OUTDOORS COLUMN: Inland trout opener is next week

By Bill Hilts Jr.

April 1 is the inland opener for trout and landlocked salmon — outside of the Great Lakes, of course. Ever since the stockings of salmon and trout started up in the Great Lakes in the late 1960s and early 1970s, year-round angling opportunities for most species have taken a little bit of the enthusiasm away from that big opening day away from the big lakes.

I can remember one of my first openers in the Southern Tier with my father, although I don’t quite know what the stream or river was. I don’t remember catching any fish, but I do remember that the weather was crummy and that I missed school for this revered day. It ranked right up there with the pheasant and deer openers, a free pass for a different kind of classroom in the great outdoors.

Rather than get all wet from the rain, Dad asked if I wanted to see a movie. On the screen was “Von Ryan’s Express” and I was excited about going to a real theatre. I had never been to anything but a drive-in before. It was a special treat, the whole day.

Another opening day was my senior year of high school at Starpoint Central. It was a beautiful day as we looked out the window of our senior lounge. It took all of five minutes to make our plans and leave to go fishing. Jim Williams and Dan Carden were my fishing partners. Yes, we actually caught some fish as we hit several Southern Tier streams. I remember that I made it back in time for baseball practice at school. Lots of laughs and a very memorable day, for sure.

The state still stocks many of the streams, rivers and brooks with trout. If you’re looking for a place to go that affords a better chance to take a trout, here’s the stocking numbers and locations for this month. All are yearlings except where noted with 2-year-old brown trout:

n Wyoming County — Cattaraugus Creek (Java): 2,520 brown trout, of which 600 are 2-year-old fish; East Koy Creek (Gainesville): 5,370 brown trout, of which 650 are 2 year olds; Buffalo Creek (Java): 1,240 browns which include 200 2 year olds; Tonawanda Creek (Orangeville): 1,160 browns (200 are 2 year olds); Beaver Meadow Creek: 320 browns; Little Tonawanda Creek (Middlebury): 560 browns.

n Cattaraugus County — Ischua Creek (Franklinville): 4,880 brown trout, with 1,200 2-year-old fish; Franklinville Retention Pond (Franklinville): 400 brook trout; Forks Creek (Great Valley): 1,280 brown trout; Wrights Creek (Humphrey): 680 browns; Cattaraugus Creek South Branch (East Otto): 960 browns; Mansfield Creek (Mansfield): 740 browns (100 2 year olds); Great Valley Creek (Great Valley): 1,280 browns; Little Conewango Creek (Conewango): 1,160 browns; some browns were also stocked at Beaver Meadow Brook (Ellicottville), Connoisarauley Creek (Ashford), Great Valley Creek (Ellicottville), Guernsey Run (South Valley), the North Branch of Sawmill Run (South Valley) and Bay State Brook (Red House). Brook trout were stocked at Paisley Park Pond (Randolph), Bone Run (South Valley), Quaker Run (Cold Spring), Red House Brook (Red House) and Science Lake (Red House).

n Chautauqua County — Twenty Mile Creek (Ripley): 880 browns; Goose Creek (N. Harmony, Harmony): 2,840 brown trout (200 2 year olds); Little Brokenstraw Creek (Harmony): 220 browns (100 2 year olds); Chautauqua Creek (Chautauqua): 280 browns; Clay Pond (Poland): 300 brook trout.

n Allegany County — Dodge Creek (Clarksville): 2,240 brown trout (200 2 year olds); Black Creek (West Almond): 1,120 brown trout; Canaseraga Creek (Burns): 1,720 browns (200 2 year olds); Genesee River (Amity): 7,630 brown trout (750 2-year-old browns); Genesee River (Wellsville): 3,550 browns (750 2 year olds) and 4,100 rainbow trout; Little Genesee Creek (Bolivar): 1,960 browns (200 2 year olds); Dyke Creek (Andover): 920 browns (200 2 year olds); and Cryder Creek (Independence): 1,400 browns (200 2 year olds).

DC will continue to stock after the season opener, too. For a list of additional stocking sites, check out the Web site at www.dec.ny.gov.

Rusin’s one-man art show

Local wildlife artist Len Rusin of North Tonawanda has made quite a name for himself around the country, living a dream of sorts. He doesn’t just paint a picture. He has to experience it firsthand and feel its inspiration, see its beauty and hear its splendor. It is only then he is able to convey that experience on canvas, in a way few people can. I have some of his paintings adorning my walls —pictures of loons that take me to the wilds of the Adirondacks or Northern Canada; two wolves showing affection for one another; a cardinal arriving at the first sign of spring, to name but a few. I am able to put myself in those pictures and feel a special presence —Rusin is good. No, he’s more than good. Don’s take my word for it, though. From April 5 to 25, Rusin will put on a one man show at Partners In Art —his first local one man show in 10 years —at 74 Webster St. in North Tonawanda.

Rusin is coming off a couple big gigs, one as the artist of residence last fall at Acadia National Park in Maine; another by currently being featured in the Top 100 of Paint the Parks sponsored by Paint America on a national traveling tour for the year. He also has a couple paintings being featured on Tree Free Greeting Cards and numerous paintings at Barton Hill Hotel and Spa in Lewiston —including four original fishing-theme paintings that will be dedicated to the champion of an international steelhead tournament. Check out www.natureartists.com/rusinl.htm.

Hunt of a lifetime raffle

The Thundering Toms Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is attempting to raise funds to support an organization called Hunt of a Lifetime. This is a non-profit organization that grants hunting and fishing adventures to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. To raise funds, the group is sponsoring a fantastic raffle of some 23 items that range from an elk hunt in Colorado to seven different fishing charters; a pheasant hunt to several cash prizes. The drawing date is April 2. For more information, contact Dave Young at 297-9148 or Jim MacKenzie at 297-2810.