The third big opener of the fishing season occurs next weekend. Next Saturday, June 21, marks the opener of bass season and from the St. Lawrence River to the Hudson River anglers will be out in force after either smallmouth or largemouth bass. Generally these two species inhabit different habitats or cover and call for different fishing techniques, but both species will provide fun and excitement for the next five months.
The opening of bass season is not quite the big event it once was because now much of the state allows catch and release fishing for bass before the season opens. However much of the north country, including some Adirondack counties and the Henderson Harbor-St. Lawrence River area, do not permit pre-season fishing for bass.
Locally, Oneida Lake is one of the top spots for smallmouth bass and with the changing ecology and weed growth the largemouth population has become a major attraction for anglers. Ted Dobs is one of the local anglers and licensed charter captains who regularly have success fishing for bass on Oneida Lake.
Ted often suggests dragging green pumpkin tube jigs over rock piles since the smallmouth are often still bedding in deeper areas. If they are chasing schools of baitfish your best bet might be using a drop shot rig. He recommends a six pound fluorocarbon line, size 1 drop shot hook in black nickel finish and one-quarter ounce weight depending on wind, etc. Use any fluorocarbon knot and run the tag end back through the hook.
Ted recommends using Berkley Gulp minnows in three inch size in smelt, emerald shiner or black shad patterns. Don’t buy crayfish since they won’t be a significant part of the bass menu until July. Bass are feeding on minnows at this time of year.
Those anglers who prefer smaller waters have no shortage in central New York. Some of the popular waters in central New York include DeRuyter Reservoir, Cazenovia Lake, Eatonbrook Reservoir, Redfield Reservoir, Lake Delta, Canadarago Lake or Whitney Point Reservoir. Those who prefer stream or river fishing should consider lower Chenango River, Mohawk River, lower Fish Creek, Oswego River, Black River or the estuary of the Salmon River.
One of the most popular spots for bass fishermen will be the St. Lawrence River. Even though the shallow weedy bays provide good fishing for largemouths, it is the smallmouth bass that will attract the most attention. Anglers come from all over the state and even other states for the great fishing that the St. Lawrence has to offer.
Normally by opening weekend the bass will have spawned but still be in shallow water. Veteran charter captains like Al Benas or Myrle Bauer suggest using small floating stickbaits, shallow running crankbaits, Mepps spinners and spoons. Since post spawn smallmouths often are not actively moving about, they often like to drift with live minnows parallel to rocky shorelines and thus cover a lot of territory.
Further downriver near Ogdensburg, Mike Seymour guides for bass, pike and muskie. Last summer when I fished with Mike we caught lots of smallmouth two to four pounds using live bait. Mike explained that it was important to use enough weight to get the minnow down near the bottom and take the slack out of your line so you could feel the bass hit in the strong current.
The St. Lawrence offers great fishing but it can be confusing or intimidating finding good spots in all that water. For information on guiding services contact Al Benas (686-3030), Myrle Bauer (686-2122) or Mike Seymour (379-0235).
In the Adirondacks the water is colder and in many waters the bass will have not yet spawned. You probably will do well to search for them in areas adjacent to the shallow spawning areas.
Some of the top Adirondack bass waters include the Fulton Chain with largemouths in First and Second Lakes, and smallmouths in Third, Fourth,
Seventh and Eighth Lake. Indian Lake, Long Lake, Tupper and Saranac Chain all provide excellent smallmouth fishing. Largemouths are found in Lows Lake, Durant, Abanakee and Oseetah. Blue Mountain Lake and its connecting lakes of Eagle and Utowanah have both smallmouth and largemouth.
Those anglers targeting largemouth bass will typically fish the shallow waters, especially the edges of weed cover. Plastic worms, spinner baits, jigs or crankbaits worked along cover usually produces action.
Wherever you fish, my advice would be to start in the northwest corner of the lake since that is where bass usually spawn. Work the shallow areas and gradually fish deeper until you find fish. You might start looking for aggressive fish with spinners or small crankbaits but if the action is slow try a slower approach with jigs and curly tails or plastic worms.
If you are fishing big waters, you might want to drift and cover more territory while casting or using live minnows. In small ponds look for areas where two types of cover converge (e.g. weeds and tree tops). If the grass or weed growth is significant try Senko worms rigged wacky style.
But even if the fish don’t cooperate this weekend, remember that it is a long season and we have more places to go than we can possible fish in one season.
SHORT CASTS
Spey Nation: Have you ever wondered what a Spey Rod is? Would you like to learn to cast these two-handed fly rods that seem as if they can cast across any river? The group of rod makers, guides and fans of using Spey rods call themselves “Spey Nation” and they invite you to join them this month.
The 2014 Spey Nation weekend will be June 20 – 22 on the Salmon River with three days of fun at no charge. There will be free movies Friday night at Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, presentations all day on Saturday at the Pineville Boat Launch. The free lunch will be catered by Tailwater Lodge and at 4 p.m. there will be the drawings for the raffles which will benefit the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club. Sunday will be free fishing at the Douglaston Salmon Run or lessons from Spey Casting Instructors.
Collins Reunion: The Collins family has the right idea for a reunion. The whole clan gathers for a weekend of outdoor sports, including fishing at some campground or resort. Lately they have been meeting at Pecks Lake northwest of Gloversville and stay at the rustic cabins or campgrounds of Pecks Lake Resort. Ted Collins reported that they had a good time, as always, and everyone caught fish, including panfish, walleye, rainbow trout and plenty of pickerel, pike and bass. Top honors went to nine year old Dennison Helesky from the Kingston
area who caught a 39 inch, 16 pound pike. The Rapala lure was caught in the corner of the mouth so the big pike could not bite off the line. All the kids win something but Dennison won a rod and reel and a great memory.
Golden Park Program: If you are a NYS resident 62 or older on any weekday (except holidays) you can obtain free vehicle access to state parks and arboretums. Simply present your current valid NYS Driver’s License. This policy applies both to Office of Parks and Recreation and DEC facilities.