Advice on trip to St.. Regis area

[mccollum48]

Hello everyone, me and some buddies are looking at doing a canoeing/camping trip in early September. we are looking at staying 3 nights. Our plan as of now is to bust butt the first day get as far as we can,thinking "fish pond". then set up base camp then fish/explore from there for the remainder of the time. None of us are fly fisherman spinning tackle only. Any advice or info on the area would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone know what the portages are like in that area, from what I have seen on maps it looks like there is a small stream that connects most of the lakes through the area. Also how secluded is this area, should we expect to see other groups? And also what are the main fish species in the area? Thanks you

[DSettahr]

The portages are generally flat and easy. Often, they are wheelable. You may encounter some blowdown but it usually isn't frequent.

The stream you see on the map is the St. Regis River, and it isn't navigable in the vicinity of Fish Pond, which is why the portage trails paralleling it exist. All of the ponds in the St. Regis Canoe Area are kettle ponds, and it is typical that you need to portage from each on to the next.

Fish Pond is generally a quiet spot, although the lean-tos there can be moderately popular. Definitely bring tents in case you aren't able to get space in one of the lean-tos (and remember that the lean-tos are open to all groups until they are full to capacity, so you must share if there is space and another group wants to move in with you). The truck trail and the allowance of bicycles on it also makes Fish Pond a moderately popular destination for day hikers and bicyclers, and backpackers will sometimes hike in to camp on the south shore.

I'm don't fish, so I can't help you with any fishing information. I'm sure someone will chime in.

I hope this helps!

[stripperguy]

The fire road is definitely wheel friendly, even a 12 year old boy (with some help from Mom) can wheel it.



Fish Pond is easily reached in a day, with plenty of time leftover for dinner!
If you've never been to the area before, St Regis Pond might be a better base, with a day trip to Fish, and still time to diddle around Green, Little Long, Bear (don't miss that one), Roiley.
Or, a bushwhack up the back of St Regis Mt makes good use of a day...
September is just about the best time of year to paddle there, IMO.

[58rover]

Spend many hours in this area every year. Fish pond is a great place. Best way to get there is to put in at little clear and paddle to the St.Regis Carry, Carry over and paddle to the far western end of the pond. There is a barrier dam there. From there carry to fish pond via the truck trail.
As far as spinning gear bring some jigs, rapalas, spinners, and wobbler and worm set ups and you should be able to catch something. There are lake trout in Big Fish but you will need to get your line down a little to get at their level.
As noted St Regis is a good base camp location also. Then your only taking day trip loads on the longer carry (over a mile) .

[LeechesOnMyKevlar]

September is a spectacular time to be in the Adirondacks and St Regis is no exception. The only real caveat is the carry between Ochra and Fish if you are coming in from the east (heading west). As you approach Mud Pond, you have the option of dropping down to Mud for a short paddle and one short carry to Fish; or you can stay on another trail that follows the top of an esker all the way to Fish. Although usually dry by September, that last little carry between Mud and Fish has an unavoidable spot of deep, deep sucking mud (hence the name). No doubt filled with a timeless supply of boots from weary paddlers. But again, this is usually perfectly dry by September. Avoid it in the spring. Regardless, the direct, longer esker trail is worth the trip as you hike past some of the largest white pines you will ever see and are afforded beautiful views through the trees of Mud, then Fish. As you approach Fish, the underbrush on the trail will close in on you but is still passable. On this route you will have 2 put-in options: straight ahead to the end of the point where a miserably steep drop into a very shallow, pebbly section of the pond awaits (do you like the sound of kevlar scratching along the bottom?). Or you can stop short at an occasionally used but illegal campsite and drop down to the south edge (on you left) of the point jutting out into Fish where entry is not quite so steep and water deeper.