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Cameron Washburn of Lewiston with an Erie Canal bass he caught while paddling with his dad.
Lake Erie, Buffalo rank 7th for bass fishing
Cracking the top 10 for bass fishing spots in the country is no easy task. However, for the eastern basin of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River, it has come to be expected. The fishing is that good.
The 2024 Bassmaster magazine list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes was recently released, and the productive waters of the eastern basin of Lake Erie near Buffalo, including the Upper Niagara River, cracked the top 10 in the country once again with a solid seventh-place ranking. The area was ranked ninth in 2023 and eighth in 2022.
The recognition as one of the top smallmouth destinations in the country is something to be proud of. It helps that James Hall, editor of Bassmaster, is a regular visitor to this angling destination. He has seen firsthand how good the bass fishing can be.
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Another New York bass haven is the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands area. It also received kudos for its smallmouth bass fishery as it moved back into first place overall, a position it held in 2022. Last year this special bass spot ranked second overall. Bassmasters referred to the region as quite possibly “the best smallmouth fishery to ever exist.” It’s a bold statement but very deserving of the claim.
Other New York lakes to receive top 100 recognition through calling out the top 25 lakes in four geographical regions were Lake Champlain, at No. 6 for the northeastern section of the country, as well as Cayuga Lake (No. 8) and Oneida Lake (No. 16).
Huntstock coming up this month
Calling all hunters looking to experience something unique. Huntstock is set for July 19-21 at the Vernon National Shooting Preserve in Vernon Center, Oneida County.
It is a relatively new concept and is being held for the first time in New York. The exposition features a festival-like atmosphere in which there will be more than 50 exhibitors and opportunities for hands-on shooting and other activities.
Attendees can experience 3-D archery, various clay shooting options, test new optics, witness blood tracking and saddle hunting demonstrations and more.
There also will be a long lineup of hunt-related seminar speakers including Hal Blood and Rick Labbe, Lanny Benoit and the Woodman Arms team, Brett Joy and the Just Hunt Club team, Joe DiNitto and Jim Massett, Rodney Elmer and the Mountain Deer team, Beau Martonik from East Meets West Hunt and Josh Ilderton from The Untamed.
Whether you are a firearms big-game hunter, bowhunter, stand hunter or tracker, there's something for everyone at this event. The icing on the cake will be over $20,000 in door prizes that will be handed out throughout the weekend.
Tickets start at $40 online and $45 at the gate for one day. Check out huntstockevents.com for all the admission options, including a VIP party on Thursday night. There are also opportunities for tent and RV camping.
LOTSA fishing contests slated in July
Members of the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will meet on the water and at the scales as they hold their annual fishing contests July 26-27 on Lake Ontario.
This is a club function so you must be a member, and it’s worth the $10 to be part of this progressive, education-oriented group focused on salmon and trout fishing in Lake Ontario.
The deadline to register for the friendly competitions and the popular club picnic is July 23.
July 26 is the date for a free contest to help get you warmed up for the main events. The Curt Meddaugh Memorial Tournament is a best three-salmon weigh-in at 3 p.m. to be held at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott.
The top three boats based on total weight will receive $400, $300 and $200 with $150 going to the largest fish overall.
On July 27, the LOTSA Main Tournament is a big-fish contest with the weigh-in to take place at 3 p.m. at the Olcott Volunteer Fire Company. The entry fee is $70 per team/boat, which includes the barbecue dinner from One Eye Jacks after the weigh-in.
The club will pay back the top seven places with 45 boats. A full field is 60 boats, paying back 15 spots. As a special prize, DeAngelo Fish Art will mount the biggest fish for the day.
A third fun option is the 323 tournament. The cost to enter is $50. This is for your three best fish, one of which may be a trout, over two days of fishing. You must pick which fish you want to weigh over the two days. The club will pay back the top three weights.
For more information, check out the club website at lotsa1.org.