March 7, 2013

St. Lawrence River Ice was holding up well at last check, with northern pike providing the bulk of the action in sports like Eel Bay and Lake of the Isles. Perch were cooperating as well at times. Black Lake Crappie have been providing the most consistent action on the big lake, with walleye available for

Not the best time to try fishing and most anglers were awaiting the April 1 opener. Small, dark stoneflies should start to hatch as weather starts to warm. If you must go, your options right now are the West Branch of the Delaware from just upstream of the game lands; the main stem of the

Not hearing a lot right now, and that’s likely a product of deteriorating ice conditions, which isn’t unusual as we head toward mid-March.

Lake George’s popular bays were yielding, at times, good numbers of keeper-sized perch, as well as the occasional laker that tops the lake’s 23-inch size minimum. It remains to be seen how well the ice holds up into late March. Typically it does. Tim Blodgett of Saratoga Tackle reports the Saratoga Lake ice was fine

The extremely windy weather experienced kept many of the cod and sea bass boats inshore. But those that did venture out continued to report excellent bottom fishing from the artificial reefs out to the wrecks along the 30 fathom line. A few boats are venturing even further and are scoring with cod and pollock to

Anglers were still plying the waters of Lake Champlain, primarily for perch but also for northern pike in some areas of the big lake and the occasional walleye in South Bay. Smelt action in Bulwagga Bay has been virtually nonexistent, with the general theory being the alewife population is at fault. Schroon Lake was yielding

Honeoye Lake Ice was reportedly between 3 and 5 inches thick late last month. Anglers were catching some nice yellow perch at depths over 20 feet, on jigs with a waxworm or spike. The bluegill bite has been fair in areas of 8-12 feet. Tip-ups with shiners set in shallower areas catch mostly largemouth bass

Oneida Lake Anglers were getting out around the lake, with ice thickness varying from 5-11 inches. Use caution when venturing out and check ice thickness frequently. Anglers were getting some good perch and walleye, Chapman Park and Lewis Point seemed to be producing well. Oswego River Steelhead and brown trout were still being taken but