As the saying goes, “Give a man and fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” With the holiday season approaching, it’s time to give some extra thought to your Christmas gifts for this year. Consider the next generation as you prepare them for the future in their outdoor involvement.
There isn’t a better all-encompassing gift than a lifetime sporting license in the Empire State. Only New York residents qualify for such a purchase and there are so many advantages to making a purchase that will continue to give year after year. Make the purchase early in your child’s or grandchild’s life, and you can save some cold, hard cash.
For example, a lifetime hunting and fishing license (combined) for a child under 5 years of age costs $380. If the child is 5 to 11 years of age, the cost jumps to $535. For ages 12 to 69, the cost is $765. A senior lifetime license for age 70 and older is only $65, a great deal when you consider that if they move out of state, the license is still valid.
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A lifetime hunting license is $535 for big and small game. A bowhunting or muzzleloading license for big game is each $235, and a trapping license is $395.
Not everyone is into hunting, and getting a lifetime fishing license is an option. There are no cost breaks for anyone through age 69, with a fee of $460. Age 70 and older is the same as the combined hunting and fishing license at $65, still a bargain. What a great stocking stuffer from the grandkids.
New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (parks.ny.gov) has some options for stocking stuffers, too. You can pick up an annual Empire Pass that covers all parks in the state for just $80. You also can get a three-season pass for $205 and a five-season pass for $320. A lifetime Empire Pass is available for $750. You can also obtain camping or parks gift cards for any amount.
Kayak fishing is riding a huge wave of popularity across the country. In New York State, no less than six different kayak fishing circuits are available for friendly contests in the spring, summer and fall. If you have an interest in kayak fishing, be sure to mark Feb. 15-18 on your angling calendar for the “teaching fishing show” at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.
Getting started in kayak fishing might seem like an easy prospect, but the Fishing Expo will give you the knowledge you need to get started – from what kind of kayak to fish from and how to rig it to what fishing gear works best, what accessories to use and what electronics fit the bill, including knowledge on new forward-facing sonar technology. At least 20 kayak fishing seminars are being planned for the 2024 show for every experience level.
This is the perfect segue into another super stocking gift. A one-day pass to the Expo is $10, and a four-day pass is $25. With over 200 seminars over the course of the four days, there truly is something for every angler. Visit niagarafishingexpo.com for details.
Taking that a step further for the avid walleye and salmon fisherman in your life, there are a few seats remaining for the in-depth fishing schools for each species at the show. Each salmon or walleye school costs $100, giving you a season pass for the show and three days of school activities. You can’t go wrong.
Not everyone can own a boat. Some that have owned them in the past have found it more economical (and less time-consuming) to take a different route. Why not hire a fishing charter for a day? What a great way to share some outdoor bonding between family and/or friends while learning to fish areas and baits. For a list of fishing guides, check out the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association at easternlakeeriecharters.com; for Lake Ontario, the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association at lakeontariocharterboatassociation.com; or Destination Niagara USA (niagarafallsusa.com). Both fishing and hunting guides can be found through the New York State Outdoor Guides Association at nysoga.org. Bottom line, it’s another great present to place under the tree or in a stocking.
Another super gift option is a membership into a local hunting, fishing and shooting club. The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has more than 50 member clubs and you can find them by visiting ecfsc.org. Each county has groups of clubs (such as the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs at ncfcc.org). It’s important to point out that the next generation of sportsmen and women are the future stewards of our natural resources. Getting involved with a club is a good way to instill a sense of pride in the outdoors.
Several key fishing clubs focus on specific species. The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association is high on education and membership is just $10. Check out lotsa1.org. If walleye is your focus, look no further than Southtowns Walleye (southtownswalleye.org). There are numerous bass clubs in the area, including Niagara Fronter Bassmasters and WNY Bassmasters. It’s a perfect way to get started in bass fishing.
Membership in a local fly-fishing club like the Western New York Chapter of Trout Unlimited (wnytroutunlimited.org) or the Lake Erie Chapter of Fly Fishers International (lecflyfisher.com) is a good direction to take for both novice and experienced fly anglers.
There is a local shop that is synonymous with fly-fishing – Orvis Buffalo at 4545 Transit Road in Clarence. On Thursday, the store will hold a VIP Holiday Event from 4 to 7 p.m. with extended hours and shopping deals if you are interested in getting more in tune with fly-fishing. Call the store at 276-7200 to find out how to get on the invitation list.
Spey fishing is one of the fastest growing types of fishing. Since its inception in the 1990s, there have been tremendous strides made in equipment, casting and fishing techniques. Local fly-fishing expert Rick Kustich of Getzville pulled all the information together with his new book, “Modern Spey Fishing.” His new book is a successful step-by-step approach to Spey fishing through detailed explanations in layman terms. Pick it up at Orvis.
Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon fishing derbies are set for 2024 and every year the group offers a holiday deal to save you money when you buy a pass for all three events. Cost for a season pass with the incentive is $105. Sign up by Dec. 25 at loc.org.