Spring Fishing Fever

Article and photos by: William D. Anderson

BEFORE THE SHOWERS OF APRIL BRING THE FLOWERS OF MAY, THE IDEAS OF MARCH BRINGS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH THE FISH OF A LIFETIME.

During March and April, the last remaining ice disappears from all but the northernmost bodies of water. As the days get warmer and longer, fish become more active, begin their annual spring feeding frenzy and start spawning activity. By the time the ice melts, a few species will already be well into the spawn cycle. This period of feeding and spawning represent great opportunities for anglers to catch the fish of a lifetime.

Most species of fish feed very aggressively prior to spawning. They instinctively begin an aggressive feeding cycle that helps them build strength and energy because during that cycle, and while guarding their nests, they will often not feed at all. An angler has a good chance at catching a real lunker before, during and after the spawn because the largest members of the species can be found closer to shore than they will be at any other time of the year. This makes larger fish much easier to find and catch.

The feeding cycle can begin as soon as the ice begins to melt. Baitfish will move closer to shore soon after ice out because the sun quickly warms shallow water and because warmer water rises to the surface and is then blown to the sides of the water body. This warmer water attracts shad, minnows, crayfish and other small fish. It also helps to increase metabolism and causes all species to become more active. Larger game fish prey upon active baitfish. While the water is still generally cool, the best time of day to look for fish is usually in the afternoon when the sun is at its peak. Soon after the spawn has completed, early morning and early evening will be better, but that’s not to say that you can’t catch fish at any time of the day or night.

The most important thing to do when you see a school of baitfish is observe how they move through the water. Notice how they swim when they are at ease, and also how they react to predators and try to dart away. Keep an eye out for injured fish and observe how they twitch in the water. You will want to use lures that resemble the color of the baitfish and imitate all of these types of behavior. The more natural your bait looks in the water, the better the chance a fish will go after it.

If you are fishing by boat, you can use your electronics to look for schools of baitfish or “bait balls,” as they are also known. These show up as clouds on the locator screen and you can usually see a couple of larger fish following the school or swimming underneath it. Fish your bait to the outside or under these schools of baitfish so that it stands out and is an easier target. Deep running crank baits, blade baits and spinner baits that resemble baitfish are good choices.

Another place to find fish is where runoff flows into the water. Runoff is often warmer than the body of water it flows into, and it can also contain food that all sizes and species of fish feed on. Fish are expecting a meal to come towards them and when you retrieve a lure in the opposite direction, they will sometimes leave it alone since it is not something that is natural. In these situations, float any type of live bait out with the current and it will catch fish. Smaller plastic baits also can be a good choice.

As you survey a body of water, look for ripples or other surface activity that might indicate the presence of active fish. Bass will often herd baitfish into coves or other confined areas where it is harder for their prey to escape. Look for minnows jumping out of the water or larger fish making a commotion near the shoreline. It is not uncommon to see the water’s surface erupt as several large fish tear through a school of smaller fish in an attempt to catch a meal. When fish are feeding aggressively like this, they can be caught very easily. Any crank bait that resembles the species that the game fish are feeding on will work. Other lures such as spinners or swim baits will also catch a lot of fish at this time of the year.

Once the water temperature is conducive for spawning, the feeding frenzy slows and the fish begin looking for nesting locations. Species that have a preference for cooler water usually spawn earlier in the year than species that prefer more moderate temperatures. For example, northern pike will spawn once the water temperature hits 34 to 40 degrees, which means they will be very aggressive and easy to catch right after ice out. Walleye will begin looking for locations to drop their eggs when the water reaches 38 to 44 degrees, and they will spawn in water between 42 and 50 degrees. What many anglers fail to consider is that the surface temperature can vary greatly from the temperature at the bottom of a lake. So, when looking for the right water temperature, a probe lowered to the bottom is essential for an accurate temperature reading.

Northern pike will guard their nests from predators and there may be as many as three males protecting the young and the female. In contrast, walleye do not guard their nests or care for their young. They drop their eggs, which adhere to plant material, and the young are left to fend for themselves. Walleye prefer to spawn in deeper water and are harder to find during this period.

Largemouth bass have a wider range of preferred spawning temperatures that vary by body of water. In most cases, they will begin to look for nest sites at around 60 degrees and will drop eggs when the water is between 62 and 65 degrees. Smallmouth bass have the same temperature preference when it comes to spawning, but they have been found spawning when the water temperature has been as cool as the low 50s and as warm as the mid 70s. In general, they prefer deeper water with a different type of bottom content.

