The Experts

THE

Experts

Get ‘Hooked’ On Fishing The Hudson

BY JOEY GRECO

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ere’s a little riddle for you: What’s massive, teeming with life, largely overlooked and flows right through the heart of the Capital Region… oh, and has been a world-class fishing destination for decades? That would be the one and only Hudson River and all of its tributaries. This 315-mile river that’s so historically significant to our region is also a freshwater fishing wonderland,

rich with opportunities for anglers of all kinds. From spring’s migratory striped bass fishing to fall’s smallmouth bass bonanza, there’s always something willing to “stretch your line” when you’re fishing the Hudson.

Nothing attracts anglers from all over the east coast like our spring striped bass run, which takes place during the months of April and May and into early June. The massive striped bass follow the herring into the river during spawning season and feed on them— and that’s where us anglers come into play. We can experience some success with a variety of fishing methods, but the most common techniques are “trolling,” when a baited fishing line is drawn through the water via a moving boat; or you just bait your line with live or dead herring cut into chunks. Usually by late April, the smaller males will be the first to arrive, and later in the spring, as the water warms, the larger females (a.k.a. “cows”) will start to appear. These are the big breeders and will generally be

Outdoors // Soul // Life

larger, weighing as much as 60 pounds (!) in some cases. The potential for catching a 20- to 30-pound fish is not uncommon during this time of year—but practicing catch and release with these trophy fish is a good idea to ensure a healthy population for future anglers to enjoy.

The striper run, although absolutely world-class, provides a relatively short window of action, and anglers need to learn to time the migration to experience the best fishing. If you miss out, fear not! The Hudson’s waters also play host to smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and catfish. Smallmouth bass fishing is gaining popularity, and it’s no surprise why, as it’s become common for anglers to reel in these acrobatic “bronze backs,” which can weigh up to six pounds. The perfect set-up for action that will produce bass, walleye and an occasional pike is a simple jig and a spinning rod. Find a dam, spillway, rocky shoreline or even a deep swirling pool, and you will generally find fish in close proximity.

For the business end of things, it’s going to be a game of jigs—jigs of many sizes and colors—that provide you with a very simple approach to fishing. I will typically start by running a quarterounce white lead jig head for a variety of applications. Tip this jig with a live minnow or a variety of plastics. I like Berkley Gulp! baits, paddle tail swim style baits and B Fish N Tackle Pulse-R Paddle Tails. Depending on depth and how fast the current is, you can try using a lighter or heavier jig to get a good feeling of what the bait is doing as you retrieve it. Make these adjustments until you can “feel” the jig skip over rocks and occasionally touch bottom on the retrieve.

If you haven’t had the chance to get out and fish the Hudson, I’d highly recommend it. Whether you’re trolling for striped bass or another species, I’m sure there will be a fish or two nearby for the taking. Come enjoy more than 300 miles of breathtaking views, fantastic fishing and numerous public access points. I’m sure you’ll be “hooked” on fishing in no time.

44 | CAPITAL REGION LIVING | APRIL 2020

Outdoors // Soul // Life

The Power Of (Unconditional) Love

BY SANDY MENZER

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his month, I put great thought into what to write about in this issue of CAPITAL REGION LIVING. I asked my spirit guides, mentors and angels, all of whom help me write these articles, to provide me with the right topic to help us all grow spiritually. Two days after my request to the Divine and my spirit guides, I received an answer in the form of an email shared with me from a good friend of mine, who has been a wonderful, wise mentor in my life. Along with it, she sent me a picture of her brother who, along with her dad, had since crossed over into the realm of the

spirit world and currently flies high with the angels.

In the email, she was reminiscing about the happiness her dad and brother brought not only to her family, but also to the many others who were fortunate enough to have known them. Her dad loved children and dressed up as Santa at Christmas parties for many large groups throughout the years. The photo featured the two of them together at a holiday party, and Santa surrounded by many special people with big, joyful smiles. I learned that each one of the people in the photograph had special needs and disabilities, and they were all smiling from ear to ear in his presence.

What I find so fascinating about this particular group of happy souls is their ability to love unconditionally. Over the years, what I’ve learned from being around several people in my family who have dealt with great challenges, and being a volunteer at the Special Olympics, is that these souls are some of the most compassionate, loving people on Earth. I often ask the Divine Creator: “How can these souls be so happy and loving even with so many additional challenges and mountains to climb in their lifetime?”

I’ve realized that each person we meet in this lifetime is brought here to teach us many different lessons. For some of us, it’s natural to be compassionate and loving beings, and for others, that’s not the case. I’ve learned that we all need to be grateful for and compassionate to people with special needs; they can teach us patience, unconditional love, perseverance and not to be judgmental of others’ appearance or disabilities. I believe each one of us has a disability of some kind—though it may not be noticeable in the world we live in.

