opener reports?

Creekwader · 04-02-2018, 01:36 PM

I take it from the lack of activity here that either no one got out or if they did and had no luck.

I went out yesterday morning at crack of dawn as the snow squalls were moving through and got skunked. Water was high but fishable. Unfortunately, the clarity was the biggest problem with even the small tribs looking like yoo-hoo.

Participated in family Easter activities until mid afternoon then headed back out. Same situation but I went to a spot that has a small trib draining into the muddy main stream that happened to be almost clear. In the roughly 12 years I've been fishing this particular spot, I always drop a cast or two into the small hole where the trib drains in because in my mind I've always thought there must be a time when a fish would be there. And in 12 years I've always been wrong...until yesterday. I was swimming my bugger through the coffee water into the clear and sure enough right behind it was a medium sized brown trout. I of course overreacted and pulled the fly away from this lethargic trout so he had to exert more energy to swipe and miss it when a good pause would have surely connected, leaving me cursing myself on the bank.

Was also in Old Forge Saturday and yes folks we have a long ways to go for pond fishing. Everything I saw was frozen shore to shore. There's some open water near channels and such but the main lakes are locked. We're looking at the end of this month or early May realistically.

jman22 · 04-02-2018, 09:54 PM

Probably fished the same stream you did CW. Didn't fish long and came up empty. Creek looked much better today and should look great tomorrow. Hopefully the warmer temps will arrive soon (especially for all you guys waiting to hit the ponds!).

NHtroutster · 04-02-2018, 11:57 PM

My son and I also came up empty, though I was very surprised to see our favorite stream looking remarkably clear and lower than I had expected. The best thing about our first outing of the season was a beautiful and majestic adult bald eagle watching our folly for about 20 minutes. Snapped a couple long distance photos, but just when we were close enough for a close-up pic, he/she got tired of us and flew away. Good sign though, I hope!?!

Ryan Ball · 04-03-2018, 08:52 PM

I havent been on here much as i just had welcomed to this world another fisherman watch out guys. My son Nolan Jonathan Ball was born on the 16th of March. But with that said i am still ice fishing. Was out on clear on last day of march with about 20 inches of ice. Top half white bottom half clear hard ice. Went to a small pond yesterday and it had about 18 inches of ice mix of snowy to white. No shoreline thaw yet as every time we get warm weather we get super cold nights. Was 12 deg yesterday morning. Still havent put away the ice gear.

vtflyfish · 04-04-2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Ball

I havent been on here much as i just had welcomed to this world another fisherman watch out guys. My son Nolan Jonathan Ball was born on the 16th of March. But with that said i am still ice fishing. Was out on clear on last day of march with about 20 inches of ice. Top half white bottom half clear hard ice. Went to a small pond yesterday and it had about 18 inches of ice mix of snowy to white. No shoreline thaw yet as every time we get warm weather we get super cold nights. Was 12 deg yesterday morning. Still havent put away the ice gear.

Congrats on the new addition and thanks for the report!

skillzman1 · 04-04-2018, 07:25 PM

Congrats Ryan and family!

Stillhunter · 04-05-2018, 03:03 PM

Congratulations Ryan on your new family addition!
Lots of ice remaining. Thanks for the update.

Pauly D. · 04-05-2018, 11:27 PM

Congratulations Ryan and thank you for the reports from up North!

Ryan Ball · 04-06-2018, 04:56 PM

Thank you all, i will be heading out sunday and hit the ice again. Its been below freezing daytime and single digits at night. Might have even gained ice haha. Will keep everyone posted to measurements.

Ryan Ball · 04-07-2018, 10:11 PM

Buddy was on Colby jigging perch today with 12 inches of ice 8 clear rest was white on top. Will try to make it to another area tomorrow and see what we are looking at.

Ryan Ball · 04-10-2018, 04:31 PM

still 18-20 inches from st regis to rainbow lake. with no shoreline melt. Looks like we will just start that process the later half of this week. Looking like last week of april if we are lucky.

bluequill · 04-10-2018, 07:30 PM

Franklin Falls was shore to shore ice with no water along the banks.

Ryan Ball · 04-21-2018, 04:03 PM

If anyone wants one last chance to hit the ice this weekend is it, looking at the local extended forcast this weekend should be the last. Still locked shore to shore if I had to guess still a foot of ice. Buddy may go tomorrow and let me know. Start of our thaw starts now. 2 weeks if we are lucky and we should open up.

EagleCrag · 04-22-2018, 09:17 PM

Thanks for the update Ryan. Keep us posted.

