Perch & Bald Eagles

Fished Brant Lake yesterday on 11+ inches of ice.  The lake nymphs were active and that triggerd a chain of events leading to my best day of ice fishing ever on Brant.  To make a long story short, 70+ (all perch) caught.  Alec & I kept 20 and released the remainder. 

A pair of Bald Eagles have been around all week and they found a keeper as well.  If you are in the habit of leaving you catch on the ice, know that there are airborne poachers that will be looking for an easy meal (possibly yours).

Ice is Nice

Although the river is open year round, the ticket now is stiff water (ICE) fishing.  We have been blessed with a good cold start to the winter and most ponds and small lakes are safe; the fishing has been good.  I will be updating regularly on the lakes that are part of the Schroon River System. 
I gave the ice shanty a bit of a tune up yesterday and plan to get it on Brant Lake tomorrow morning for this weeks angling

Cookin'

I temped the river at 78 degrees this morning.  Best to leave what ever trout maybe left ALONE.  Now is a good time to go to the lake with lead core on the eight weight and see what you might be able to troll up.  I like to use a Hugh's Smelt Streamer 6 inches behind a gold & silver lake clear wobbler.  If you use a set-up like this, be sure the streamer is close enough to the wobbler to make the streamer "swim" back & forth.  I'm getting that Long Nose Gar feelin".  Planning a trip to South Bay for next week.

Fishing is good

Ever had one of those excursions where the fishing was so good, it almost seems unfair to the trout?   Last night was one of those times.  I took my wife's cousin from Kansas out to a spot I call the boulder hole.  Not a very big spot but the fish always seem to concentrate there & with good reason.  Dusk to dark was non stop hatch.  the trout were feasting on emerging olives and small caddis.  Every drift for 2 minutes produced.  I averaged 6 a minute. 

Kansas still had a stimulator tied on from out last stop at the dam but I was working a quill emerger that was doing the job.  Too dark to change his fly so I just handed him my rod.Things shut off just after that.  Tonight, he get the rod and I am out to shoot some video.  The fly I was using is in the right column, it deserves to be the fly of the month.

Kids Derby this weekend

The Chestertown Conservation Club is sponsoring the Barney Barnhart fishing derby at the Brant Lake Mill Pond this Saturday  http://www.northwarren.com/index/siteevent-details-action/id.59/title.-kids-fishing-derby

Sightings Reported

I saw a couple of these in the local area today

Some Video to Make the Blood Pump

The 2010 season got kicked of in fine style today. My fishing partner, Alec & I both creeled in the double digits today. The Essex County Hatchery does a fine job raising 2 year old browns

Landlocks are in

Pulled this fellow from Schroon Lake last week