Last year’s Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Day. On Saturday, May 16, this year’s Fishing and Heritage Day will kick off at 9 a.m. with events and activities taking place throughout the town of South Otselic. The event is built on the principle of respecting history and celebrating natural resources. (Photos by Jessica Benson)

SOUTH OTSELIC –  Fishing has been a way of life in Otselic Valley for more than 200 years.

In 2009, community members decided to honor that way of life by introducing the Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Day. Since then the event has grown and changed, but it is still built on the principle of respecting history and celebrating natural resources.

On Saturday, May 16th, Fishing and Heritage Day will kick off at 9 a.m. with events and activities taking place throughout the town of South Otselic.

The event includes two youth fishing clinics for children, being held at the New York State Fish Hatchery. “One of the original things we wanted to do was something with youth fishing,” said South Otselic Fishing and Heritage Association member Calvin Hite.

By partnering with the Fish Hatchery and Gladding Braided Products, they were able to secure fish, a stocked pond, poles and instructors to show area children the basics of fishing. Hite explained the DEC stocks the pond with trout the day before the event and children have the chance to catch and release or keep their trophies up to the catch limit of five fish. After the event, there is a drawing to provide prizes of rods, reels and tackle to the young anglers.

“It’s a great time for the kids. People come back year after year,” Hite said.

Another exciting event this weekend will be a demonstration by Ron Patterson from the Shakowi Cultural Center of the Oneida Indian Nation.

Patterson will present a program on the origins of lacrosse and how to make a lacrosse stick. “Those interested will even be invited to play lacrosse,” Hite said.

He explained that the tradition of fishing in the Otselic River began long before the town of South Otselic was founded. “It’s important for children and adults to understand the longer history of this country,” Hite said.

Saturday’s celebration will also include live music, carnival games, a craft and vendor display, duck derby, and many other events. For a complete list of activities, visit OVfish.org.

According to Hite, fishing is a huge factor in the history of South Otselic and the Otselic Valley for many reasons. First, South Otselic has been the home of Gladding Braided Products since the early 1900s. The manufacturer originally made rope products, but in the 1890s, they took over an existing fishing line business and became the largest fishing line manufacturer in the world.

While Gladding is now back to manufacturing rope, for many years their contributions to the world of fishing put South Otselic on the map.

Additionally, South Otselic is home to one of just 12 NY State Fish Hatcheries in New York. The fish hatchery was created in 1932. The type of fish raised in the fish hatchery has changed over the years. Currently, the hatchery raises three varieties of brook trout that are being used to stock lakes in the Adirondacks where acid rain decimated the population.

According to Hite, these factors led former Governor Nelson Rockefeller to once refer to South Otselic as the fishing capital of the world.

“That history is not going to go away,” HIte said. “Communities that care about and respect history can find ways to help the community grow by taking care of properties and natural resources. We have a remarkable amount of historical and natural resources that we can use to further develop our community.”

Otselic Valley Fishing and Heritage Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday with events and activities taking place throughout South Otselic. Visit OVfish.org for more information.