Creekwader · 04-22-2018, 09:50 PM

Spent today in the West central ADK, there is still upwards to 2 feet of snow in the woods and ponds are nowhere near ice out. Fished 4 streams and the outflows of three lakes/ponds, no fish to be found.

Here's a nice picture of winter flipping the bird or waving at the fisherman from the bank of a brook trout stream, you pick:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/u5d4wEGalqa0DaK12

Ryan Ball · 04-23-2018, 05:39 AM

14 inches on St Regis at Paul Smith's. Start of the thaw is now. Took road trip South to fish champs tribs and got some rainbows and perch. Was nice to hit open water again

EagleCrag · 04-29-2018, 09:20 PM

Just took a ride up to West Caroga Lake. Ice looks to be about half gone and is breaking up. I think a good warm day with some wind will take it out.

Ryan Ball · 05-01-2018, 03:18 PM

Drove around today still a lot of ice most ponds still locked in saranac lake area. Had one spot open just enough to fish and loons where able to pop through the slushy ice that was alog edges. Saw a deer walking on one pond today. Going to be another week to start finding anything worth fishing locally. Of course the 8 inhes of heavy wet snow Sunday didn't help matters any.

Ryan Ball · 05-03-2018, 07:33 PM

With recent winds and warm temperatures it does look like we may have some open water. Will be driving around tomorrow and check some spots.

hookman33 · 05-03-2018, 08:48 PM

I did a tour today for work. Not surprisingly, I was also scouting for the weekend. Here's what I saw:

Schroon Lake - Open
Chapel - Ice shore to shore
Cascade - Lower - partially open; Upper - Iced in
Mirror - Iced in
Lake Flower - Open
Colby - Open mostly, but ice appears to have blown in to a large area at the bay at the launch
Barnum - Open
Mountain Pond - Iced in
Boy Scout Clear Pond - Iced in
Tupper Lake - Open
Blue Mt Lake - Iced in
Lake Durant - Some open water but large area are still iced in
Indian Lake - Open at shore but much ice otherwise
Lewey - Open at northern end and iced in otherwise
Mason Lake - Iced in
Algonquin Lake - Open
Great Sacandaga - Open
All the ice I saw was dark and could go out quickly with a little sun, wind etc.

04-02-2018, 01:36 PM	#1
Creekwader Snag Locator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In the Place of the Nettles Posts: 921	opener reports? I take it from the lack of activity here that either no one got out or if they did and had no luck. I went out yesterday morning at crack of dawn as the snow squalls were moving through and got skunked. Water was high but fishable. Unfortunately, the clarity was the biggest problem with even the small tribs looking like yoo-hoo. Participated in family Easter activities until mid afternoon then headed back out. Same situation but I went to a spot that has a small trib draining into the muddy main stream that happened to be almost clear. In the roughly 12 years I've been fishing this particular spot, I always drop a cast or two into the small hole where the trib drains in because in my mind I've always thought there must be a time when a fish would be there. And in 12 years I've always been wrong...until yesterday. I was swimming my bugger through the coffee water into the clear and sure enough right behind it was a medium sized brown trout. I of course overreacted and pulled the fly away from this lethargic trout so he had to exert more energy to swipe and miss it when a good pause would have surely connected, leaving me cursing myself on the bank. Was also in Old Forge Saturday and yes folks we have a long ways to go for pond fishing. Everything I saw was frozen shore to shore. There's some open water near channels and such but the main lakes are locked. We're looking at the end of this month or early May realistically.

04-04-2018, 07:25 PM	#6
skillzman1 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: saratoga springs, ny Posts: 304	Congrats Ryan and family! __________________ Hunt when you can, Fish when you can't.

04-05-2018, 11:27 PM	#8
Pauly D. Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 296	Congratulations Ryan and thank you for the reports from up North! __________________ Oh I'd rather go and journey where the diamond crest is flowing...

05-03-2018, 08:48 PM	#20
hookman33 Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Broadalbin/Lake Placid Posts: 83	I did a tour today for work. Not surprisingly, I was also scouting for the weekend. Here's what I saw: Schroon Lake - Open Chapel - Ice shore to shore Cascade - Lower - partially open; Upper - Iced in Mirror - Iced in Lake Flower - Open Colby - Open mostly, but ice appears to have blown in to a large area at the bay at the launch Barnum - Open Mountain Pond - Iced in Boy Scout Clear Pond - Iced in Tupper Lake - Open Blue Mt Lake - Iced in Lake Durant - Some open water but large area are still iced in Indian Lake - Open at shore but much ice otherwise Lewey - Open at northern end and iced in otherwise Mason Lake - Iced in Algonquin Lake - Open Great Sacandaga - Open All the ice I saw was dark and could go out quickly with a little sun, wind etc. __________________ "I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” John Muir

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04-02-2018, 09:54 PM	#2
jman22 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CNY Posts: 80	Probably fished the same stream you did CW. Didn't fish long and came up empty. Creek looked much better today and should look great tomorrow. Hopefully the warmer temps will arrive soon (especially for all you guys waiting to hit the ponds!).

