Whether you enjoy being out on a lake near you in the winter or the summer, maintaining that body of water has become a year-round operation.
Rob Hassler of Amherst has been ice fishing for 10 years, but it's his first time doing so out on Chautauqua Lake with his cousin.
"This is where the ice is. This is where we decided to try and do some fishing," said Hassler.
He says they used to fish out there in the summer, when their families had trailers over at Camp Chautauqua.
"The warm weather's much better than the cold, but you know, if you can't beat it, the cold, you might as well join it. So, we figured we'd do something to have some kind of fun in it," said Hassler.
When the cold weather hits, the torches start heating up inside the Chautauqua Lake Association in Lakewood, as crews begin their off-season maintenance on more than 30 pieces of heavy, multimillion-dollar equipment, like a lake weed harvester.
With only a 12- to 15-week summer season to help maintain the 17-milelong waterway and its shoreline, the association banks on the fact that the fleet must be serviced and ready to go.
"Good working condition. So we don't have any problems during the season. I mean we go through everything. Check all the hoses, and hydraulic motors and everything. And we make sure everything's tip-top shape," said James Cappalino, Chautauqua Lake Association operations manager and chief mechanic.
Doug Conroe is the association's executive director who also spends his off-season overseeing office staff purchasing parts and materials for the equipment, closing the books on the 2020 season ahead of an upcoming audit, and organizing a number of fund drives prior to the summer season.
Conroe, the association and its counterpart in Lake George on the eastern side of the state, are early ‘80s founding members of the New York State Federation of Lakes Association, which encompasses most small and large waterways in between.
Members of the statewide association take part in joint lake analysis programs, and also meet annually in May to learn, discuss as well as share common issues, frustrations and successes.
"The common goal is beauty, usability and health. Getting together, keeps it to the science, helps to keep it to factual which is very important because it's very easy to design your lake management plan and programs emotionally. Emotionally isn't always what's best for the lake. So, that's where getting together make a big difference," said Conroe.
And helps pave the way for those like Rob and his cousin, to enjoy a winter's day, ice fishing, out on the frozen water.
"It's very quiet, there's nobody bothering you. We've got about a dozen perch so far. They're small but it's still fun," said Hassler.
In the meantime, as a winter fundraiser for the CLA, the community is invited to share their predications on when the ice at Bemus Bay will thaw and the Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick will fall through.
There will be a $5 donation per guess and predictions will be accepted through March 20.
The winner will receive $250 and the next five closest guesses will each receive $50. All remaining funds will benefit the Chautauqua Lake Association’s year-round lake management efforts.
Visit ChautauquaAssociation.org/events for more information.
