Adirondack Fishing Report

[ozark trout fisher]

I just got back from the Adirondacks today, so here's the report I promised. I warn you this will be a long, and probably rambling report, because it was a long trip (3 weeks of fishing.)

When I first arrived up there, things looked great, and fished great. The first evening, I hit the West Branch of the Ausable, which is generally considered the best trout stream in the region. It was then that I got my first view of the Adirondack High peaks (the mountains over 4000 feet), and I remembered how beautiful the country was. Indeed, the West Branch flows right through the heart of the high peak region, with it's headwaters coming down the slopes of Mount Marcy, the highest point in the state, and it flows past several others. And that first day, it treated me to some beautiful fishing. I drove to the catch and release portion of the stream, and found a spinner fall right in front of me when I arrived. I took the water temperature, and it was only 62 degrees, which is about all you can ask for during the summer on an eastern freestone stream. Without thinking much, I tied on a #14 Adams, and proceeded to catch four beautiful, if small browns, and one brookie. Finally the hatch fell off, and I switched to a Hare's Ear nymph. The trout didn't seem interested though, apparently full from the spinner fall. The next morning, while driving to the grocery store in Ticonderoga, I passed over a pretty low country stream called the La Chute. It is the stream that connects Lake George and Lake Champlain, two of the countries largest natural lakes. For being such an important artery, it was quite small and unassuming, about the size of the Current just below Montauk. Anyway, I decided to pull over and fish at an access point below a small mill dam. Not really knowing what species I was targeting, I tied on a #10 Brown Woolly. It worked. The first cast, I landed a 10" smallmouth bass, and on the third or fourth, a 10" rainbow. The good fishing continued for several more hours, with me catching good numbers of smallmouth bass and an odd trout in between. Finally, by about 11 AM, the temperatures warmed up into the 80s. The trout shut off and the smallies slowed down.

That was a sign of things to come. The air temperatures soared to highs in the upper 80s and low 90s. This is unheard of in the north country, and temperature records were being broken all over the place. With the rising air temps, so went the water temps. When I next traveled to the Ausable, I arrived at a fly shop early morning to pick up a few flies, and was told that the water temperatures were well into the 70s. I bought a few flies, and headed back to camp, realizing that fishing would be useless and any fish I might catch and release would likely die. I was quite disappointed.

After a few hours lounging around camp, thinking the situation over, I decided to go in search of warmwater habitat, and give the trout a break for a bit. I drove up to the St. Regis River, not far south of the Canadian border. The St. Regis is north of the true mountain country, and in the boreal north woods. I found a nice place to fish above an old mill dam, and took quite a few smallmouth and perch on a prince nymph. The highlight came when I hooked and lost a very large fish, of what species I am not sure, just before dark.

I see that this is getting pretty long, so I'll skip a few days and move on to the wilderness paddling trip that I had a chance to do. It was a three day trip through the Adirondack North woods, through several small streams and lakes. The country is utterly wild and isolated where I went, and I would like it to stay that way. For that reason, I'm not going to give any details about the actual location I'm referring to.

I had read that this area was pure native brook trout water, and contained almost no other species, and that even in summer, some nice fish could be taken by fishing spinners and spoons in deep water. As far as brook trout fishing was concerned, I was dissapointed. I learned from a local just before leaving that some bait bucket biologist had dumped both largemouth and smallmouth bass into the system a few years ago, and that devastated the brook trout population. He was right. I caught many fish, but they were nearly all smallmouth and largemouth bass- excellent sport fish under most any circumstance, but in this case, they were nothing more than harmful pests. Finally, though, in a small lake far in the wilderness, I caught one of the heritage strain brook trout. I was paddle trolling a small Panther Martin Spinner in deep water, and felt a hard tug. After a good battle, I had the pleasure of landing and gently releasing a 14" inch native brook trout. It was sort of the quitessental, perfect fishing moment, and I doubt I'll ever forget it's beautiful coloration.

Anyway, after that, I managed one more trip on the West Branch of the Ausable. There had been a cool rain, and water temperatures had dropped back into the upper 60s. I got to the river about 7:30, and tied on an Ausable Wulff, a locally popular attractor dry. The water temperatures were still on the high side, and the fishing was difficult, but I did manage to land one beautiful brown and one native brookie. In all, it was an awesome trip in an awesome setting. I hope to get back soon.

Pictures are coming soon... I drove 600 miles today and don't have the energy or will to get them on my computer tonight.

[stlfisher]

Sounds like a great trip in a couple great locations. Looking forward to the pics.

[Al Agnew]

You were probably a little too late for the best smallmouth fishing in the St. Regis. In May and June the lower St. Regis may be one of the best big smallmouth streams in the world. I fished it once, and a friend and I caught about 75 smallmouth from 15 to 20 inches. And the Mohawk Indian who was guiding us kept telling us that it was about the worst fishing he'd had in a long time in late May. He said we should be catching twice as many, with more big ones. The big fish come up out of the St. Lawrence River during that time period to spawn in the St. Regis.

It's certainly beautiful country. Not what most people from this part of the country think of when they think of New York.

[ozark trout fisher]

You were probably a little too late for the best smallmouth fishing in the St. Regis. In May and June the lower St. Regis may be one of the best big smallmouth streams in the world. I fished it once, and a friend and I caught about 75 smallmouth from 15 to 20 inches. And the Mohawk Indian who was guiding us kept telling us that it was about the worst fishing he'd had in a long time in late May. He said we should be catching twice as many, with more big ones. The big fish come up out of the St. Lawrence River during that time period to spawn in the St. Regis.

It's certainly beautiful country. Not what most people from this part of the country think of when they think of New York.

To be honest, I was probably fishing far upstream from where the best smallmouth water on the St. Regis was anyway, now that I have a chance to read about where the best fishing is. I just found a nice looking spot... It happened to be way up near the headwaters of the East Branch, far above where I'm guessing the really good trophy water is. Still it was fun-the fish only averaged about 10", but there were plenty of them and the setting couldn't have been better.

[ozark trout fisher]

To look at some pictures from my trip, click this link-

http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/2010/07/adirondack-pictures.html

[crawfly]

The Grasse and St. Regis get the press but 40+ yrs. ago all the feeders to St. Lawrence had good numbers & size both. My folks were from Massena (dad) and Morristown/Gouveneur (mom). My first fly rod (jap bamboo) was busted clean in two by a rather large smallie. Right at the ferrule junction of the butt section. Still landed him though! What a prize and a great bonus he was for the table.

Thanks for the pics otf.