The river flowed strongly between the scenic islands with currents swirling in often strange patterns. Along the rocky shores, blending in with the brush or cattails, stood herons waiting patiently for their next meal. Overhead ospreys would soar until they spotted a fish and then plummet and dive into the water in an attempt to seize their prey.
Scattered throughout the watery wonderland were fishing boats of all size as anglers attempted to find the right location and test their skills for the prized gamefish that the area is known for. The Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River is known for many things but for many of us the fishing takes top spot in our minds.
In the area near Clayton, the river is six miles wide and includes an amazing variety of islands ranging from the large ones, like Grindstone and Wellesley, to smaller ones less than an acre in size. Iroquois Indians called this the Garden of the Great Spirit and today most people still view the area with similar awe.
The fishing is what draws many of us to the area. The area is known for the great variety of gamefish and the quality of the fishing experience. For most of the past 35 years I have made it a point to open the bass season in the Thousand Islands.
Unfortunately this year was a major disappointment for most bass fishermen. The cold winter affected a lot of things and the cold water flowing down from the Great Lakes affected the St. Lawrence River fishing. Normally bass have just finished spawning at this time of year and are still in shallow water. But this year, with the water temperature still in the high 50s for most of the river, the bass had not moved into shallow water yet.
Anglers who fished the areas where they normally find largemouth or smallmouth bass were disappointed. The few bass that were caught were often caught in deeper water while fishing for northern pike. My best was a 3 1/2 lb. largemouth that hit in about 18 feet of water. Most anglers in the Clayton – Alexandria Bay area had similar experiences.
Northern pike fishing was generally good. Pike had spawned and many of them were in the bays with cooler water and had not moved out as deep as they normally would be. A lot of anglers who targeted pike found them in about 15 to 25 feet of water. Using jigs, spoons or live bait along the edge of drop-offs or the weedlines produced some nice pike.
The river contains an amazing amount of gamefish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge and walleye. Tasty panfish such as perch and crappie are popular with many anglers. Shallow weedy bays harbor bragging sized largemouth while the rocky structure, varying depths and faster moving currents are a smallmouth heaven. Of course, the mysterious muskellunge excites the imagination of many anglers but that is mainly an autumn fishery when they feed aggressively. At this time of year they are usually taken by trolling at night, especially downriver near Ogdensburg.
Fishing in the Thousand Islands region can be great but the river is difficult to figure out with the irregular bottom, confusing depths and varying current patterns. It can also be hazardous if you are not familiar with the many shoals, etc. Your best bet is to hire a guide. Contact 1000 Islands Fishing Charters at (315) 686-2381 or Captain Mike Seymour for Ogdensburg at (315) 379-0235 for more information on charters.
But the Thousand Islands region, especially Clayton, offers more than just fishing. There is boating, swimming, nature centers, art galleries, golf, museums and more. If you are looking for a vacation, extended weekend, or a short get-away, consider Clayton and the Thousand Islands region. There are all types of accommodations, including a new luxury hotel scheduled to open on the Clayton waterfront later this summer. Contact the Clayton-1000 Islands Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-252-9806 or e-mail info@1000Islands-Clayton.com.
We were staying at Grass Point State Park near Fishers Landing. From our campsite we could enjoy the beautiful scenery, the sight of many boats on the river and lakers and ocean-going freighters plying the St. Lawrence Seaway. On several days it was a relaxing break to go kayaking. One of our favorite trips involves going along the north shore of Wellesley Island near the State Park and travelling around the Canadian Islands.
In addition to evenings around the campfire by the riverbank, we visited with friends, and occasionally dined at some of our favorite restaurants. Visits to local wineries like Thousand Islands Winery or Coyote Moon are a great experience. Now there is another excellent winery, the Cape Wintery, located upriver in Cape Vincent. They make great wines and a visit to their showroom is a pleasant experience. Check their website www.TheCapeWinery.com.
The Thousand Islands hold a special place in my heart ever since my childhood and the days there pass all too quickly. We are already planning our next trip there. Maybe the fish will be more cooperative next time.
SHORT CASTS
Fenner Fur Rondy: The Independent Fur Harvesters of Central NY will hold its annual summer Fur Rondy on July 11 and 12, 2014 at Nichols Pond. There will be family fun, trapping business and a Trapper Training Class. Contact Al LaFrance (682-2050) for more information.
Clayton Decoy Show: Enjoy Clayton’s 46th Annual Decoy, Wildlife Art and Sporting Collectibles Show on July 18 and 19, 2014. The event is put on by Thousand Islands Museum and runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Vendors and exhibitors participating include nationally-known carvers, wildlife artists and vintage decoy and sporting collectible dealers
There will also be a Vintage Decoy contest on Friday at 11 a.m. At Noon on Friday, the Art Knapp Singles Contest will take place in the arena. There will be a Guide’s Traditional Shore Dinner available on Friday ($20) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coyote Moon Vineyards, sponsored by Classic Island Cruises. Proceeds will go to Thousand Island Museum.
Bass Pro Shops “Summer Camp”: Bass Pro Shops will be holding free family activities at its Utica store from now through July 13, on every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There will be free workshops every afternoon for kids, approximately 20 minutes in length. These will include bird watching, fishing, archery, kayaking, backyard adventure, shooting and hunting, travel safety, water safety and camping. There will also be free shooting arcade and casting challenge. In addition, there will be crafts classes on various days from noon until 2 p.m. Check the website www.basspro.com for exact times and details.
Adirondack Outdoors & Lake Ontario Outdoors: The summer issues of Adirondack and Lake Ontario Outdoors magazines are now available. Articles ranging from fly fishing for pike, bass and salmon are among the features of Lake Ontario Outdoors. Adirondack Outdoors is a summer fishing special with additional pages covering all major fishing topics, hiking, paddling destinations and camping information for the Adirondacks. It will soon be available at many newsstands throughout central New York. In the meantime you can pick up complimentary copies at no charge at Hanifin Tire & Service Center or Sweet Temptations Café in Oneida.
Essex Chain UMP: The DEC recently announced the draft of the Unit Management Plan for the Essex Chain of Lakes in the recently acquired Adirondack lands between Indian Lake, Long Lake and Newcomb. You can view the complex regulations, maps, etc. on the web site www.dec.ny.gov/land97474html. Comments will be accepted until July 18.