When the water warms and the trout retreat to the thermocline and below, I turn the attention of my guide service to smallmouth bass. Many of the Finger Lakes, Oneida Lake, the St. LawrenceRead More →
There are few fish that are as beautiful as the native book trout. I was first introduced to them as a boy while fishing the central Adirondacks with my father and his buddies. That was 30 years ago. Each Spring and Autumn season since, I make the trek into a select and remote pond to cast for them. A lot has changed in thirty years. To a tight-lipped, loosely knit, community of serious anglers in Upstate New York, a trophy brook trout pond is a Shangri-La, the location of which would never be revealed. There is, however, over 2,000 ponds within the six million acreRead More →
The traditional opening day of trout season statewide is April 1st. But on the Finger Lakes trout season is a year round’ pursuit. While the tributaries are closed to trout fishing, there are thousands of acres of open water for boat or shore fishing available for the hardy angler dressed for the unpredictable and often ugly weather. Early season trout fishing on the Finger Lakes lakes means cold water. The trout, however, is a cold water fish, most active in water temperatures that remain between 45 to 65 degrees. The middle of that range being the optimum, representing a trouts peak period of activity. ARead More →
Twenty five years ago I found Fly Fishing and it changed my life. I was home for the weekend from junior college and walked into a fly shop that someone told me about on Erie Boulevard. I was skeptical. Until that point, I had relied upon bait, spinners, and plugs to land trout on the local creeks and lakes, and thought of the ultra-light spin casting tackle I grew up with as refined. I did not buy a thing on that first visit, but became obsessed with the whole idea of fly fishing. And the man with the handlebar mustache and stubble beard tying flies in the way backRead More →
Sunday morning dawned cold and clear after a strong front pushed by 30 mph winds passed in the night. The temperature at launch on Oneida at 0700 hrs Sunday was -22. The high temp for the day was -5. But the boys were game and we launched. And we fished. Crystal clear and cold. The fish were tough…they were below us, but most would not bite. We iced a few with persistence and patience. And we all enjoyed the challenge. A safe, enjoyable, and decent adventure on the ice for Aiden, Trevor, James and Matt. Thanks guys…I appreciated your focus, your patience, and your goodRead More →
The water in the trout lakes is the perfect temperature for great fishing….only a couple more trips before the Grey Ghost 2 hibernates in the barn through the winter. Time to get ice gear together…maybe get serious about deer and duck hunting in the interim. I have to post a pic of a bruiser buck rainbow that toar u p the lake but was brought to the net skillfully by Jeff the Carpenter…and repost the pic of the slob hen rainbow I caught. These two fish were my personal highlights of the 2015 Autumn season. Both were released to fight again another day. Peace Mike CrawfordRead More →
Another year comes to a close. Autumn transitions slow this year into winter. And we reflect. Kids are looking forward to the things Christmas brings. For us parents, us adults, we tend to look back, reminisce on another year past, grateful for the family and friends we still have with us, excited to spend time with each of them. Happy memories, of those we have lost, drift through our thoughts as we celebrate life this Christmas. Now is the season that brings out the best in us I like to think. Makes us kinder, gentler, humbler. I would like to thank all of those whoRead More →
