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

[mike]

Bowfin not catfish

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net
[mailto:nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net] On Behalf Of Mo Fridlich
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:56 PM
To: Midhudsonkayaker; NYCKayaker
Subject: NYCkayaker Trip Report: The Basher Kill 12-17-2006

 

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
<http://www.mofridlich.com/gallery/view_album.php?page=1&set_albumName=B
asher-Kill-Seasons> &set_albumName=Basher-Kill-Seasons

 

Mo 

 

 

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