1,000 Islands offer plenty

Iroquois Indians called this area the Garden of the Great Spirit. During the Gilded Age it was the playground of the rich. Today you can easily enjoy a great family vacation or get away weekend. Make a point to include the Thousand Islands into your vacation plans and see why the area is so special. If you aren’t including the Thousand Islands in your plans, why not?

Are you looking for fishing action in a beautiful setting? Do want to try a great new fishing spot or pursue a different species every day? Do you want fishing for the whole family? From the mysterious muskellunge to plentiful panfish, the Thousand Islands region has something for nearly everyone. You can conveniently launch your own boat, find plenty of opportunity for rentals, or take advantage of very reasonably priced guided fishing charters.

In case some of the family does not share your enthusiasm for fishing, there are plenty of other things to keep them busy and happy. Golf, museums, touring Boldt Castle or Singer Castle, nature centers, boat tours, craft stores, swimming, boating, hiking, dining, and much more are available. Excellent wineries, including The Cape Winery, Thousand Islands Winery and Coyote Moon Vineyards, offer greatwines and a fun-filled visit. There are accommodations to suit every taste including campgrounds, cottages, inns, motels, bed & breakfasts, or luxury hotels.

There is dining to suit every taste and style. The Thousand Islands area offers world class recreation with small town convenience and friendliness. For more information contact the Thousand Island International Tourism Council at 800-8-ISLAND or their website www.visit1000islands.com. Be sure to also ask for the “1000 Islands Fishing & Hunting Guide.” It is packedwith information including guides, launch sites, and articles on fishing.

It is no secret that Clayton holds a special place in my heart all these years. Contact the Clayton Chamber of Commerce at 1-800252-9806 or check their website at www.1000islands-clayton. com. Ask for their Visitors Guide to help you make your plans. It’s only two hours away, but seems as if you are in another world as you enjoy the scenery, the fishing, and the cuisine. The calendar of events is packed with an amazing variety including boat tours at the Antique boat Museum, Wine and Food Festival, concerts, boat shows, and the popular Decoy and Wildlife Art Show.

When I was young I eagerly looked forward to our family’s frequent trips to the St. Lawrence River and thought the fishing was fantastic. Later we took our own

children there for memorable vacations. Many years have passed since then, but I still feel the same attraction and return each year. Consider that you can catch muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, catfish, and panfish.

Northern pike remain one of the prize sport fish. Changing conditions on the river usually mean that the pike are in deeper water and more widely scattered than in past years, but when you hook one you will agree that they areworththe effort. Due to poor spawning success in recent years the new regulations in effect set a creel limit of three pike.

Smallmouth bass are always one of the most exciting fish to catch. The myriad granite structures and river currents provide great habitat. Clearer water means that you will probably use deep water tactics like jigging or live bait for much of the summer, but smallmouth provide great sport no matter what technique you use. The bass fishing deserves a separate column of its own.

Whether it is keeping the kids busy or filling your bucket for a tasty fish fry, panfish are abundant and cooperative. Perch, sunfish, bluegills, and other species are caught with worms, small minnows, crabs, or tiny jigs. Fishing from shore at the many public areas or from a boat along shallow bays will yield lots of action.

If you don’t have a boat, you are still able to take advantage of the great fishing by hiring a guide. Legendary guides like Al Benas in Clayton, The Svenson Brothers in Cape Vincent, Mike Seymour at Ogdensburg, and others will use their experience and knowledge of the river to put you into excellent fishing action. Their boats have the latest conveniences, and they will entertain you with their interesting stories of the river, as well as fishing. Contact Al Benas – 1000 Islands Fishing Charters (315- 686-2381), Mike Seymour (315-3790235), Adam Svenson (315778-6481), or Erik Svenson (315-778-5935) for more information.

Al Benas’s large charter boat can handle big parties in comfort, yetwill take you into the small, seemingly inaccessible places to find fish that love such spots. Enjoy a full day of drift fishing or step back into time with a traditional shore dinner on a scenic island.

Even if you bring or rent a boat, it is often a good idea to hire a guide for a day when you first get there. Their knowledge of what type of areas to find fish, techniques to use, etc. is invaluable and will help to insure your fishing success for the rest of your vacation. The St. Lawrence River – Thousand Islands area is a confusing maze of depths, currents, structure, etc. and can be tough to figure out. Invest in their skill and have a great time while doing it.

It is an area rich in tradition, yet modern conveniences and changes are always evident. In addition to the excellent state parks, there are a variety of private campgrounds and seasonal parks that feature the latest conveniences. It is a great experience to dine along the river and enjoy the scenery and action, but there are some of our other favorites just outside of Clayton such as the C-Way Resort Restaurant and Tricia’s Rondette that should not be overlooked.

My wife, Carol, and I return to the area each year for a few relaxing weeks on the river. We enjoy kayaking several areas, fishing, sightseeing, dining at several locations, visiting with friends, and relaxingwith a view of the ships plying the seaway.

If you are new to the area, consider a boat tour. Visit Rock Island Lighthouse, the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center on Wellesley Island, or hike some of the trails of the T.I. Land Trust. Go fishing, dine with a view of the river, and enjoy some of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see.

Whether it is a week or two vacation or a get-away weekend, the Thousand Islands are a great destination only two hours away. You owe it to yourself to go there this summer.

Short Casts

Vernon Rod & Gun Chicken Barbeque: Save the date of May 19 for the annual chicken barbeque at the Vernon Rod & Gun Club. As usual it will be a great meal and great value for a great cause – the annual kids fishing derby.

Free Fishing Clinic: Spider Rybaak and Mike McGrath will offer the first of their popular free fishing clinics for the season on May 12. It will be held from11 – 1 at the State Fish Hatchery in Constantia. All bait and tackle will be provided. There will also be carp fishing lessons by McGrath for anyone interested. For more information contact mmcgrath2@ twcny.rr.com or srybaak@ yahoo.com.

Thank You: Thanks to the many people who wrote to the Adirondack Park Agency in favor of keeping the railroad intact from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid. As so many of you noted there is opportunity to maintain the railroad and develop a hiking, biking, and snowmobile trail alongside it in the Travel Corridor rightof-way. There is no need to destroy a historical treasure with potential to help tourism, provide access for sportsmen, and boost the local economy. We will keep you posted on the results. But regardless of the outcome, I appreciate your support for a cause that I deeply believe in.