Saturday marks the beginning of the walleye, pike, pickerel, and tiger muskellunge seasons in St. Lawrence County and around the state.

The St. Lawrence River and Cranberry Lake are two prime spots for trophy pike anglers. The explosive strike of these fish provides for an exciting encounter for anglers that target these sleek ambush predators, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Walleye are another North Country favorite.

"Walleye are excellent table fare and can be found in waters across the state,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. These highly prized gamefish offer both novice and veteran anglers a challenging fishing experience."

Special fishing regulations apply on selected waters for all of these species. As always, anglers should check the Freshwater Fishing Regulations at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html for the water they intend to fish before heading out to the water and remember their fishing pliers.