New Year, New Location: Eastern New York

The 2012 fishing season has been a complete change of pace for me. While I grew up on trout and lake fishing since moving my fishing is now dominated by rivers bigger and deeper than the lakes of my past.

My year started off like every other year, fishing for trout. Opening day, even on this side of the state was its usual wet, rainy self. The difference here from home was the stream. We started off fishing the Kinderhook Creek. More of a small river than creeks I'm accustom to, the Kinderhook is located about 35 minutes outside of Albany on absolutely beautiful setting. After talking to a DEC biologist in the field we began the bridge and worked north. After getting a late start we fished for about 3 hours, but to no avail.

Since that time my year has been dominated by the focal feature of my new surroundings, the Hudson River. Initial exploration led to the marina in Coyeman. Based on knowledge take from locals, and internet finds we’ve built our fishing on a local favorite, herring. At the Coyeman marina, Bill, Justin and I have racked up a strong showing of catfish. This has been an overwhelming theme on the Hudson, with catfish being easy pray throughout our travels. The catfish typically bite chunked herring and can be caught with a heavy wait keeping the bait close to the river bottom.  Herring are plentiful along the river and can be hooked regularly through the use of a Sabiki rig, bought for $1 at most sporting goods stores.

Our quest then moved us north to the Troy dam. Along the dam our catfish output has thankfully decreased. Using chunked and whole herring Bill has successfully caught his first striped bass. This has morphed into a relentless pursuit which has occupied most weeknights and nearly every weekend.

Most recently our excursions have led us to two new locations. The first being Rhinebeck, fished in conjunction with a successful turkey hunt, which yielded another new species for me, the American eel. Eels too prefer chunked herring, left to sit on the river bottom or near to it. Finally, to New Baltimore, continuing to produce catfish and eels, but yet to offer any stripers.

All this is not to say I’ve given up my past of lake fishing. Since moving to Albany I continue to fish Partridge Run lakes on a regular basis. After a recent outing, complete with a stringer of perch, a delicious meal of fried perch and venison steaks was had by all. 

East Side of the State (Original Post Date: August 1, 2010)

When I began this blog the purpose was to chronicle my fishing while I was pursuing employment. With this task in mind I began my trip eastward. My destination was Albany and my purpose was two fold: First, I had several interviews in the area; Second, (and more importantly) to do some fishing in a region of the state I've never fished before.

After arriving in Albany Josh, Billy and I headed out to a secluded pond in the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area in the town of Berne (see picture above). The hike to the pond was some of the nicest I've ever been on in New York State. While the pond was small with no visible inlet or outlet the fishing was challenging but doable. Neither Josh nor I managed to catch anything but Billy landed a chain pickerel.



Our next stop for the day was Fawn Lake. The sun was high and the fishing was done for the day so we gave up and just relaxed by the water.



Two days later we headed out fishing again. This time, just Billy and I with our fly gear. We changed our location up and gave the Tibbetts State Forest. The forest was incredible and hte fishing difficult. Upon arriving a DEC Officer pulled up and gave us countless advice on the fishing and hiking in the area. We then hit the stream. Everything in the area was native and subsequently small. Billy caught a couple Brown trout and I missed several my self.

While the trip was disappointing from a fishing stands point it was profitable from a professional perspective. Through one of the interviews I gained employment. Consequently, with the completion of this post the purpose of my blog will change. I will shift to solely chronicling my fishing pursuits across the state.

No Luck on the Fly (Original Post Day: June 19, 2010)

The weather report said 70% chance of rain but the sky said sunny and no clouds in sight. I gathered up my gear and headed out to the Ischua Creek. I picked a spot just off Farwell Road and Rt. 16 just between Ischua and Hinsdale. The creek was warm and clear. Having had rain for most of the past week it was a little high and slightly faster than desired.

I started working my way down stream stopping at a couple very nice holes. After a little while of no luck I hit a good hole and just missed one on a dry fly.

