SkookGirl

Thank you. I'm letting him read all these answers. He just had a youth tournament yesterday (in PA) where they do measure/weigh-on-boat. I got him involved in tournaments because neither my husband or I fished when he asked us about fishing (although I do now) and this seemed like a good group of people who balanced conservation with teaching fishing -- the tournaments are really just a fun way to get together once a month with other kids and fish. He's since begun fishing some high school tournaments with a really nice kid he met in the youth tournaments. He talks about fishing professionally -- the same way he talks about being in the NHL someday, lol -- but honestly, he just loves being with friends who love to fish. They get on their bikes and ride all over the county with their fishing rods. Definitely had a Huck Finn summer this year. He's a good kid, and we do try to be good stewards. We were at our cabin two weeks ago and were at Black Hole in Pulaski where we always bring a trash bag with us to pick garbage (there's always a lot!). We'll be up again end of September for salmon, and we've found a great guide who teaches fishing and good sportsmanship beyond just putting us on fish. I feel like we're doing well at home and with shore fishing, but I know boat fishing in 1000 Islands area is a whole different thing -- I definitely feel like I got a feel for what to do, what not to do, through this conversation, so it's been very helpful. I do appreciate that there are strong feelings on this topic -- I have strong feelings myself regarding my "home" creeks and rivers. Thank you all for your input and insights.

Thanks, all! Kid and his buddy had a great time, and I passed along all the info and advice, so hopefully they weren't a nuisance. They caught some hefty smallmouth, a few large, a of pike (too many, he said, and they liked to snap off his line!). They did go up to Waddington for two days to watch the bass tournament up there (and fish). They are tournament fishers themselves, but hopefully they'll continue to find ways to be responsible and respectful anglers themselves. I know their local tournaments won't hold competitions during spawn, low water or other otherwise stressful competitions, and my son just spent a week at river conservation and fly fishing camp where there was a ton of emphasis on keeping rivers healthy now and in the future, so we're doing our best to balance our behaviors on the rivers and lakes. Thanks again!

OK, phew, this can be as confusing as in Pennsylvania and the various trout rules and regulation re: catch and release on which bodies of water and when. So, fishing catch and release in elsewhere before the June opener is allowed, but not at all on Lake/River/tributaries in Jefferson until June opener, correct?

Yes, they would have boat on trailer. They're going to be here for a week and wanted to explore the entire area a bit, but since there are tournaments up on the river, they wanted to check out the river as well. We fish the Susquehanna River, but I wanted to prepare my son's buddy that St. Lawrence is a whole different kind of river.

Perfect! Our cabin is actually a bit south, a few miles below Henderson, so that's why I asked about the bigger bays, but I'll let them know about these, as well. Thank you!

Thanks, and yes, he has GPS and charts on the boat. I'll remind them to be super sure of where they are heading. Beyond the river are there harbors/bays that are good for bass fishing this time of year? Thinking about Chaumont, Sackets, Henderson, although not sure how sheltered those are from quick, oncoming weather. They're used to fishing big lakes, but from what I've seen, L Ontario can look more like the ocean at times when storms come up suddenly.

My son and his friend are bringing friend's bass boat up to our cabin and want to fish the river. Friend and son fish smaller and collegiate tournaments, but have never fished the St. Lawrence or 1000 Islands area. Just read the thread below about bass fishing "bad manners," so I'm hoping I can get and pass along some advice from locals. They are good kids and I know they don't want to be "those" guys on the water. Also, the river is different water with different kinds of boat traffic than they've fished before, and I know weather can be unexpected and unforgiving. So, taking a 19' bass boat out on the river, what is your best advice for what to do, what not to do, where to go (generally) , where to steer clear of, what's different about this body of water/area than any other, and what to do to be a welcome guest instead of a PITA for locals and other boaters. Thanks in advance!

I'm a fishing mom, but I know it's my fishing dad, grandfathers and uncles who are inspiring my son to fish -- they are all smiling from above and having a good laugh, as well. Here's something I wrote last year for a local magazine on getting back to fishing, with my son leading the way. https://www.centralpennparent.com/2017/adventures-in-fishing-with-my-10-year-old-son-suburban-resistance/