MID-WINTER ACTIVITIES





(Nice perch from last years outings)



I have lost about two and a half to three weeks of this winter with sicknesses. Started out with a stomach bug and then moved onto a winter cold and then back to some stomach ailment. Not a way to start a new year. But with the severe temperatures and now today a major storm in the area, I probably haven’t missed a whole lot. Have been talking with a number of ice fishermen and they are reporting some good catches of fish this winter. Perch, as always, are being cooperative. Some have been catching nice numbers and sizes of lake trout as well. Pike are always available.

Ice conditions are good since we had so much cold, subzero weather. No matter what, you do need to always be aware of ice safety when going out on the lake or river ice. Under ice currents and springs here in our mountain areas can make for some local spots of thin, dangerous ice. Be smart about where you travel on the ice. One of the best ice fishing safety tips is to always fish with a buddy system. Besides, a fishing buddy makes for a more enjoyable outing.



(Some of our youth on an ice fishing trip on Chazy Lake)

 We are at the point where you are going to want a gas powered auger to get through the ice. Hand cranking through 20 or more inches of ice is good exercise but it slows down the fishing time tremendously. A light tipped rod with small jigs are needed for perch. A couple of maggots or wax worms on the jig will entice the perch a bit more and we often use perch eyes once we start catching perch. New York now has a statewide creel limit of 50 perch per day. That is just about enough fish to fillet, especially if they are in that 6-8 inch range. It gets a bit tedious when that small. Jumbo perch aren’t so bad, since you get a nice fillet when you are finished.



(Eight inch perch in a ten inch hole)

 Friday night perch fry dinners are very popular around our area at this time of year. It is not surprising since they are so delicious. One of the sweetest fish meals you will ever have (of course it is a matter of opinion as everyone knows). Hope you get out and spend some time on the ice this winter.
Another area I have been involved in, is preparing for a number of sportsman shows that I will be giving seminars at this spring. The first show will be the Altona show, right here in my own home area. That is in March. I then head down to Schroon Lake, NY for a show later in March. Both of these shows I will be speaking on small game hunting, in particular, hunting the snowshoe hare. Later into the summer months I will be speaking at a weekend men’s retreat in West Chazy, NY in June of this year. These five speaking times will deal with fishing, hunting, hiking and general outdoor activities. The is through a Christian camping association. I will post more information on these as we get closer to their dates.