Any fish that is on a nest can usually be caught. Plastic baits such as craw tubes or power worms, as well as small natural looking crank baits, will catch nesting fish. That said, there are times when the fish seem to know you’re after them and they won’t touch anything. In some cases, a fish can be pestered to the point that it will leave the nest only to return later to find that the eggs or fry have fallen prey to other fish in the area.

When targeting spawning fish, it is important to consider the impact that removing a fish from a nest will have on the hatch for that year. Some locations prohibit targeting certain species or fishing in certain areas until after the fish have spawned so that the young have a better chance at survival. Once a fish is taken off a nest, there is no guarantee it will return to the nest in time, if it returns at all, to save the fry after it is released.

Once the spawn is complete, game fish will resume aggressive feeding for a short time. The larger fish can still be found in shallower water for a short time before they begin to fall into their late spring and summer patterns.

The search for big fish doesn’t have to slow down after the spawn cycle is complete. Later in the spring and throughout the summer, striped and white bass will herd shad from deeper water and drive them to the surface. When this happens, the water will appear to boil for a short time until the baitfish scatter. When you see the water boil, a surface plug such as a chug bug is a favorite bait to throw right into the boil. These fish will often school by size, and it’s not uncommon to find some real monsters chasing baitfish.

Remarkable Rochester

Patti Donoghue
Rochester photos courtesy of VisitRochester

First-time boaters to Rochester may be surprised to learn that the city-center is located eight miles south of the Lake Ontario’s southern shore. From the mouth of the Genesee River, where lies the Port of Rochester, boaters seeking the city must travel two miles south before encountering the smallest of the three waterfalls on which the city was built. But the breathtaking scenery along the Genesee River gorge makes this brief diversion well worth the trip. One can imagine early Indian settlers navigating canoes on these same waters many centuries ago. One can conjure visions of the covert transportation of slaves making their way to freedom in Canada on the Underground Railroad. One will also notice something more modern: the numerous area marinas.

Fully equipped marinas at the Port of Rochester, Irondequoit Bay and Braddock’s Bay make for easy from Lake Ontario. In addition, the local villages of Pittsford, Fairport and Spencerport have invested in the development of their docking facilities. They offer many of the amenities found at marinas, with the added bonus of being steps away from shopping, dining and
recreational activities.

Rochester’s trails and bikeways, along with its relatively convenient public transportation, make it easy for any boater to explore the area. Within walking distance of local marinas are a number of retail stores, as well as restaurants serving everything from fine dining to Italian cuisine to Rochester’s famous “white hots.” The white hot is a Rochester tradition of German heritage. Rochester’s own Zweigle’s Hots produces this hot dog relative, which consists of beef, pork, veal and secret spices. Follow-up this local fare with an Abbott’s Frozen Custard. The flagship store is located on Lake Avenue at the entrance to Ontario Beach Park. In summer be prepared for long lines, but this sweet treat is worth it (especially the popular chocolate almond).

Ontario Beach Park is easily accessible from the eastside via the Colonel O’Rourke Bridge. There’s a sandy beach open to the public (and staffed with lifeguards), a restored bathhouse, basketball courts, six beach volleyball courts, a playground and a 1905 Dentzel carousel. The carousel has been a park staple for more than 100 years. For a dollar, you can take a ride and get a glimpse of an old-fashioned tradition. A short walk from the bathhouse uncovers what the locals call “the secret sidewalk.” It’s a half-mile stretch of public sidewalk nestled between beautiful lakefront homes and the lake. Access to the sidewalk is between 490 and 510 Beach Avenue. During the summer, beautifully tended gardens and a setting sun make it a truly memorable walk.

The Charlotte Lighthouse is also just a short walk from the beach area. Built in 1822, the lighthouse was originally much closer to the lake. However, piers and sand build-up now make it almost a mile from the shore. The lighthouse and caretaker’s cottage are open weekends during the summer.

You can follow bikeways and trails into the city of Rochester. Or if you prefer, public buses are convenient and equipped with bike racks. As you near the city center, just opposite the world headquarters of the Eastman Kodak Company, is High Falls, the largest of the waterfalls along the Genesee River. Here, more than 100 flour mills flourished in the early 1820s. Here too, after the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, Rochester became the country’s first boomtown. The Center at High Falls offers a good overall history of the area and its waterways, and also provides a spectacular view of the falls. In the summer, the city puts on a laser light and music show at the falls every weekend.

