Corp just to name a few once healthy employers. With the recent announcement that Magna Corp (formerly part of Chrysler Corp.) will soon close its E. Syracuse, NY facility, yet another major employer bites the dust. Take that Mr. Puny Economy. 

     Every election year I hear the political mantra being touted that "If you vote for me, I will create jobs. I have a plan and I will deliver".  Well don't hold your breath, as NYS continues to tax, and spend, NYS jobs continue to disappear. I for one am still waiting for the jobs to show up as promised in those campaign sales pitches. This is not about jobs for me, hell I'm well into the AARP mode, but jobs for the working willing who are certainly suffering. These guys and gals get elected, so they must be convincing someone to listen to the job promises. It doesn't appear to me that they have delivered on the age old campaign hoopla, unless they meant they would create jobs in China.

     So what is my point?  Why bring this up on my fishing web site? Read on my friend, read on. The Lake Ontario fishery is a revenue generating machine that requires minimal financial spending in relation to the revenue it provides. It has been estimated that the lake fishery generated over 75 million in annual revenues in 2008 and the Salmon River Fishery was responsible for another 27 million. That adds up to over a 100 million green smacker industry that is unique to New York State and this does not include revenues generated by tributary flows other than the Salmon River.

     Fishing tackle, boat sales, and visitor revenues help fuel our economy.  The infrastructure called Lake Ontario exists thanks to a friendly glacier and will never move to another location, unless that glacier passes by once again. The south shore of Lake Ontario lays mostly in NYS and with proper care will serve up great fishing and substantial revenues as long as we continue to manage the "company" efficiently and intelligently. In fact we could probably even increase the revenue generation without too much effort. In a nut shell, the lake is a fabulous resource. If you build it they will come, except in this case it is already built. Pretty nice isn't it?

     The customers of the "business" purchase fishing tackle, boats, boat accessories, licenses; they eat at local restaurants and sleep at local motels. They buy fuel for their boats and cars; they buy food, drink, and snacks. They buy gifts, go to movies and a whole gaggle of other things to numerous to name here.

     Like it or not our fishery is a revenue generating machine that contributes to our statewide economy. If a 100 plus million dollar NYS based industry even hinted that they were considering leaving the state the elected overseers would jump to offer incentives of all kinds to get that industry to stay put and that is not a bad thing. It is however somewhat ironic that when our Governor finally tries to cool the state's boiling fiscal cauldron, as well he should, we look at the successful fishing industry and cut fishery bureau jobs and increase user fees. Truth is stranger than fiction, isn't it!

     While budget woes continue, the short funded DEC Fishery people are managing the effort to get the job done with less people. It appears that as usual the users of the fishery will accept fee increases if those increases are used for DEC support and not things like tattoo removal or bridges to nowhere, a couple of outrageous pork favorites.

     Let it be known that if you enjoy the Lake Ontario Fishery you are stimulating the economy. When you go fishing, even if you do it only once in a while, you are stimulating the economy. When you purchase fuel, when you place a line in the water with that recently purchased lure, you are stimulating the economy. As you are fishing, when you sit back, relax and chomp on that huge sub sandwich, that you recently purchased, you are stimulating the economy. When your brand new rod nestled in your expensive downrigger pops free and starts to buck and the reel screams with the peeling line attached to a mighty king, you are stimulating the economy. As you enjoy the exciting battle to bring the bruiser fish to the boat, well that's a stimulation of a different color. Only recreational and charter trollers will know what that is like. As I have said in the past, it's great to be a Lake Ontario troller. It is also very stimulating.