04-02-2018, 11:57 PM	#3
NHtroutster Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 24	My son and I also came up empty, though I was very surprised to see our favorite stream looking remarkably clear and lower than I had expected. The best thing about our first outing of the season was a beautiful and majestic adult bald eagle watching our folly for about 20 minutes. Snapped a couple long distance photos, but just when we were close enough for a close-up pic, he/she got tired of us and flew away. Good sign though, I hope!?!

04-03-2018, 08:52 PM	#4
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	I havent been on here much as i just had welcomed to this world another fisherman watch out guys. My son Nolan Jonathan Ball was born on the 16th of March. But with that said i am still ice fishing. Was out on clear on last day of march with about 20 inches of ice. Top half white bottom half clear hard ice. Went to a small pond yesterday and it had about 18 inches of ice mix of snowy to white. No shoreline thaw yet as every time we get warm weather we get super cold nights. Was 12 deg yesterday morning. Still havent put away the ice gear.

04-05-2018, 03:03 PM	#7
Stillhunter Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 333	Congratulations Ryan on your new family addition! Lots of ice remaining. Thanks for the update.

04-06-2018, 04:56 PM	#9
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	Thank you all, i will be heading out sunday and hit the ice again. Its been below freezing daytime and single digits at night. Might have even gained ice haha. Will keep everyone posted to measurements.

04-07-2018, 10:11 PM	#10
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	Buddy was on Colby jigging perch today with 12 inches of ice 8 clear rest was white on top. Will try to make it to another area tomorrow and see what we are looking at.

04-10-2018, 04:31 PM	#11
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	still 18-20 inches from st regis to rainbow lake. with no shoreline melt. Looks like we will just start that process the later half of this week. Looking like last week of april if we are lucky.

04-10-2018, 07:30 PM	#12
bluequill Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Saranac Lake Posts: 757	Franklin Falls was shore to shore ice with no water along the banks.

04-21-2018, 04:03 PM	#13
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	If anyone wants one last chance to hit the ice this weekend is it, looking at the local extended forcast this weekend should be the last. Still locked shore to shore if I had to guess still a foot of ice. Buddy may go tomorrow and let me know. Start of our thaw starts now. 2 weeks if we are lucky and we should open up.

04-22-2018, 09:17 PM	#14
EagleCrag Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gloversville, NY Posts: 1,220	Thanks for the update Ryan. Keep us posted.

04-22-2018, 09:50 PM	#15
Creekwader Snag Locator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In the Place of the Nettles Posts: 921	Spent today in the West central ADK, there is still upwards to 2 feet of snow in the woods and ponds are nowhere near ice out. Fished 4 streams and the outflows of three lakes/ponds, no fish to be found. Here's a nice picture of winter flipping the bird or waving at the fisherman from the bank of a brook trout stream, you pick: https://photos.app.goo.gl/u5d4wEGalqa0DaK12

04-23-2018, 05:39 AM	#16
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	14 inches on St Regis at Paul Smith's. Start of the thaw is now. Took road trip South to fish champs tribs and got some rainbows and perch. Was nice to hit open water again

04-29-2018, 09:20 PM	#17
EagleCrag Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gloversville, NY Posts: 1,220	Just took a ride up to West Caroga Lake. Ice looks to be about half gone and is breaking up. I think a good warm day with some wind will take it out.

05-01-2018, 03:18 PM	#18
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	Drove around today still a lot of ice most ponds still locked in saranac lake area. Had one spot open just enough to fish and loons where able to pop through the slushy ice that was alog edges. Saw a deer walking on one pond today. Going to be another week to start finding anything worth fishing locally. Of course the 8 inhes of heavy wet snow Sunday didn't help matters any.

05-03-2018, 07:33 PM	#19
Ryan Ball NYOutdoors Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Saranac Lake NY Posts: 334	With recent winds and warm temperatures it does look like we may have some open water. Will be driving around tomorrow and check some spots.

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