My relationship to fishing has always been somewhat ambivalent. A lot of my fishing as a kid was catch-and-release, mainly because, frankly, fish has never been one of my favorite foods. And when I was prime “fishing age” my dad was fairly tied up with his business, so in a classic role-reversal I had to make a point to take him out fishing. Other times I’d head out with one of his buyers or managers, who knew some of the back road/farm pond fishing holes around the area–usually with pretty good results.
But the high-water mark of my “worm drowning” was on a nine-day wilderness canoe trip in the Adirondacks, where I was pulling them out of the lake almost as fast as I could put the line in–but then releasing them. When my scoutmaster discovered me doing that, I thought I was going to be fishbait! He threw such a fit I think it was the first time I’d witnessed an adult have a full-blown, meltdown temper tantrum. If you’re reading this, Mr. V., sorry about that!
But enough about me. If your family is into fishing–or would like to be–check out the Family Fishing Day at Broderick Park on Saturday. As you may have read in the Buffalo News, DEC allows free fishing (no permit required) for two days a year, at the beginning of summer, in all New York State waters. Taking full advantage of this, and to celebrate our great Niagara River fishing, Family Fishing Day has been organized and sponsored by the Greater Western New York Angler’s Association, Buffalo United Front, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, and Councilman David Rivera.
I was amazed to hear about the fish that anglers are able to catch in the Niagara River. According to George Johnson (no, not the Buffalo Rising George Johnson) of Buffalo United Front, and folks I’ve talked with at Russ’ Bait Shop at Breckenridge & Niagara–home to the only bait vending machine I’ve ever seen–the catch of the day (depending on the time of year) in the river includes perch, bass, muskie, pike, walleye, trout, steelhead, salmon, carp, and even sturgeon.
If you’ve spent any time at all at Broderick Park, Squaw Island Park, and the Riverwalk in between, you know that the river there is already heavily used not just for sport fishing, but subsistence fishing, especially by the many immigrant families who live on the West Side. So Family Fishing Day will not just give you and up-close-and-personal experience with our mighty Niagara River, and one of our great waterfront parks (with its significant Underground Railroad heritage), but also a chance to be part of Buffalo’s rich multicultural diversity.
And while you’re at Broderick Park, check out the improvements that were made to the park this spring during Shoreline Sweep, and some new riverwall railings that were installed this week–hats off to Councilman Rivera, Commissioner Stepniak, City Engineer (and Harbormaster) Don Poleto, and City Fence for getting that done!
For more information about Family Fishing Day, please call 818-3410.
Broderick Park is at the foot of Ferry Street. Formal address: 1170 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213.