I decided to then move on to Hardwood lake. Yet the weatherman had finally caught up to me. As I drove closer the sky began to darken. After my first cast it open up and poured on me. The rain came hard and fast and I scrambled back to the car. The day was done and the bad weather had come. In the end any day out fishing, even without making a catch, is a good day.

Cut Short in the Catskills (Original Post Date: June 6, 2010)

The day started off as a bright and sunny. I had been in New Jersey for one of my friend's graduation party and wasn't going to pass up another trip through the Catskills without stopping to do some fly fishing. Yet, as I was making my way down the highway my folks called to warn me there was an incoming thunder storm, complete with tornado warnings, so I knew my day may get cut short.

My first stop was to be Livingston Manor, New York. As a I arrived the sky opened op and the rain came down hard. I took the bad weather as a sign I should stop by the Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum (http://www.cffcm.net/). The museum was well worth the admission fee ($3 donation) and provided ample opportunity to learn about fly tying and some of the local fishing. I spent a half an hour going through the museum and could have spent longer but I was ready to hit the stream. By then the rain had let up and hopped in the car and headed for a public fishing inlet.

Willowemoc Creek was, just down the road from the Museum and I decided this would be a great first place to try. The creek can be reached via NYS Rt. 17 and has numerous public fishing accesses. I picked a spot, threw on my waders and vest and headed into the river. The water was cool and the sky was over cast. One draw back I found was that the creek moved much quicker than most streams where I have fished in the past. After several unsuccessful cast I began making my way further up stream fishing as I went. The weather began to clear and the sun came out. After about an hour of unsuccessful fishing I decided to move on. However, had I not had 4+ hours of driving a head of me I would have stayed longer as I imagine the creek had ample trout in some of the protected areas.

I jumped back on I-86/Rt. 17 and headed down the road another 20 miles to the Upper Delaware River in Hancock, New York. I tied on a black streamer and green bead head. When I arrived the weather had cleared, the sun was out and the river looked inviting. Having not used my waders in two years I hadn't bothered to check to see if they leaked but I would soon find out (the answer was yes they leaked quite badly). As I made my way in to the river I gave a nod to some fellow fly fisherman further up stream and cast out. My third cast pulled snug but I failed to set the hook. My next cast went out went out with great precision and accuracy, right back over my head. I hadn't noticed it but in the 15 minutes I was in the river the sky had become black as night and the wind had picked up. I scooted out of the water and threw my gear in to the back of the Honda. As I pulled off the waders the rain came fast and furious. I jumped in the car and decided to call it a day.

I wish I could have spent all day in the Catskills but with the bad weather and me not having my tent the day was done. All in all my Catskill fishing was enjoyable but unsuccessful. Had it not been cut short I would have spent another few hours there and I hope to get back sometime soon.

"And first thing Saturday, if it don't rain I'm headed out to the lake" (Original Post Date: May 29, 2010)

There's really nothing better than a day on the lake with the guys.

I arrived at Quaker Lake at 8:30am; Billy, Josh and Alex had all been on the lake since 7am. I unloaded my kayak from the roof of the CR-V, tossed the fishing gear in boat and headed out on to the lake. The guys already had their row boat about half way down the lake. I paddled past one of our favorite weed bed and kept going to the far shore.

We immediately started off competing boat v. boat. The lure for the day was a black 1/2 oz Drop Spinner. Billy took a quick lead with an early pike, it ended up being the biggest of the day. I landed the next one and then a second to take the lead. Billy caught the next one to draw even before our stop for lunch.

Around noon we pulled the boats on shore, made some PB&J sandwiches and hit the rope swing. We collected up the worms from the row boat and decided to do some pan fish fishing. We all landed a collection of Rock Bass, Sunfish, and Blue Gill for nothing more than the pure enjoyment. The water was warm and the air warmer. So we decided to hit the rope swing and do some cooling off.

After lunch we headed back on to the lake. I quickly landed my third, and final, Pike of the day. This one was landed on a green and yellow 1/2 oz Drop Spinner Billy picked up his 3rd and Alex pulled in his first of the day. After several more hours of floating around Quaker Lake we called it a day. The final count: Row Boat 4- Kayak 3.