I also believe each of us is brought here with a special gift to share as part of our purpose. I’ve learned to understand that our goal here is to discover these gifts and use them to help and assist others. If we could all learn from these beautiful souls filled with unconditional love, what a peaceful world this would be.

I believe compassion and gratitude are two of the best ways for each of us to be able to create an abundant life in all areas, whether it be in our relationships, work environment, families, health or any other area of life we would like to improve or find comfort in. The world right now is in a sad state of suffering, which is another reason why we need to learn how to be more compassionate (through our suffering). What have you done this week to help someone in need?

Wishing you all a beautiful spring! May each of you find peace and joy in your world. Namaste.

APRIL 2020 | CRLMAG.COM | 45

THE

Experts

Best Herbs For A Healthy Glow All Season Long

Outdoors // Soul // Life

BY HEATHER JABLONSKI

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an you imagine having beautiful skin at a reasonable cost without the added toxic chemicals and unnecessary preservatives? This is all possible with an easy DIY windowsill garden, a project you can embark on even during these days of social distancing. Herbs have been used for centuries to treat skin problems and improve appearance, dating back to the times of Cleopatra, who was known for her exquisite beauty. In more modern times, major skincare brands have long toted the amazing benefits of these plant extracts, but investing in some often comes with a hefty price tag and nonbeneficial ingredients. So instead of hitting the cosmetics aisle, grab your gardening gloves and start your own beauty garden at home. Windowsill herb gardens are trendy and will brighten your kitchen, skin and perhaps even your mood in these uncertain times!

There are many different ways to incorporate your new herbs into your beauty routine. Oil infusions are my favorite, as they easily penetrate into the skin for great results. In a small glass bottle, simply add your herbs and a carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil (good for oily skin), avocado oil (good for dry skin) or argan oil (good for normal/combination skin) and shake well before each use.

A second great option is a DIY face mask. These fresh and natural masks are amazing for skin that is sensitive and prone to flare-ups. Just add your herbs to organic yogurt or honey and apply the mixture on your face for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water to reveal serious softness and nourished skin.

Top herbs for your beauty arsenal:

LAVENDER is great for all skin types, calming skin and increasing blood circulation. Its ability to balance oil production makes it a wonderful choice for combination skin, while its antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties are helpful for those suffering with acne. Plus: It adds a pop of beautiful color to your kitchen. ROSEMARY is perfect for dry and congested skin. It has anti-bacterial properties that help clear blackheads and revive dull and lifeless skin.

BASIL’s history doesn’t lie: It has been used for thousands of years as an antiaging remedy due to its high antioxidant content that prevents free radicals from damaging skin cells. It is best for mature, oily and acne-prone skin and is a wonderful skin tonic, too.

Windowsill herb gardens are trendy and will brighten your kitchen, skin and perhaps even your mood in these uncertain times!

CHAMOMILE works wonders for dry and irritated skin. It has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is very soothing and calming for problematic skin. Its secret? It contains azulene (an antioxidant that shields and protects skin), which helps reduce puffiness and cleanses pores of impurities.

Spring is a time of renewal, and nothing screams “springtime” more than a lovely windowsill garden and gorgeous glowing skin.

46 | CAPITAL REGION LIVING | APRIL 2020

Play

» FLOWER POWER « BY NATALIE MOORE

ACROSS1. Org. that oversees tobacco sales4. Thing to bring to the grocery store7. Impale11. Prefix meaning sun12. Body spray brand13. Scrabble piece14. To a great degree17. Willis-Ekbom Disease, for short18. Mined material19. Synonym for interval or failure22. Soils26. Fall Out Boy’s genre27. Late29. Sleep, but not at night30. 1/1000 of a bil.31. Yahtzee piece32. Airport officers, for short33. Prefix meaning one34. Loses one’s fur36. ___ Rover37. Alarm clock on a farm39. Home41. Belonging to you and me42. “I found it!”43. With The, a 1993 film set in England, or a what this puzzle’s circled letters represent49. Laundry unit50. ___ Lingus51. Crystal ball, for one52. Exclusively53. Kissing at the mall, for short54. Battery size

DOWN1. Sch. In Tallahassee2. Crime boss’ title3. Capital Region airport code4. Dance with pliés and pirouettes5. Graph component6. Expression of mild surprise7. Like the night sky

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8. Autonomous region in Asia9. The whole amount10. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” singer, to fans15. Triage locales, for short16. Declared invalid19. Striped-tailed primate20. ___ acid21. Disease Bill Gates hopes to eradicate22. Less moist23. Concl.’s counterpart24. Made less severe25. Black playing card

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28. Stick34. Solidly built35. African desert38. Region containing San Diego, for short40. Lawyer’s exam42. Older, as cheese43. ___-mo44. Division of geological time45. Dance with shuffles and ball changes46. Deceased when EMTs showed up47. B-ball stat48. B-ball org.

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Answers on crlmag.com. Search: crossword

Coming next issue: Besties: Food & Drink!

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APRIL 2020 | CRLMAG.COM | 47