Continuing north to the city center, you’ll find a rich collection of architecture that includes the striking 1870s Powers Building. Its builder, Daniel Powers, was obsessed with having the tallest building in the city. To achieve that feat, until 1891 he kept adding new mansard roofs and towers each time another building in Rochester threatened to claim the title.

Continuing south is the Corn Hill District, originally the “silk stocking” district of the late 1800s; it has seen a resurgence that began in the late 1960s when starving artists purchased rundown buildings for next to nothing. The new residents began fixing up the old mansions and landscaping the area, and they later started the Corn Hill Arts Festival, which today attracts more than 250,000 people during the second weekend in July.

Perhaps one of the best-known attractions in the area is the Strong National Museum of Play, which is located in downtown Rochester. It is the second largest children’s museum in the country, housing the largest collection of toys, dolls and play-related objects in the world. Strong is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame. There, adults can take a walk down memory lane as they gaze at examples of the 38 toy inductees that range from alphabet blocks to the View-Master®.

One of the challenges at Strong is deciding what to do first and figuring out how to get everything done in one day. Smaller children love the Sesame Street exhibit, Adventureland and the Berenstain Bears. Older children opt for the “Space Lab,” where they can examine artifacts from the late 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the Hall of Fame, adults and children alike are drawn to the “Dancing Wings” indoor butterfly garden.

Strong is located along the city’s Museum Trail. Signs will direct you to the other area museums, including the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the Memorial Art Gallery and the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, all of which are within walking distance of each other.

At the Rochester Museum & Science Center visitors can explore the glacial history of the area, “star” in a local weather forecast and, perhaps most fun for a young boater, take a virtual tour of Lake Ontario’s underworld. One of the most popular exhibits at the museum is the “Flight to Freedom: Rochester’s Underground Railroad,” a salute to the area’s history and to Frederick Douglass, a freed slave and the great American champion of human rights. Douglass spent 25 of his most active years in Rochester and is buried in the city’s Mount Hope Cemetery.

George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film is just south of the Museum & Science Center on East Avenue. It was the home of Kodak’s founder and is now a National Historic Landmark home. It features historical gardens, as well as several galleries of photography and cameras that draw upon the world’s oldest museum of photography and largest technology collection.

One block from the Eastman House is the Memorial Art Gallery. As you make this quick walk, you’ll note the whimsical art benches and street lamps along the city’s ARTWalk, a neighborhood filled with outdoor art, artists’ studios and trendy restaurants and shops. Here’s a little know fact: the originals of the masterworks seen at the George Eastman House are actually on display at the gallery. Eastman left the works to the gallery at the time of his death, and those on display at the Eastman House are copies.

The art gallery is part of the University of Rochester, as is the Eastman School of Music. Located in downtown Rochester in the city’s East End entertainment district, the school’s students offer nearly 300 free concerts a year at the Eastman Theatre’s Kilbourn Hall. The Rochester International Jazz Festival is staged in this area each June. You’ll find 600 musicians performing in more than 170 sets during this eight-day event.

While museums and galleries are abundant in this culturally rich city, it’s important to note that there are more than 12,000 acres of parkland in the area that offer free recreational opportunities, including the popular Lilac Festival held annually in mid-May at Highland Park, one of three Frederick Law Olmsted designed parks in the city.

With so much to see in the Flower City, it is hard to do everything in one trip. Located within 90 minutes of Niagara Falls to the west and the Finger Lakes wine country to the east, Rochester deserves more than one visit.

Diversity on Deck

In the popular imagination, boating is a pastime by and for upper class white men. Their wives might be aboard, but they are seldom at the helm. Minorities are nowhere to be found. While this image may be more accurate than many would like to admit, the tide is turning and boating is diversifying. In our last issue, we profiled increasing female participation (“Women at the Helm”). Here, through the first-person accounts of two member-officers of the Black Boaters Club of America, we take a look at personal stories of minorities who discovered a love of boating.















Raymond Blue

Born and raised on the north side of Omaha, Nebraska, I developed a fascination with water at an early age. Coming from a large family of five brothers and six sisters, there was little money for recreational activities so we turned to the area lakes as a means for recreation for the whole family. I clearly remember the trips to the lake where my brother Richard and I walked 10 miles (one-way) to spend 10 to 12 hours fishing and watching the boats pass by, wishing that we could own our own boat someday. That was the time when I committed myself to being on the water—not just near it.

