Here we go again- still, again

The Schroon River is above flood stage yet again this year.

Source: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01317000

I recommend you steer clear of the Schroon until it learns how to behave itself.  Ponds and smaller brooks / streams would be a safe more productive alternative for a while.

With 5+" of rain yesterday, the beaver dam just up the road from my house was breached.  The beavers, I suspect, are dead from winter kill.  No one has seen them in the pond this spring.  Here's a video of the road scouring away

What's worse is the loss of a cool ecosystem we saw on a daily basis.  It will be interesting to see the transition though.  Maybe now with an undamed flow, some brook trout habitat might be established downstream.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Rain Rain go away

5 inches of rain in the past 48 hours have really shut things off.  And guess what, it just started rain, lighning and thunder-again.  I took a client out this morning and fishing was tough.  I know the trout are still there but finding players this weekend is going to be tough.  Ponds are going to be better than brooks and rivers.

The Schroon River gage will be at flood stage before sunset today.

Still a couple of dropper rigs left.

50 hit on this blog in 4 hours

OK, let's see who's out there hammering my blog:
e-mail me at adktrout@hotmail.com and I will send the first 20 an Adirondack brookie dropper rig hand tied by me for free. 
Name & address will get it in your mail box.  Totally secure.  I  won't share your address with anyone and I'm too friggin' old to remember that kind of thing from one day to the next, Hell, I misplace my cup of coffe in the morning.  
 I'm going to the vice now!

Chris

Lots of trout everywhere

Water is on the drop and the trout population is on the rise!  Stocking seems to be just about complete.  The big water will make trout look for quiet holding water and feed.  this is greta because the fish will be more spread out than usual.  That means you are going to have to do some hiking and hunting.  Trout Brook in Pottersville gave up a nice 13" Brookie yesterday.  He is still there so go find him.
Bug hatch is behind this year so adjust the hatch charts about 2 or 3 weeks and you will be in the right starting spot in your fly box. 
I have a client Saturday and am fishing with friends Sunday.  I'll be doing the all night Brisket smoke Sunday night. Monday morning to thank the heros and Monday afternoon to feast and indulge.

Hendricksons and Caddis

I fished some smaller waters today to avoid the relentless runoff.  It paid in spades.  Rising rainbows~  taking White Midges & Caddis Emergers.   Sub surface was all about Wet Hendricksons  & Copper John.  There is wadable "nice" water if you look around.

Black flies are in full force.  I fully endorce Ole Time Woodsman Fly Dope to keep those little bastards at bay:

My favorite. 

 Good old camp aroma! 

Some products just need to maintained for heritages' sake.

 Made in Maine, USA

High Water Proves Productive

Fished the section of the Schroon River between Starbuckville Dam and County Route 11 last night.  The water level is just brushing the flood stage mark but the fish are willing thanks to water temperatures in the mid 40's.  The stocked trout are learning to become selective.  BHHE worked in one spot but was refused in another.  No hatches yet but that will change very soon. 

The Schroon Lake Commision is once again regulating water levels to suit their own needs so I expect this season to boom for two weeks and bust the rest of the season as in the past. 

Both gates at Starbuckville Dam are full open. 

Lots of water when the trout don't need it and no water when the trout do. 

My advice~ be ready to hammer the river as soon as they close the gates, there will be good fishing for two weeks then the trout will sufficate to to lack of oxygen from warmer water created by low flow.

Here's a picture of one from last night:

Working into the Season

The river is on it's way down but still high for this time of year.  I fished Starbuckville Dam this morning and picked up a couple stocked rainbow then decided to run up to Adirondack to see about something a little bigger.  Three pound smallies on a 5wt. are a blast.

STOCKED

The state came in from Rome and stocked Starbuckville.  The rainbows are smaller than the browns (as usual) but they are all fiesty and willing.   The hot color so far is yellow.   I'm surprised that they stocked in flood conditions but the trout seem smart enough to aviod the crazy water.  Tough to fish.  Best bet is to find some quiet back waters and "fish around"