SARATOGA LAKE – It was a wet, windy day last Tuesday for the Tournament of Champions fishing contest last week on Saratoga Lake. Seventeen boats qualified, but two backed out.
A team of Stan Sala, of Schaghticoke, and Greg Paczkowski, of Ballston Spa, won the tournament and $1,000 for the 16.26 pounds they caught.
Finishing second with $15.53 pounds, and collecting $700, was the team of Mike Towner, of Galway, and Mike Marini, of Slingerlands. They also earned $300 for the 5.09-pound lunker.
Third place and $450 went to Mike Croll and Heath Clayson, both of Ballston Lake, for the 14.22 pounds they caught.
THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN’S FISHING EXPO
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will hold their third annual Women’s Fishing Expo at Connetquot River State Park Preserve on Long Island on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“DEC is excited to once again offer this program,” DEC Regional Director Cathy Haas said in a press release. “Long Island has numerous fantastic areas for fly-fishing, and we are eager to introduce this rewarding activity to women who may not have had the opportunity to participate in past fishing expos.”
Expo activities are free of charge and begin right at 10 a.m. Participants will be able to learn about fishing opportunities on Long Island and statewide, fishing basics, intermediate fishing skills and basic knots. There will be fly-fishing demonstrations, fly-casting instructions and fisheries management information. Fly-casting and fly-fishing is limited to those age 14 and older.
For more information, call 631-444-0280 or email [email protected] with “Women’s fishing Expo” in the subject line.
FOUR HUNTERS THINKING AHEAD
It was one of those days when everything falls into place.
Dan Lucca, of Rotterdam, Mike Mueller, of Niskayuna, Ken Pokalsky, of Saratoga Springs, and Steve Zahurak, of Schenectady, drove up the road to their favorite hunting spot with mowers, pruners, saws and weed trimmers. They were going to clean up some trails and sites where they will be deer hunting in a few more months. The property hadn’t been manicured in two years and it would be difficult to move from point A to point B without having to push brush out of the way and remain stealthily quiet.
Mueller and Pokalsky worked along the bottom part of the property, while Lucca and Zahurak winnowed out the top half. Although the day started with a cloudy, overcast sky and a few sprinkles of raindrops, a beautiful clear day began when they exited our vehicles. A cool breeze helped them forget the warm temperature as they went their way.
The four hunters concurred that completing this task before Labor Day will allow them to focus on other tasks of preparing for the season, such as cleaning equipment, restocking supplies, checking safety equipment, repairing clothing, purchasing licenses and applying for deer management permits before Oct. 1.
As the calendar has moves from August to September, encourage your hunting companions to consider spending a few hours to spruce up your own hunting areas and equipment. If you need some help and want free labor, call your friends.
Contact Ed Noonan at [email protected].
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Categories: -Sports-, Saratoga Springs, Sports
