Ben’s Bird
If you asked me to name one of our founding fathers that I would like to kick back and have a beer with, Benjamin Franklin would be my first choice. He had a rare wit, sense of humor and a gift with words that makes me green with envy. What comes to mind is a statement attributed to him concerning our national symbol. I did a little research about the whole Bald Eagle vs. Wild Turkey controversy that has been swirling about for the last 230 years or so. What I found was this - old Ben never publicly argued for the Wild Turkey to be adopted as the symbol of our fledgling nation, but he did set forth a solid argument for the turkey in a letter to his daughter in the late 1700s. Upon seeing the Great Seal with the eagle’s head in its position of prominence, he wryly made the observation that it more resembled a turkey and then expounded upon the virtues of the turkey in contrast to those of the eagle. Google it up on your device of choice and read his words for yourself. I think you’ll agree that he was a funny man.
I bring this up because May 1is the opening day of New York’s spring turkey season. Thousands of hunters with turkey fever will be up at “0 dark 30” so they can be in the woods before first light. Visions of long bearded toms will have strutted through their heads the night before, and probably will again, while they sit amidst the damp earthy aroma of the woods at dawn. I can speak with some authority on this because I have found that, through personal experience, I excel at napping with my back to a tree, bathed in warm sunlight. You will have much better luck than me if you do your homework and keep your eyes open in the woods.
Luck plays a prominent role in the success of our pursuit of game. You can improve your odds by doing your homework and preparing for the big day ahead of time. You may have treated yourself to a new shotgun because you deserved it. Spend some quality time with it on the range, so you know exactly how to operate it when the pressure is on. The last thing you want to do, while you’re heart is thundering, is to fumble around for the safety because it’s in a different location than the one on retired Betsy. New gun or not, “pattern” it before you hunt especially if you are using a different choke or the latest new ammo. Not all ammo will perform equally with your shotgun and choke combination, so try a few different loads to find the one that gives the best performance.
If you haven’t located the local flock of birds yet, head out to the areas that you will likely hunt at about sundown, or before sun up, and try to get them to gobble. Locating the roost is a key element to a successful hunt. Flocks will tend to use the same roosting trees for extended periods of time unless forced to move. Most hunters I know use a “shock call” to get the toms to “shock gobble.” Owl hoots, crow calls and air horns all work well to get toms to reply. Don’t overdo it though, just get a rough idea where they roost, and then investigate the area in midday while the toms are foraging for food and lady birds. If you can find the trees they roost in, you will have tipped the odds of success heavily in your favor. Now that you’ve found your birds and scouted the best place to set your ambush, leave and don’t go back until show time. Practice with your calls at home or at work if you can get away with it. Wives and co-workers will love the sounds you make and are sure to offer their advice and constructive criticism. Lastly, don’t let your eyelids slam shut while you’re waiting for the gobbler of your dreams to strut into range.
I know how fanatical turkey hunters can be and trust me when I say that there are more of them around than you suspect. The esteem with which they hold the wild turkey seemingly has no bounds. If Ben Franklin were here today, he may have pried his tongue from his cheek and made an impassioned and public endorsement of the wild turkey as the symbol of this great nation based on its popularity with outdoorsmen.
Pike, Pickerel and Walleye, Oh My!
May 7 is the opening day of Pike, Pickerel and Walleye season and anyone not in the woods will be casting and trolling about for our finny friends. All of these fish provide great sport to the lucky anglers whose offerings they strike. Pike, and their close cousins, Pickerel, are easy to entice. A large shiner under a bobber or a flashy lure will get their greedy attention fast. They can be found in most of the local lakes, ponds, and rivers and will be found in relatively shallow and weedy water. Whether you fish from shore or a boat, you can have a lot of rod-bending action with these fish. They are excellent table fare, but if you don’t intend to keep them, handle with care to improve their chance of survival.
Walleye have a certain mystique about them, and are considered difficult to catch. They do prefer to spend their time in deeper water and are believed to be more active at night. Their large eyes with reflective retinas allow them to see like a cat in the dark, and many of the avid walleye fishermen I know fish during the graveyard shift to catch them. I know that they hunt and will bite at any time of the day, and the vast majority I’ve caught have bent my rod during daylight hours. Volumes have been written on techniques to bring these fish to the net, but I’ve found that simple curl tailed grubs and tube jigs cast in the right areas work best. They are among the best tasting fish I’ve fried and I like keeping the 19 to 22 inch fish the best. Not enough meat on the smaller ones and the bigger ones are the best breeders so I let them go.
The Stripers Are Coming!
Striped Bass are headed our way this month, along with the herring they like to eat. Why go to the shore to fish, when the fish swim up the mighty Hudson for our fishing convenience? They are coming up to spawn and are ravenously hungry. Stripers dead end at the federal dam in Troy and can be caught from shore or you can increase your opportunities if you have a boat. They easily fooled by live herring that you catch yourself in the river. Heavy tackle is needed, because fish in the 10 to 20 pound range are common, and brutes 25 pounds or more are often caught but more often lost. The run often comes in waves, is water temperature sensitive and can be here and gone in a matter of a couple of days. If you want to have a go at these ocean nomads, check websites and forums frequently so you don’t miss out.
The fishing season is coming on strong as the warmer weather settles in. You don’t need to be an angler or a hunter to appreciate this welcome change of season. When you’re outdoors, take the time to notice the buds swelling in the trees and the general greening of the land. Color is coming back to our neck of the woods as our migratory feathered friends return, and it seems that we will be treated to the return of the 17 year cicada which, as implied, doesn’t happen every year. Enjoy!
Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at 518-584-3952. The store has a new location, at 111 Green St, Schuylerville. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.
