It’s the end of February already and the official start of spring is one month away. Sounds like a perfect time to get out, listen to some quality seminar speakers and pick up some new and used fishing gear to get ready for the nice weather just around the corner. The third annual Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association (LOTSA) Fishing Expo and Flea Market is on the calendar for next Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara in the 4-H Building, 4487 Lake Ave (Route 78), two miles north of Lockport.

This special event is a win-win all the way around. For starters, this show is the major fundraiser for the Niagara and Orleans trout and salmon pen rearing programs. “These pen rearing programs successfully reared over 150,000 trout and salmon in 2009 and are expecting similar numbers again for 2010,” said Joe Yeager, LOTSA president. These projects take a significant amount of man power and money to run. A typical pen costs over $1,400 and requires ongoing maintenance year after year. The Olcott project alone has four pens.

This expo has collected over $4,000 over the past two years for pen rearing efforts.  Success with these local pen rearing projects has played a major role in the recent development of our outstanding salmonid fishery in both the lake and the tributaries for trout and salmon. The state’s Lake Ontario fishing boat census reflected that 2009 was a terrific year for trout and salmon fishing on the lake.

The total trout and salmon caught was the highest since 1994 and 30 percent above the previous five-year average. Trout and salmon fishing quality as measured by catch rate per boat trip was the highest estimated in the 25 years of collecting data and 30 percent above the past five-year average. The quality of Chinook salmon fishing was the second highest on record and the steelhead catch rate was the best on record. These pen projects are a big reason for this modern day success story.

The expo will also help satisfy the needs of the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie fishermen who have cabin fever by offering a series of seminars along with an auditorium full of both the latest new and used tackle to purchase. This year, LOTSA has brought in the charter fishing team Best Chance Too from Lake Michigan to give a seminar at 11 a.m. Captains Dave Engel and Bill Bale will focus on some of the techniques they’ve used to become one of the most successful salmon and trout tournament teams on the Great Lakes. The second major seminar will be at 1 p.m. by Captain Tom Burke of Cold Steel. Captain Tom, from Pulaski, won the prestigious Lake Ontario Pro Am Challenge Cup in 2009 as the best team across all four Pro-Am events.  

The 4-H building will have 46 tables manned by experienced captains looking to sell the tackle they rep for, as well as some of their used equipment. Of course, they will also be talking fishing. If you’re thinking about booking a charter trip for Ontario or Erie this year, this will be an excellent opportunity to make that decision — be it for trout, salmon, walleye or bass. Food and beverages will be available throughout the day.

A $5 per person donation to the local pen rearing projects is required for admission to the show, which also includes free door prizes throughout the day and entrance to the seminars. For more information, check out www.lotsa.org.

State of Lake dates set

As long as we’re on the topic of Lake Ontario, the dates for the State of Lake meetings have been announced for next month. While all the details have not been finalized yet, the dates are March 9 in Mexico (east of Oswego); March 10 in Rochester; and March 16 in Lockport. Traditionally, the Lockport site is the 4-H Building of Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara. We’ll keep you posted when more details are released. One thing that will be covered is how last year’s Fish Community Objectives came out for the lake.

Derby and tournament dates for 2010

If you’re looking to plot out your calendar for this year, here are some important derby and tournament dates that you should consider if you don’t participate already:

• Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby, April 30-May 9 — This premier spring kick-off classic, offering a $12,500 grand prize for the largest trout or salmon caught overall, also sports over $30,000 in cash and prizes overall. For more information, call (888) REEL-2-IN or visit their Web site at www.loc.org. Walleye will return this year for the spring (the opener is May 1) if there are enough people registered.

• Fourth annual Buffalo Sabres Alumni Spring Salmon Spectacular, June 3 — Run from Krull Park and the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott, this is a special fishing celebration with the names that have helped to make the Buffalo Sabres a household name over the past 40 years. The event helps raise money for local charities. Check out www.sabresalumni.com for all the details.

• Ninth annual Don Johannes Memorial Big Fish Contest and fourth annual Pete DeAngelo Memorial Three-Fish Contest, June 4 — This is a precursor to the Pro-Am tournament. You don’t have to be in the pro-am to fish, though. Sign up at The Slippery Sinker, The Boat Doctors or The Gas Shack. Call 778-0713 for more info. The cost is $100 per boat, and there is a 100 percent cash pay out.

• 26th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament, June 5-6 — This prestigious fishing competition pits teams of anglers against one another using a unique scoring system over two days of fishing. Held out of the Niagara County ports of Wilson and Olcott, the local community also coordinates special events to make it a fun-filled weekend. Last year, more than $70,000 was paid out in cash and prizes. For more info call (877)-FALLS-US or visit www.lakeontarioproam.net.

For the second year in a row there is a special Open Division, which doesn’t require an observer but uses basically the same rules.

• Second annual Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Summer Derby, June 19-July 18 — Grand prize is $7,500 for biggest fish. Check out www.loc.org or call (888) REEL-2-IN. New this year is a $1,200-a-day boat derby, paying out half for the biggest salmon and half for the biggest trout. Cost is $600 for charter boats and $300 for recreational boats. Everyone on the boat is covered with this fee. Sign up by May 15 to ensure that this happens.

• Erie Canal Fishing Derby, July 6-18 — The Erie Canal is spotlighted for this family-oriented fishing competition offering up more than $8,000 in prizes. Eligible waters include from the Niagara River to the Main Street Bridge in Albion (Route 98); that’s 50 miles of waters. For more information visit www.eriecanalderby.com.

• Seventh annual Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association King Salmon Tournament, July 17 — Runs in Olcott from 6 a.m. to noon.  This event offers 100 percent cash pay back. All participants must be LOTSA members. Deadline to register is July 14 at 6 p.m.

• Orleans County Rotary Derby, Aug. 7-22 — Fish Lake Ontario and tributaries from the Niagara River to the Genesee River for salmon and trout. For more information call (585) 589-9881. Olcott does have a weigh station located at The Slippery Sinker.

• Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Fall Trout and Salmon Derby, Aug. 20– Sept. 6 — Over $50,000 in cash prizes including a $20,000 grand prize for the largest trout or salmon caught during this 18-day event. Cost is $25 for adults, $12 for kids under 16. Sign up in local tackle shops or call (888) REEL-2-IN.