Submitted article
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold its 13th annual Salmon River Hatchery Open House and Family Days on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. Open house hours will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., held in conjunction with the celebration of “National Hunting and Fishing Day.”
There will be activities, seminars, and demonstrations throughout the day. Salmon River Corridor outdoor recreational opportunities will be highlighted in each program. Activities, programs and demonstrations will be geared towards hands on activities for youth and families. The Salmon River Hatchery is located at County Route 22, Altmar, Oswego County. The open house will be held rain or shine, and admission is free.
On Friday evening, Sept. 26, there will be a special fly fishing seminar featuring Rick Kustich, a noted Great Lakes angler and the author of “Salmon River, NY River Journal,” “Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead,” and “Fly Fishing Great Lakes Tributaries.” The program will be held in the hatchery auditorium and starts at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour where Kustich will be available for book signings, followed by a presentation on fly-fishing for Great Lakes steelhead & salmon. Participation in Friday night’s activities will be limited to 75 persons; participants must register in advance. You may register by calling 315-298-7605, stopping by the hatchery and registering at the lobby desk, or e-mailing the hatchery at [email protected] .
On Saturday, there will be many opportunities for learning and fun. You can learn about the NYS Salmon River Hatchery by touring the facility with hatchery staff or you can learn about fishing for Pacific salmon with an on-stream demonstration. Inside the hatchery one can observe the rare and endangered fish exhibit. Bring the family and learn to cast a fishing rod, tie flies, fly cast and fly fish while enjoying the beautiful fall scenery of the Salmon River Corridor. Kids will enjoy participating in “Backyard Bass” and Hook and Ladders fishing programs.
Families can learn about the heritage of hunting and shooting sports through the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, and they can participate in the highly popular Laser Shot Game. Children can learn about the living creatures of Beaver Dam Brook while persons of all ages will enjoy taking a nature walk at the Salmon River Falls. You can observe migrating salmon in the fish ladder through the ladder’s underwater camera, learn about cross country skiing, kayaking and canoeing opportunities and learn boater safety with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Tours of the Salmon River Hatchery will be given every half hour starting at 10:30 a.m. by hatchery fish culture staff. This is the one opportunity during the year where the public is able to access the working parts of the facility with a more up close and personal tour.
Tours of the Salmon River Falls will be conducted by the Sea Grants Salmon River Stewards program. You can register for a scheduled tour by e-mailing [email protected]. Or sign up on the day of the open house at the Sea Grant table.
Stream fishing workshops will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. by the Lake Ontario Steelhead Association (LOSA) Float-rod fishing and fly-fishing techniques will be demonstrated. Registration will be limited to 10 per class. You may pre-register by calling 315-298-7605 or stop by at the Salmon River Hatchery lobby desk. On the day of the event, sign up at the LOSA table.
Along with the scheduled program events there will be many conservation organizations and agencies on hand providing information about their role in the Salmon River Corridor and the Lake Ontario Ecosystem.
For more information contact Fran Verdoliva, NYSDEC Salmon River Coordinator, at 315-298-7605.
missing or outdated ad config
