Oswego County truly is a sportsman’s paradise. Located on the southeast corner of Lake Ontario, it is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country. This made it the perfect place for the annual conference of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association as we mix business with, well, business.
Yes, outdoor activities like fishing and hunting are part of what we do as we communicate the outdoors to the masses. Yes, there is some pleasure involved – I won’t deny that – but taking notes and photos while on an outdoor adventure can sometimes get in the way of pure enjoyment. When most people think of Oswego, there are two things that come to mind.
One is the Salmon River. This is home to the Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar which creates one of the most spectacular runs of salmon and trout every autumn that people have ever seen in the lower 48 states. But if crowds are an issue, there are plenty of other places to wet a line.
Pick up a copy of the Oswego County Fishing and Hunting Guide by calling 800-248-4386 or go to visitoswegocounty.com . Dave Figura of Skaneateles shows off a keeper walleye from Oneida Lake caught during a recent writers conference.
The other important characteristic of the area that is ingrained to all who experience this part of the state is snow – and I should know. I went to school at SUNY Oswego from 1976 to 1978 and the snowfall we witnessed was mind-boggling. In the year that Western New York fought through the Blizzard o.