing the Catskills.
Capossela not only goes into techniques for each body of water — whether the famous Beaver Kill, Neversink or Willowemoc rivers — but also the lesser known streams. All the big New York City reservoirs — Pepacton, Neversink and Ashokan — are given extensive treatment, as well.
The maps and directions to each fishing spot are equally good and well placed, and Capossela is not afraid to subtly put his comments about the amount of posted land along some prime river sections or the lack of stream access.
I highly recommend "Good Fishing in the Catskills" to anyone, whether novice or experienced angler, who is planning to fish the Catskills. The book retails for $19.99 and can be ordered from local bookstores, online from amizon.com and other sites, or by calling 1-800-245-4151.
"Tying Flies the Paraloop Way" by Ian Moutter presents, in a complete guide, the technique of tying and fishing with paraloop flies. Basically, a paraloop fly with a loop extending above fly for dressing is a step beyond the traditional fly, which rides low in the water, according to the author. But, unlike the parachute fly, the paraloop can be used to tie a whole range of traditional fly patterns.
Moutter, who lives in England, provides very good color photos to detail his step-by-step methods for tying a paraloop. This hardcover book can be ordered locally, on the Internet, or by calling 1-800-245-4151.
4/7/02
Longer snow-goose season
Conditions calling for reconsideration
By DENNIS APRILL, Outdoors Columnist
The snow geese returned to the Champlain Valley a couple of weeks ago, prompting more than a few waterfowl hunters to ask: Why does the special spring snow goose season end March 10, just before the flocks arrive?
The answer is that migratory waterfowl seasons are set within the parameters of an International Agreement, and March 10 is the last allowable date, but that will likely change in 2003.
Bryan Swift, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation waterfowl specialist in Albany, says, "The light goose numbers still have not been brought down to the point where they are in balance with their habitat, so the states may get more flexibility in setting seasons." Swift goes on to say a late March or early April spring hunt is not out of the question.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently doing an environmental impact statement that may not only recommend later seasons but also allow hunters the use of electric callers and unplugged shotguns (now only three shells are allowed in the shotgun for waterfowl hunting).
All of this comes on the heels of a Ducks Unlimited report that the mid-continent light goose (snow and Ross) take is down, and that the 2008 target date for decreasing their numbers by half will not be met. One reason given for the half million fewer birds harvested in 2000-2001 compared to 1999-2000 is fewer younger geese using the flyway; these young birds are easier to hunt.
There have been calls for hunter input for season-setting process in two Migratory Bird Zones in New York state, the Western and Southeastern, but there is no advisory committee set up for the Northeast Region. Bob Inslerman, DEC wildlife head in Ray Brook, says that there has been no great call for such a committee in the past, and the Lake Champlain Zone group meets in Vermont.