Old Forge and Inlet played host last week to the New York State Outdoor Writers Association Inc’s (NYSOWA) Annual Conference and meetings. The four-day event began on Thursday with a reception at the spacious chalet of the Forge Motel in Old Forge, our lodging site and center of operations. Guest speaker for the evening was DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, his first attendance to a NYSOWA event.
Grannis, a downstate NYC Democrat appointed by then-Governor Spitzer was initially an unpopular choice among sportsmen of the state due to some of his agendas and stances taken when he was an assemblyman representing his constituents in the Big Apple. But many have since changed their minds, following his support and push to lower the minimum age for hunting big game in the state. Grannis seems quite sincere regarding his role as DEC’s head man, and told the members present that he was pushing for a more “open door” policy that would allow the sportsmen of the state to voice their concerns, gripes and questions. We’ll see, given the budget cuts being proposed by the governor.
As most of you are aware, this part of the Adirondacks is renown for its glorious autumn foliage scenery. Sadly, the weather during the conference refused to cooperate, with showers and cooler than normal temperatures throughout our stay. But even with the lack of sunshine, the foliage was still beautiful.
Early on Friday, following breakfast at either the Forge chalet or Walt’s Diner, members headed off to experience the activities and attractions of the area. There was a variety of choices fishing for trout, salmon. bass or pike, small and big game hunting, canoeing, kayaking, a ride on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad or Fulton Chain Tour Boat, or the chairlift at McCauley Mt. Ski Area. I opted to bowhunt an area south of the Moose River toward McCauley Mountain. I saw quite a bit of deer sign, but no deer appeared during my short, soggy hunt.
A quick note is in order here about the deer in the area. Because all hunting is prohibited inside the hamlet boundaries of both Old Forge and Inlet, the deer (and sometimes bears) roam about both hamlets like four-legged tourists. And if you’re eating an apple (or almost anything), you can almost be assured a mooching deer will quickly appear to beg for it. As my old friend and noted wildlife photographer Leonard Lee Rue was fond of saying, ìI only photograph “semi-wild” animals. Lenny would be right at home in either Old Forge or Inlet.
Members met for lunch at noon at Maloy’s Main St. Restaurant where Hamilton County Director of Tourism and Development Bill Osborne put on an excellent presentation of the current challenges facing the residents and businesses within the Adirondack Park. I plan to cover these in a later column, but what bill told us was reason for alarm for the future of this grand but over-regulated region that is enjoyed and cherished by millions of people who visit it annually. The afternoon consisted of business meetings and craft improvement seminars, followed by a belt-stretching dinner back at Maloy’s.
Saturday morning we awoke to the first really hard freeze the area had seen this fall. I had about an eighth of an inch of ice on my truck’s windshield. My original plans were to bowhunt again, but conference chairman, Leo Maloney had approached me the night before with an offer I just couldn’t refuse ñ a trip deep into the most extreme area of the Moose River Plains’ Recreation Area to fish for native brook trout in the headwaters of the river. My guide would be Mitch Lee, who also wears several hats for the Inlet Information Office and other hamlet organizations and associations.
Four of us drove to Inlet where we met Mitch, then followed him as we drove the narrow, winding dirt roads that would take us 26 miles into the heart of this expansive wilderness area. En route, we had an adult bobcat cross the road in front of us but otherwise saw nothing but woods and waters and a couple of adventurous campers. As the final right turn led us onto a narrow truck trail, we saw a bridge and gate barrier ahead. Mitch announced that we had arrived. Fishing spinning gear and small spinners and spoons, the very first cast from the bridge yielded a beautifully marked native trout. What a great start. But it was not the omen we’d hoped it would be. Fishing was very slow despite seeing numerous trout finning in the tannin-stained water. The cold front and overcast skies had put the fish down, but we did manage to catch a few of the native beauties which we released. We flushed grouse as we fished and then were entertained by some of Mitch’s grand stories of this fabled area, once the realm of Adirondack legend French Louie. Saturday night it was back to the feeding trough, this time a great prime rib dinner at the North Street Restaurant, where we were again entertained by several of Mitch’s renown Adirondack stories, much to everyone’s amusement. Come Sunday after breakfast at the North Woods Inn in Eagle Bay, we faced the hardest task of the conference and visit, leaving this great place and scattering for home.
For more information contact: Town of Webb Visitor Information Center, PO Box 68, 3140 State Route 28 | Old Forge, NY 13420 | 315-369-6983 (www.oldforgeny.com); Town of Inlet Information Office, P.O. Box 266, Inlet, NY 13360, 1-866-GOINLET(www.inletny.com).