Get Hooked at FLBM’s Fishing in the Finger Lakes Day 2026!
Get Hooked at FLBM’s Fishing in the Finger Lakes Day!
The March 21 event connects historic Finger Lakes-built fishing boats and today’s anglers at an iconic location
FINGER LAKES, March 2026 – Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport will usher in spring with Fishing in the Finger Lakes Day on Saturday, March 21. This event celebrates the link between the rich fishing and boating history of the region and the craft, important themes, and enthusiasm that define the sport today.
The event will feature presentations by Department of Environmental Conservation Aquatic Biologist, Peter Austerman, who has been involved in the NYSDEC Region 8 Fisheries Unit since 2006. He will be presenting his findings on the status of the Keuka Lake fishery, after having conducted a survey of Keuka in 2025. Austerman will also discuss the status of fishing conditions around the Finger Lakes.
Former President of the Twin Tiers Five Rivers Fly Fishing International (FFi) Chapter for 16 years, Kirk Klingensmith, will be giving two presentations: “Small Mouth Bass on the Fly”, and an “Introduction to Stealth Fishing in Tributaries”. Klingensmith is a well-traveled fly fisherman across the Americas, but he dedicates much of his time to the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers. He has contributed to many books and articles regarding fly fishing, but he specializes in smallmouth fishing.
FLBM Board President Dave Bornholdt, main organizer of the event and avid angler, will also give talk on the fishing rig developed in the mid-19th century by Rochesterian Seth Green, the naturalist, conservationist, and fishing enthusiast that founded the first fish hatchery in Caledonia, NY.
Other activities will include:
- Fishing tournament tips and tricks on competitive bass fishing from frequent tournament trophy winner Ethan Hall
- A flyrod building demonstration by long-time Trout Unlimited Seth Green Chapter member Frank Payne
- A demonstration of Fly-Tying Techniques by Eric Mastroberti
- Self-guided tours of the Finger Lakes Boating Museum.
Fishing in the Finger Lakes Day is sponsored by Cook Painting of Elmira and Architecture Concrete Plus of Dundee. Tickets are $18 for FLBM Members and $20 for non-members. Advanced registration is encouraged and can be made online at FLBM.org. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. with the first presentation starting at 9:00 a.m. The event wraps up at 4 p.m. Coffee and light snacks at check-in are included with registration. Guests will have the option to purchase lunch from QKA Pronto.
Visit www.flbm.org/fishing-in-the-fingerlakes-registration , call 607-569-2222, or email info@flbm.org to register.
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Finger Lakes Boating Museum was founded in 1997 to preserve, promote, and celebrate Finger Lakes boating heritage. Since 2014, the Museum has been located on Pleasant Valley Road in Hammondsport, NY, on the former Taylor Wine Company campus. The Museum is open daily year-round and has the largest collection of Finger Lakes area produced boats on display in the world and one of the largest off-water, year-round exhibitions of historical boats in the country.
Photo #1: Frank Payne gives a demonstration on how to build a bamboo flyrod.
Photo #2: Eric Mastroberti demonstrates fly-tying techniques with participants.