During the 1960s, few financial opportunities were available to African-Americans, creating an environment where a young impressionable African-American male easily could slide into a life of crime, drugs and despair. I would definitely say that being on the lake had a profound effect on my life in that being around the water gave me an outlet to escape the destructive influences that appeared to be all around me during that time. Upon reaching the age of 18 and having limited support, I joined the army as a means to break what I viewed as a vicious cycle and to escape a questionable future.

After serving three years in the U.S. Army and one tour in Vietnam, I became employed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As I rose through the ranks and experienced many relocations with the FAA, I had the opportunity to frequent waterways from the Great Lakes to the Florida Coast, meeting all types of wonderful people involved in boating and fishing. Also, I purchased my first boat, an 18-foot Bayliner. However, it was very noticeable that few minorities, especially African-Americans, were involved in boating. I wondered why. Following extensive research, it became apparent that these were latent effects of past conditions that made it difficult for African-Americans and other minorities to identify with the typical recreational boater.

In 2007, the opportunity to redress this misperception presented itself when fellow African-American boaters Wanda Wallace, Janice and David Tillery and I decided to organize the Black Boaters Club of America (BBCA). Along with the support of MarineMax, Aqualand and Holiday Marinas, we have had unbelievable results in exposing African-Americans and other minorities to the awesome world of boating.

Janis Tillery

My husband David and I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Growing up African-American in the ’50s and ’60s we never knew anyone who owned a boat. We went swimming occasionally and went to the beach from time to time, but that was the extent of our water experience and we certainly never thought we would own a boat ourselves.

In June of 1980, David, our new baby son David II and I moved to Strongsville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Due to the city’s location on the shore of Lake Erie, we began daydreaming about owning a boat. But because we were newly married with a young son and we were just starting our careers, owning a boat was certainly many years away. Even so, we would walk along the lakefront and admire the beautiful boats and say, “Some day.”

Years later, Cleveland redeveloped an area of the lakefront with restaurants and nightclubs called The Flats. There were water taxis and pleasure craft ferrying people to and from the restaurants and clubs. There were also some restaurants that allowed private cruisers and yachts to tie up in front of their establishments and come ashore. Everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives. But by then we were preparing to send two children to college. We vacationed at the beach and went on cruises. My husband and son became certified scuba divers and we all would Jet Ski, swim, snorkel and enjoy other water sports.

In May of 2005, with both of our children out of college and finally finding ourselves empty nesters, we moved to Georgia. While waiting for some paperwork to be completed on our new home, we met someone who casually mentioned that he spent most of the summer on his houseboat at Lake Lanier. It was even suggested we go to lunch at a restaurant on the lake. When we arrived, we couldn’t believe our eyes. There were boats of all shapes and sizes everywhere. After lunch, we drove around and saw marina after marina filled with houseboats, yachts, cruisers and sailboats.

That was when we got the bug. Soon after, in January of 2006, we went to the Atlanta Boat Show and walked out as the proud owners of a brand new SanPan pontoon. We took delivery in March and decided to slip it at Aqualand, the largest inland marina in the United States. Within days we had made friends and were enjoying every free weekend on the lake. Our relatives and friends enjoyed spending time on the lake as well. We learned a lot from veteran boaters and quickly realized that we were ready to move up to a cabin cruiser. In June of that same year, we traded in the pontoon for a 27-foot Bayliner. In October, we traded that in for a 32-foot Bayliner. This is when we realized that you really need to be educated about what you want to get out of boating so you can make the right choice first. Ultimately, in April of 2008, we sold the 32-footer and purchased our water cottage, our lake house, a Carver 396 Motor Yacht. It has all of the comforts of home. It is December as I write this, and I am reclining on the sofa in the salon with the TV on and a hot cup of tea on the end table.

Boating has become the perfect pastime for us. We have found something that we both enjoy and can do well into retirement.

I know that many more men would buy boats if their wives and families realized how much fun it is and how many of the conveniences of home can be found aboard these vessels. As a woman, the whole boating experience can be intimidating, but the more time I spend on the boat, the more comfortable I have become. We cook out, tie up with other boats, fish and swim.

Boating is a great way to make friends that share a like interest. We have become part of a community. Our boat truly is like a second home.

In my experience growing up as an African-American, swimming, fishing and spending time around water were not things we generally did. A lot of Caucasian boaters we have met grew up boating and hence became boaters as adults. Also, the cost of boating can be a possible deterrent. However, I believe that more minorities with disposable income (if educated about and exposed to the world of boating) would be open to possible boat ownership. Our first three watercraft were new, but we have found that buying a pre-owned vessel can be the way to get into boating at an affordable price.

