History, Natural History & the Arts
Beneath the ice that covers our many lakes during winter, there exists an arena in which fish prowl their surroundings for something to eat and attempt to avoid being eaten by a larger predator.
One species, when fully grown, that never has to worry about being attacked and gulped down by another creature of the deep is the northern pike. This sizeable, torpedo-shaped beast reigns at the top of the food chain in most lakes and larger ponds. [Read more…] about The Northern Pike In Winter
Safety is essential during ice fishing season and anglers should make sure the ice is thick enough before venturing out.
Four inches of solid clear ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. Ice thickness can vary from waterbody to waterbody and even within the same waterbody. [Read more…] about Safely Ice Fishing This Winter
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the launch of an ice fishing creel survey that will be conducted on the New York waters of Lake Champlain starting this week through March. [Read more…] about Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Creel Survey Planned
The job of DEC’s Fisheries staff does not end in the winter.
Technicians are busy maintaining equipment and replenishing supplies needed for the next field season. That means everything from repairing boats and electrofishing gear, to tackling the never-ending job of building and repairing nets, to ordering replacements for holey waders. They also assist biologists with aging fish scales and finalizing field data. [Read more…] about What Do Fisheries Staff Do During Winter?
Boaters returning from the waters of Lake Champlain at Shelburne Bay have reported large quantities of invasive fishhook waterflea fouling their fishing lines.
First identified in Lake Champlain in 2018, masses of fishhook waterfleas began to appear on the 20th of June this year, as observed by trained Lake Champlain boat launch stewards.
No known control methods exist to eliminate fishhook or spiny waterflea once established in a water body. Efforts now focus on preventing the spread of this species to other bodies of water in the region. [Read more…] about Fishhook Waterflea Infesting Lake Champlain
While driving south from Isle La Motte one early December, my son and I noticed a fine skim of ice floating down the Alburg Passage. As it collided with the Route 2 bridge supports, it broke into rectangular fragments.
I wondered if what I was seeing was typical, or a symptom of changing climate? But a single observation tells you only about the current weather, and says nothing about climate trends. [Read more…] about Ice-Out Days and Climate Change