My friend and I are planning a spring fishing trip, he would like to go to Duck Hole(Santanoni area) via Henderson Lake now that it's no longer private. Looking at the trail, it looks to me to be a good 2 miles just to get to Upper Preston Pond, then some paddling through Lower Preston Pond and maybe 1/4 mile of portaging between Preston Ponds and Duck Hole. He's going to be carrying his 16 foot or so WaNona canoe Wondering if Pillsbury lake via Pillsbury mtn Trailhead is an easiar excursion than the Duck Hole trek? Also wondered if anyone has fished back in Duck Hole or Preston Ponds recently, would appear from the ADK Lakes Survey that these ponds all hold(or at least held) Brook trout? Any info on the Duck Hole/Preston Ponds area is much appreciated.
-
-
You are accurate in your description of the trail. The hike from Henderson to Upper Preston is rugged, but going to Duck Hole makes it worthwhile. Last summer I carried a 18' WeNoNah to Duck Hole. We did not fish any of the ponds as it was mid-summer. The ALSC website is about all I can offer as to fishing opportunities. I haven't been to Pillsbury in so long I don't recall what that trail was like. I am sure others will weigh in.
-george-"The trail is what it is. If it goes up, over, under -- there is the choice to follow it or not. As for weather, it will be what it will be. One cannot choose conditions, only to hike or not to hike." AT Thru-Hiker -
The portage from Henderson to Upper Preston pond is steep and rocky, but doable. Several of us did it two years ago, two of us had hornbecks and four people carried two canoes.
The portages from Upper to Lower Preston Pond and to Duck Hole weren't too bad."If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Lyndon B. JohnsonComment
-
There are brook trout. I believe they're stocked annually (if not annually very regularly). The spot just downstream from the dam is supposedly good fishing with the right lure.
If given the choice between Pillsbury and Duck Hole it would be Duck Hole by a landslide, and I like Pillsbury Lake a lot.
The main problem with each option is the elevation gain. Pillsbury's trail is in better shape for a long portage. Can probably even cart or wheel the canoes in. Can't do that between Henderson and Duck Hole, at least not for very long stretches. Some have to divide the portage from Henderson into 2 trips, one for canoe the other for gear.Comment
-
The portage from Hendersen to Preston is very doable. My son and I (and just to clue you in I'm not a guy) portaged a 14 foot Wenonah. I did a GPS track for the mileage. 1.8 miles to be exact. We stopped on the way in but on the way out we went nonstop. I'm having trouble remembering, but it was either 40 or 50 minutes on the return without stopping to do the 1.8 miles. I'm planning on doing it by myself with my Hornbeck.Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.Comment
-
I've done the portage from Henderson to Duck Hole half a dozen times, and it's doable, but rough. The outlet from Lower Preston to Duck Hole is tough on the bottom of your boat, and just remember to pull out before the waterfall...
Never fished it, but I've seen some of the big one's that have come out of the Cold, and no...they aren't pike...They're just as big, but they're not pike...
The Wilderness Photography of Gary F. Dean
facebook photography of Gary F. Dean
It's Not A Map...It's a "To-Do" List!
Comment
-
Thanks for the info folks! I'm guessing that it's to one's own benefit to pack light, we usually bring a couple of cases of beer with us, guess we'll need a sherpa guide to accomadate that vice. I'm wondering if most everyone packs freeze dried type meals, just back packs,sleeping bags, fishing gear? Also, was wondering how fishing is in Preston Ponds? Was surprised to see from the contour map of Lower Preston Pond, that it's 70 feet deep. Also, waondering if one can expect a fair amount deadfall from this winter(probabaly a question for local DEC CO) and is there a good chance one or both of the lean to's there will be open last weekend in April?Comment
-
I too am a big fan of beer! That being said, I didn't carry any to Duck Hole, I did however have two bottles of wine in my Black Labs backpack. It's just too rough of a trail to carry anything more than you need.
We usually take a combination of pre-packaged freeze dried / dehyd food and things (light) from the store. Things like rice, instant stuffing, couscous, instant mashed potatoes, chicken in a bag, ramen noodles, etc (anything you just add water to) all can be bought at the local market and are a lot cheaper.
I would say your chances of scoring up a L2 at Duck Hole on a Saturday evening would be slim, if you got in on a Thursday chances would be better. Sunday night there is hardly anyone around. There are some larger camping spots around the place, and 2 more lean-to's about 1 mile down the NPT.
We await the trip (fishing) report.
-george-"The trail is what it is. If it goes up, over, under -- there is the choice to follow it or not. As for weather, it will be what it will be. One cannot choose conditions, only to hike or not to hike." AT Thru-HikerComment
-
Pretty much what I figured, packing wise, thanks much for the info George, we'll be arrving Thursday morning, so hopefully the lean2's will be available.
I plan on calling the local CO to gat a trail report a week or 2 prior to the trip, with the upcoming stretch of cold weather, snowpack and ice out could become a concern for later this month.Comment
Comment