McClory: Autumn outdoor options abound

There are so many outdoor opportunities this month that I really have to try hard to allocate time to each one. Boy, I wish I had more vacation time! Let me see, should I drop the canoe in the local pond and fish for the bass as they gorge themselves for the long winter ahead? Should I take a ride to Sluice Pond and try my luck at catching one of the leftover breeder fish that the state often stocks? Perhaps I should head up to NH or Maine where the big lake fall salmon fishing is starting to peak. I haven’t gone striper fishing yet this year and I know they are on their southern migration, feeding all the way down the coast. Bluefish are everywhere. The fall run of King Salmon up into the Salmon River in New York from Lake Ontario is in full swing. We have heard reports of 40-plus hook up daily, with a half-dozen fish being landed. Oh, wait a minute, NH bow season is open. I haven’t had a nice piece of venison since last fall. I could go goose hunting for one of those geese that don’t realize they should be flying south. My fly rod is in a corner of the garage. Maybe I should call my buddy Bill to see if he wants to wet a fly line in a local stream. Of course, to make sure they are ready for the hunting season I could head over to the sportsmen’s club and sight in my rifle and shotgun. My tree stand needs to be checked out to make sure it is still hanging safely where I left it last season. Wow, there is so much to do and not enough time to do it. Autumn is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, what a beautiful day to be out on the links!Just in case you haven’t heard, the state of Maine has incorporated a new fall fishing regulation in effect for this season on Sebago lake. In the past, the open water fishing season has ended on Sept. 30, except for the small area near the Sebago station where you could catch and release salmon using barbless hooks until Nov. 30. This new regulation allows fishermen to fish the entire lake for lake trout until the end of the year, with the same size and bag limits. All salmon must be immediately returned to the water. These changes were decided after the current open water fishing law book was printed. The purpose of the regulation change is not to provide additional salmon fishing opportunities; it is to increase lake trout harvest that competes with salmon for food. Unfortunately, there is no enforceable language that could be adopted making it illegal to fish for salmon, so Maine Fish and Wildlife are requesting anglers to not target salmon after Sept. 30 and take advantage of the extended season for lake trout.Lake Winnipesaukee is starting to show signs of fall expectations. Reports of spectacular salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout are being heard. With the cool evening temperatures, surface water has started to cool down, bringing the fish closer to the surface, especially early in the morning. Use a sinking fly line or 1 to 2 colors of lead core and a tandem streamer. As the day progresses, don’t be afraid to go down 4-5 colors of lead; the lakes haven’t completely turned over yet. DB smelts and Top Guns are also producing very well.There are plenty of pogies in the Mystic River, inner harbor, the airport, Winthrop Harbor and Revere Beach, according to the Kittery Report. Locate the pogies and you’ll find the bluefish, with Stripers following under the blues, letting them do the work, and picking up the leftover scraps. Top water lures are also starting to see action, especially around the airport early in the morning. Bluefish up to 18 pounds and stripers up to 40 pounds have been reported.It’s the season for fairs in Massachusetts, and, for us, the oldest agricultural fair. Established in 1818, the Topsfield Fair starts next Friday, Oct. 3, and runs to Oct. 13. If you go to the fair, stop by the Essex County League of Sportsmen’s booth and show your support.All for now.