McClory: Wealth of outdoor opportunities this fall

Fall brings lots of opportunities for “outdoor adventure.” I wish I had more vacation days to take advantage of all the things I like to do!My canoe is available to go fishing in the local pond for the bass as they pig out for the long winter ahead.Maybe I should take a ride to Sluice Pond and try my luck at catching one of the leftover breeder fish that the state often stocks. Should I travel north, 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. But NH bow season is open and I could start deer hunting earlier that I did last year.To get ready for hunting, I should go to the club and sight in my rifle and shotgun to make sure they are ready for the season. I might go goose hunting for one of those geese that don’t realize they should be flying south. My fly rod is still hanging in the garage, so I could call my buddy Bill to see if he wants to wet a fly line in one of our local streams. My tree stand definitely needs to be checked out to make sure it is still hanging safely where I left it last season. And it’s still nice enough to play golf.And of course my wife is hoping I can squeeze in a few household projects before I disappear for deer hunting season!An apron of colorful foliage surrounds you as you breathe the crisp morning air during a tranquil walk down an overgrown tote road.Fall is here, and with it comes the traditional upland game-hunting season here in the Bay State.Starting on Saturday, Oct. 13, Massachusetts public hunting lands offer plenty of opportunities to hunt pheasant, quail and partridge. Over 40,000 birds will be stocked in over 40 public hunting areas known as wildlife management areas during the upland bird season, by the Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Locally, the Crane Pond and Martin Burns WMA, located in the towns of Georgetown, Groveland, Newbury and West Newbury, are stocked with approximately 3,500 birds during the season. More than 500 birds are released during the two days prior to the opening Saturday, and 600-plus birds are stocked each week following opening day.Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover is also stocked with pheasants. Most of the wildlife management areas are stocked once a week except for the Martin Burns area; it is stocked every night. Bow hunting also starts on Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 24.The fall run of King Salmon into the Salmon River in New York from Lake Ontario is in full swing.The river has thousands of fish traveling upstream daily to spawn and we have heard reports of 20-plus hook up daily, with a half-dozen fish being landed.Many of these fish run well into the 20-pound range. 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 one to two 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.Does your family have a tradition of attending the Topsfield Fair? It is under way, and runs to Oct. 8. The fair is celebrating two milestones ? both its 194th year and its 102nd year at its Topsfield location, the old Treadwell Farm. The Essex County League of Sportsmen has a great outdoor exhibit in the Sportsmen and Wildlife Building; check it out especially if you have young children.On a closing note, please be informed that because the MassFishHunt game reporting system is not ready for the 2012 hunting and trapping seasons, hunters and trappers must check their game at a traditional check station as in past years. There is NO online checking in 2012. Please notify your hunting and trapping buddies who may not be aware of