John's Blog
Best Hiking Trails in the Adirondacks
Exploring the Adirondack High PeaksThe Adirondack Park offers some of the most spectacular hiking in the northeastern United States. With 46 high peaks over 4,000 feet, there’s a challenge for every skill level. From the accessible trails around Lake Placid to the remote backcountry routes, the Adirondacks deliver unforgettable outdoor…
Ice Fishing on the Finger Lakes
Hard Water ActionThe Finger Lakes offer excellent ice fishing opportunities for perch, lake trout, northern pike, and panfish. The deep, clear waters of these glacial lakes produce trophy fish throughout the winter months. Key lakes include Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka, and Canandaigua — each offering unique ice fishing experiences.Safety is paramount…
Lake Ontario Tributary Steelhead Guide
Steelhead AlleyThe tributaries of Lake Ontario offer world-class steelhead fishing from fall through spring. Known as Steelhead Alley, this stretch of streams from the Niagara River to the Salmon River draws anglers from across the country. These hard-fighting rainbow trout enter the streams in the fall and remain through the…
Guide to Fly Fishing the Beaverkill
The Birthplace of American Fly FishingThe Beaverkill River in the Catskills is hallowed ground for fly anglers. Known as the birthplace of American dry fly fishing, this beautiful river has drawn anglers for over a century. The Beaverkill offers diverse water types — from fast riffles to deep pools —…
Fishing Tips for Spring Trout Subscribers Only
Spring Trout FishingSpring is one of the best times to target trout in New York streams. As the water warms up, trout become more active and eager to feed after a long winter. The key to success in spring is understanding water temperature and flow. Look for water temperatures between…
The Underappreciated State Forests of New York
If you like to enjoy nature away from the crowds in state parks, try visiting some of New York’s many beautiful state forests! Contrary to what many people in other states think, New York State is not totally covered with cities and suburbs. In fact, New York is one of…
The Abundant Trout Waters of Western New York
While working with the DEC during the trout population surveys, I either manned a holding net (most of the people in the background are holding a net) or took photos to document the work. Seen here is a deep pool on Hosmer Brook being shocked with electrified wands. Spring is…
Honey Locusts Thorns – Relics of the Past
I found this tree in an Erie County Forest parcel near Buffalo Creek. The thorns of these trees are sufficiently long, hard, and sharp enough to puncture a truck tire—or the tongue of a wooly mammoth. The red thorn in the center of the photo measures 13 inches in length.…
The Unseen Invasion
It took me less than 5 minutes to collect this pile of earthworms from my backyard, which measures 90 feet by 60 feet. At the usually given average of about 10 worms per cubic foot of typical suburban soil, there are about 54,000 worms in my backyard. If the soil…
The Amazing Solution to a Thousand-Year-Old Mystery
Image Credit: University of Rostock. This is the mounted 1822 Rostocker Pfeilstorch (Rostock Arrow-Stork). The mount iscurrently housed at the University of Rostock in Rostock, Germany. Image Credit:University of Rostock. Spring is fast approaching, and with its arrival come many seasonal visitors to New York: Birds migrating from Central and…
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