Noonan: Rotterdam residents do well in fishing tourney

PHOTOGRAPHER: Rosemary Noonan

Ed Noonan displays a smallmouth caught in the Mohawk River.

Every year, Mohawk Valley Anglers hold their classic and this year it was on the Mohawk River out of the cornfield launch.

The top four finishers were all from Rotterdam. First-place winners were Chris Colin and Todd Keenan with a five-bass limit totaling 15.98 pounds, and they received $800 plus an additional $100 for their 3.52-pound lunker. Second place and $400 went to Pete Bioncosino and Doc Holiday with 14.32 pounds. Third place was Tim Squires and Reed Poulton, who got $300 with 13.11 pounds, and low to cash was Floyd Squires and Rob Brower for $250 with 13.01 pounds.

The Mohawk Valley Anglers also held their annual Joe Johnson Memorial bass tournament on the Mohawk River and they raised $2,332 for the Tyler DeMarco fund. The top five that cashed were: Scott Schaer of Scotia with 17.21, worth $700. Second place and $400 went to Tim Paraso and Mat Lieberman of Ballston Spa with 17.13 pounds. Third-place cash of $250 went to the Clifton Park team of Andy Daubert and Tommy Kail for their 16.11-pound catch. The Rotterdam team of Vince Monini and Gerry Rosenbarker were fourth with 16.10 pounds and earned $145. Low to cash was Larry Andrews of Rexford and Ito Lebron of Schenectady with 15.43 and they received $110.

Looks like the Fall Mohawk River bass bite is hot.

Deer bandit caught

Late last month, environmental conservation officer Scott Atwood was on patrol in the town of Pitcairn, out in St. Lawrence County, when he noticed a strong odor of burning debris that seemed to be coming from behind a camp.

When Atwood reached the camp, he observed smoke coming from an ATV trail. There were also bags of corn stacked up on the ground and in the back of a pickup truck, and a bow case sitting on top of the bags. The officer followed fresh ATV tracks from the camp, which led him to a smoldering pile of debris, including empty corn bags.

Atwood continued past the debris and reached an elevated enclosed hunting stand. He observed a hanging feeder and watched as an individual exited the stand and disappeared into the woods with a rifle slung over his shoulder. The subject appeared to be tracking an animal.

Atwood approached the man and after a short conversation, determined he had killed a four-point buck with a crossbow over an area baited with corn and apples after legal shooting hours. The deer was recovered, seized and a total of six tickets were issued to the man for killing deer except as permitted, hunting deer pursuant to a bow stamp while in possession of a firearm, hunting deer with the aid of bait, taking deer other than during permitted hours, taking deer by a means not specified, and failing to carry his hunting license and tags.

Atwood returned the next day and met with the property owner who admitted to starting the fire that had drawn the officer’s attention. One ticket was issued to the property owner for unlawful open burning of refuse material.

The deer was donated to a local community organization.

New gun on the way

A few days ago, I received an email from a reader of The Daily Gazette who is going to apply for his Saratoga County concealed carry permit. He wanted to know what handgun type I would recommend.

Ironically, I had just been talking to a good friend, a retired law officer, about the same thing. He suggested that I should upgrade from my 22-semi auto pistol to something with a bit more punch like the .380.

That afternoon, I spent some time on the Internet looking for the “right” one and found a new .380 Taurus Spectrum semi-auto, which was just introduced. Hopefully it will be arriving at my FFL dealers shortly. And once I get it I will be adding a Varidian red laser sight.

If you want to know more detail, go to my blog at noonanpics.blogspot.com.

Reach Gazette outdoors columnist Ed Noonan at [email protected].