SOUTH OTSELIC – Fishing plays a large part in the history of South Otselic. From the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Fish Hatchery, located in the town since 1932, to the Gladding Fishing Line Company, a part of the community since 1816, fishing has been an integral part of the community, and that fact will be celebrated on Saturday with the town’s first Fishing Heritage Day.
Given the town’s history, South Otselic resident Carl Johnson and one of the event organizers, came up with the idea to hold the event. “A fishing heritage event seemed like an appropriate beginning,” Johnson said. After discussing the event, it was decided that bringing attention to the history of South Otselic could have some benefits for the local and regional economy.
The Fishing Heritage Day will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and events will be held at the Fish Hatchery, the Town Park and throughout the town. The days events will include, living stream exhibits, fishing clinics for school age anglers provided by the DEC, fly tying and casting instruction by the Chenango Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, an aquatic insect program led by the Rogers Environmental Education Center and guided tours of the Fish Hatchery.
In the town park, there will be a special US Postal Service stamp cancellation, antiques, arts, crafts and sporting good vendors, a display on the history of Gladding, live music and prize drawings. The Town Hall will be open for the sale of fishing and hunting licenses.
In addition to those events, the Otselic Valley Grange will be holding their annual yard sale day, the United Methodist Church will hold a bake sale, plant and rummage sale, there will be a quilt raffle by the Chenango County Piecemakers Quilt Guild and a 50/50 raffle at the South Otselic Fire Department.
One of the event organizers, Calvin Hite, explained that fishing was a big part of South Otselic’s history, not only because it provided employment and tourism for the area, but also because it added significance to South Otselic’s place in history. “Gladding ads in the 1940s “Outdoor Life” magazines touted South Otselic as ‘the fishing line capital of the world,’” Hite said. In addition, the fish hatchery is one of only 12 such facilities in New York state. “Today it is the sole source of tiger muskie, stocked throughout the lakes and rivers of NY,” Hite said.
The Fishing Heritage Day committee planned this event to highlight and promote the history and operation of the Fish Hatchery program, its historical relationship with South Otselic and the heritage of the B.F. Gladding Company’s fishing line industry. But in addition, Hite said, “our purpose is to provide opportunities for persons to get involved with state fishing programs, learn the history of the Gladding company, develop fishing related skills and gather information on and about fishing tackle, equipment, fish species, seasons, locations and services.”
The Fishing Heritage Day will be a family oriented event, open to the public. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Brochures with detailed lists of the day’s events and vendors are available at many area businesses. Hite said the committee hopes the Fishing Heritage Day will become an annual event.