A perfect day on Schroon Lake

I took the boys out for a day of ice fishing on Schroon Lake.  The weather was perfect and it was an average bite.  Everyone wound up sheding a layer as the temps climbed to the thirty degree mark full sun and no wind.  We iced two lake trout and had six flags over a six hour period.

Slowing down

A picture is worth a thousand words so this photo should speak volumes about the fishing on my section of Brant Lake as of late.

I took a newbie out to cut his teeth cut on ice fishing. We tried a couple other synonyms (feet wet, uh, No. Breaking the ice- definitely not) anyway the fishing was slow.

With the heavy snow cover, the insulation factor has actually allowed some spring fed bottom water to melt up through the surface in shallow bays, USE CAUTION.

Heavy snow on ice makes for some nasty conditions, the aforementioned thin ice and slush, lots of it.

We are predicted for more heavy snow on Wednesday. We will just have to see where this leads us.

I called a buddy on Sunday & he was on the lower end of Schroon Lake in the Adirondack area. He reported 4 inches of ice with slush and snow cover. I would not venture out on that but he made it home alive thankfully. If you venture out, be alert, be safe and expect changing ice conditions as you move about.

A Sunday Surprise

While jigging for perch sunday, I was rewarded with a nice 17" Rainbow Trout.

It's always better to be lucky than good

Time to Tie

The Crossroads Country Store will host a free fly tying get together every Wednesday night during the winter.  Free to all & beginners are welcome.  Bring or borrow a vice and a good story to share.

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.