NYCkayaker Trip Report: The Basher Kill 12-17-2006

[Mo Fridlich]

Last Sunday, with temperatures nearing 60 degrees, it was perfect winter conditions to do some kayaking. Since all of my kayaking friends declined to join me, I made a last ditch effort to enlist some company on this list. It was of no success, most likely due to the proximity of the Christmas Holidays and fact that I did not give enough notice. 
Not to be discouraged, I had decided to make my way up Route 17 to the Basher Kill just south of Wurtsboro. It is a wetlands and wild life management area that encompasses over 3000 acres. I had been there several times before but this was the first time in Winter. The water levels are fairly shallow and most of the time the water is frozen this time of the year. In Spring the area is covered with wetlands plants and a deeper channel winds through the lush green vegetation. By late Summer the weeds and algae take over and it is often difficult to maneuver through the tangle with a kayak.
Getting there this time of the year I was astounded by the stalk difference. The lush marsh vegetation was all but gone. 
Due to the beautiful weather there were quite a few other people enjoying the outdoors. While getting the kayak ready I met a couple riding their horses, another out for a walk. Later I talked to a fisherman showing off his catch and a guy with duck decoys and a shotgun. There were no signs of any ducks and I implored him due to my colorful drysuit not to mistake me as one. In contrast to the other seasons there were very few birds. Only ones I saw were a few seagulls and an osprey.
Then I came upon two guys in a canoe. The one sitting in the front also had a shotgun. He suddenly got up and took a shot into the water and his buddy pulled out a sizable catfish. It was the first time I ever witnessed someone catch a fish with a shotgun (I do think this is illegal). 
There are a few islands in the marsh and I decided to climb the tallest one and have my lunch there. The day was very relaxing and peaceful and went by much too fast. When the sun finally dropped on the horizon it was time to pack up and go home.  I enjoyed taking quite a few pictures. I have put them in an album for those that are interested. To show the difference in the seasons there are two sub-albums "Spring Time in the Basher Kill" and "Winter in the Baser Kill". Just click on the picture to open the album and choose [slideshow] on the upper right for easy viewing.

Here is the link:  http://www.mofridlich.com/gallery/view_album.php?page=1&set_albumName=Basher-Kill-Seasons

Mo 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.rockandwater.net/pipermail/nyckayaker/attachments/20061219/8d71deb2/attachment.html