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Vic Attardo: Small New York lakes produce lots of winter largemouths

Master Guide John Wainright holds a fat largemouth bass, one of several caught on what might have been a slow ice fishing day. His tip-up rig was similar to what he uses for lake trout. Although the duo tackled a pair of small Herkimer County lakes, there are many ponds in New York where similar C&R outings can be legally had. (Photo by Vic Attardo)

The lakes in central New York were locked and loaded. Traveling around from Otsego to Canadarago, even to the still waters of the Erie Canal and every little farm pond in-between, we found the ice thickness at 15 to 17 inches. It took a deep drill to break through the snow and frozen crust to reach fishable water underneath. As many an ice fisherman knows and complains, February is a tough month to pull fish from the frozen sheet.
Then could anyone explain how myself and New York Master Guide John Wainwright had one of our best days on the ice amid these negative conditions?

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