Part of the Black Boaters Club of America’s mission is to expose and educate adults, as well as young people, about boating. We work with one of the club’s sponsors to provide water-safety and boater-education classes. And it is not mandatory that you own a boat to be a member of the club. We feel that the more people we expose to boating in a fun and safe environment, the more future boaters there will be.

Depending on where you live, you can boat year round. Even though we now live in northern Virginia, we keep our boat in Georgia where you can boat all year. I feel that I am on vacation every time I come to the lake.

blackboatersclubofamerica.com

Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 255

by Thomas Ludens

Each year, manufacturers introduce a slew a new of models, all of them packaged with some new feature or option. Rarely, though, do they reinvent the product they are building. Enter Sea-Doo, with their brand new GTX Limited iS 255. This sporty vessel revolutionizes expectations of what a personal watercraft can be. That begins with the entirely new hull and deck that have been designed for this vessel, but the innovation is far more comprehensive than that.

The Limited iS 255, along with the RXT iS 255 that is also being released this year, introduces a trio of exclusive new integrated technology systems that function seamlessly together to provide a level of safety and comfort never before seen on a PWC.

First there’s the Sea-Doo iControl system, which is the “brain” of the craft. It may be a behind-the-scenes component of the vessel, but its presence will be noticed immediately by anyone who takes the iS 255 for a spin. Integrating and controlling all the various systems to optimize their functionality, iControl allows the PWC to adapt on the fly to meet riders’ needs for different riding styles, changing water conditions and whatever else a certain situation requires.

In addition to this governing function, iControl works with the intelligent Throttle Control to provide the rider with many advanced features and benefits, including cruise control, a GPS speedometer, off-throttle assisted steering and Slow Speed Mode. The new Interactive Multi Function Digital Info Centre displays all these functions in a way that reduces confusion and keeps the rider fully informed.

Sea-Doo has long been at the forefront of suspension on PWC. They began in 1995, with the introduction of a suspended seat. Further innovation in seat suspension followed, but now the company is taking their efforts to a whole new level. The new Intelligent Suspension System (iS) is the industry’s first ever full suspension system. The iS supports the entire rider environment, expanding from the seat to also include the handlebars and footrests.

To maximize the functionality of iS and ensure the smoothest ride, Sea-Doo offers the system in two different factory-set calibrations. The RTX iS 255 has a sportier set-up to accommodate the larger waves of offshore riding, while the GTX Limited iS 255 model is set for a smoother ride at cruising speeds targeted at touring riders, like the many here on the Great Lakes. So, personalization begins before you make your purchase—but it doesn’t end there.

iS can be adjusted on the fly, using a rocker switch on the left handlebar that allows the rider to fine-tune the suspension calibration through nine different settings that range from soft to firm. There’s also an auto-calibration mode for maximum ease of use: it automatically adjusts firmness to ensure that the maximum amount of suspension travel is available in every condition without bottoming.

As one would expect, this makes for an extremely comfortable ride, even in rough waters. iS also provides improved control and reduces fatigue over longer distances, since you don’t have to fight and counteract the effect of each and every wave to remain on course.

The final major breakthrough introduced on this relatively little vessel is the Intelligent Brake and Reverse System (iBR). An unprecedented electronically controlled hand-braking system, iBR provides significantly better control and confidence by allowing riders to slow down and stop on demand as well as delivering superior low speed maneuverability. The throttle on the right handlebar controls the speed of the reserve and a lever on the left handlebar controls the amount of braking. The braking action is progressive, making the iS 255 far more responsive than other PWC.

The result is, in the words of Capt. Mark Rizzo, chief of the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, “a revolutionary improvement to the safety” of PWC. For this, iBS was awarded the Boating Safety Award.

These new systems are mounted on the all-new Sea-Doo S3 hull. Built with an exclusive new material that’s simultaneously lighter and stronger than the alternatives, the stepped design glues the craft to the water, providing a precise and stable ride—even in rough water.

Considering how much new technology is onboard and how well it’s integrated into the revolutionary design, it is no surprise that this year the National Marine Manufacturers Association gave the Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS watercraft its prestigious Innovation Award. More important, though, than any industry acknowledgement is how this PWC performs. The GTX Limited iS 255 leaves no doubt in that department: it rides like a dream.

See it in print

sea-doo.com