It’s early January in Upstate New York and the ice fishing season is expected to be a good. Extended below-normal cold temperatures will build thick ice on the lakes and bays. That’s what is expected. Much anticipated. We are overdue for a real winter. It will feel nostalgic when — if — I find myself guiding and fishing in places and locations I’ve been absent the last several winters due to mild weather. The extended forecast look good.The weather around here however, stays true to a single consistence; Unpredictable. If safe and thick ice forms the ice fishing is expected to be very good. TheRead More →

Ice Fishing In Central New York

It is clear, to all of us here in “The Real Upstate New York” that Mother Nature cannot decide — from one day to the next — if it will be Winter or Spring.  In twenty seasons of guiding ice anglers; This ice fishing season was the most challenging. This winter started with 16 scheduled ice fishing trips on my calendar, but only eight of them were completed. Upstate New York resembled northern New Jersey this winter. Minus the casinos and gold chains. Mild temperatures this winter left most of the lakes around here with unsafe ice. The traditional ice fishing season in central New YorkRead More →

Adirondacks

The other day a guest of mine, who was in the Adirondacks visiting, mentioned how he missed the change of seasons. Arizona is where he has been for the last 20 years. But he is from Albany. That comment made me think about living in a world without the change of seasons. With all my years spent in the northeast, I found it hard to grasp the idea of living in a place where everyday of the year was damn near the same. Living in a state of constant sameness could make a lazy man even lazier? No grass to mow in summer or leavesRead More →