Spring turkey season begins May 1

May 1 is the start of the statewide spring turkey season. NY hunters with a small game hunting license and a turkey permit may take a total of 2 bearded toms (1 per day) during the spring season. The season runs from May 1 to May 30. Check your hunting regulation guide or DEC website www.dec.ny.gov/index.html
for full regulations.

This season may be especially challenging for the turkey hunter due to a warmer than average spring which has resulted in turkeys breeding earlier than normal. Also according to NYS DEC biologists the previous two nesting seasons saw extremely wet conditions which result in a lower survival rate for young turkeys. However the statewide population still remains strong, especially here in the North Country where many toms and hens are being seen in both farmland and woodland.

Be safe: do not stalk turkeys, be absolutely sure of your target (remember you can shoot bearded toms only, so there is no reason to shoot at something you have not positively identified), wear some orange when walking in and out of hunting area.

Fishing Report April 28, 2010

Snowing outside right now and about 32 degrees. Some areas in the higher elevations are getting over a foot of snow but warmer temps in the 70's are forecast for the weekend so spring fishing will get back to normal.

Most streams in the area are being stocked by both New York State and Essex County hatcheries. Salmon are in the Boquet below the falls in Willsboro and are being caught on streamers, small spoons like phoebes and cleos and nightcrawlers. Trout fishing was good before the snowstorm, persistent anglers reporting good luck on the Boquet, AuSable, and Saranac.

On Champlain a few salmon being caught in the Boquet delta, Whallons bay, and Willsboro bay but action is spotty. Fish are shallow and close to shore. Laker fishing should be picking up soon. Some nice smallmouth bass are being caught already by anglers fishing the river mouths. Bass are also becoming active in shallow areas near Otter Creek, Plattsburgh and Rouses Point. Remember catch and release only on bass until the season opens.

Northern pike, muskie and walleye season opens on May 1. Some good places to try for pike are: Lincoln Pond in Elizabethtown, Lake Flower and Middle Saranac Lake, Paradox Lake. On Lake Champlain the walleye run in the Chazy River is usually a good bet in May. Pike can be found in most bays especially south of Crown Point and on the northern lake in Kings Bay, and Rouses Point.

Fishing Report April 8

Spring conditions continue to improve. The rivers are still running a little high due to recent rain and higher terrain snow melt.

On the Boquet a few salmon have moved into the lower river at the mouth. There are a few reports of some nice brown trout being caught also. Not much news from the upper river.

On Lake Champlain salmon and brown trout are being caught in Whallons Bay just south of Essex by anglers trolling streamers and small Rapalas.

No reports yet on salmon from the AuSable or Saranac.

Almost all of the back country ponds are now ice free allowing brook trout anglers access much earlier than usual.

Spring Landlocked Salmon fishing the Lake Champlain tributaries

Spring is salmon time in the Lake Champlain region. When the ice goes out on the big lake Landlocked Atlantic Salmon begin their spring runs up the major tributaries. The Boquet, AuSable and Saranc rivers are the three major salmon streams on the New York side of the lake.

The salmon are not in the rivers to spawn in the spring as the spawning run takes place in the fall. In spring they journey upstream to feed, attracted by the warmer temperatures and increased water flow, following schools of yellow perch, minnows and smelt. This first run usually starts about the second week of April and lasts until the end of May.

The Boquet is the most popular river offering the best access and most fishable water. On the Boquet the fish enter the mouth and move upstream to the big pool below the falls in Willsboro. The salmon do not enter the fish ladder in spring so the falls are as far upstream as they go. This area has great fishing access along both banks. Many anglers fish the big pool below the falls which is deep and can hold many nice salmon as well as brown trout and the occasional steelhead, walleye and smallmouth bass. Another good spot to try is the section below the big pool by the two small islands.

The Boquet River is fishable along the East/Southeast bank all the way to the mouth. There is a small launch for small boats and canoes just down from the main parking area below the fish ladder.

The lower AuSable river can be accessed in from the Route 9 bridge just north of Keeseville. The salmon will be in the river from the mouth upstream to just below AuSable Chasm. The river is wadeable around the Route 9 bridge and small boats or canoes can be launched here or near the mouth at the AuSable Point Campground.

The Saranac river generally has fewer fish but the access is easy as the mouth of the river is right in downtown Plattsburgh. Anglers can wade the river, cast from shore or launch a small boat at the mouth.

The number of fish running upstream is dependent on the flow of water. Higher water means more fish, low water means less, so the best time to fish is directly after a warm spring rain raises the river level.

These spring run salmon are here for one reason and that is to feed so the action can be fast and furious when they are in. Many methods and tactics are productive from drifting worms to casting small spinners and spoons like Phoebes and small Cleos. Light to medium light spinning tackle with 6-8 pound line are ideal rigs. A 6 weight fly outfit with sink tip line works well for high water. A few local favorite flies for spring Landlocks are the Grey Ghost, Mickey Finn, Hornberg, Silver Smelt and Gov. Aiken streamers. As the water temp. warms in to the low 50's dry flies can be used when the salmon are feeding.

The fish are generally not leader shy in the fast high waters but as the river level drops and the water clears, lighter lines, smaller lures and flies and gentler presentations should be used. The new fluorocarbon lines work very well in these conditions.

Towards the end of May most salmon will have moved back into the lake and the Salmon run will be over until they return to the rivers to spawn in the Fall

Top early season baits and lures for trout

Trout season is now open statewide. In the Adirondacks early conditions are usually difficult but fish can be caught using the right techniques.

The early season angler should concentrate on the lower elevation waters which warm sooner. Trout stocking is usually underway by mid April but there are many holdover fish that will provide action for the patient angler.

The hundreds of smaller streams contain good populations of wild brook trout which can be taken with worms or weighted nymphs by fishing the deeper pools of the tumbling brooks

Worms would have to be at the top of the list for early fishing. A nightcrawler fished on a #8 hook with the proper size sinker (non-lead only) to get the bait down to the fish should be cast into the deeper pools and drifted slowly along the bottom. Use a large worm for better visibility in high water. Big salmon eggs in bright colors as well as power bait will work well when fished the same way.

For the Fly angler weighted nymphs such as the bead head hare's ear and larger streamers like the muddler and wooly buggers fished slow and deep. A sink tip line can improve your success in deeper waters

For anglers who prefer lures I would suggest the following: The Roostertail, Mepps, or Panther Marten spinners in 1/8 oz. size for the bigger rivers and 1/16 oz. for the smaller brooks. The brighter colors with some flash are recommended for early fishing.

The Phoebe is an old standby which is very popular on local streams. Gold, silver and silver/blue or silver/green are very productive colors. Fish this lure by casting slightly upstream and reeling as the lure floats down.

For the pond angler early trout can be taken with all of the above baits and lures but the most popular and productive setup would have to be trolling a Lake Clear Wabbler behind a canoe or small boat. To rig this setup tie a leader of a about 12" to 18" behind the wabbler and attach either a hook with a nightcrawler or a fly such as a grey ghost, muddler, or mickey finn. This rig is trolled slowly behind the canoe. Use a 5 or 6 weight flyrod or light spinning rod with 6# or lighter line

Many baits and lures will work for early season fishing but the one thing that is essential for success is that they all be fished deep and slowly with a lot of patience.