Help Southern ADKs, new fisherman

[Doppler2]

I am new to ice fishing, (my second year) and am planning a trip based in a friends place just northeast of Utica. I am gonna be the most experienced out of the three family members going, and I was looking for some sure fire ways to not get totally skunked.

I was thinking lake Piseco/Lake Pleasant. I have heard that Piseco is good for small lake trout, and that's exactly what I'm looking for. I'd prefer to be guaranteed a bunch of small fish than to maybe catch a 30 inch laker.  Any other good lakes? We do not have snowmobiles so we are limited to relatively small lakes with road access.

Any tips on where to go, what to do, how deep to fish, what to use, etc? Thanks

[pmac3]

I am new to ice fishing, (my second year) and am planning a trip based in a friends place just northeast of Utica. I am gonna be the most experienced out of the three family members going, and I was looking for some sure fire ways to not get totally skunked.
PM sent

I was thinking lake Piseco/Lake Pleasant. I have heard that Piseco is good for small lake trout, and that's exactly what I'm looking for. I'd prefer to be guaranteed a bunch of small fish than to maybe catch a 30 inch laker.  Any other good lakes? We do not have snowmobiles so we are limited to relatively small lakes with road access.

Any tips on where to go, what to do, how deep to fish, what to use, etc? Thanks

[Raquettedacker]

Welcome to the site Dopp.
Piseco is a good spot.  Plenty of parking at the 3 campgrounds.
Get some big shiners at hometown bait in marcy..  Good luck..

[mono_mono]

This is fishing. The guarantees you are looking for simply don't exist. Homework and experience can help your success (old fashioned, I know) What matters is getting out and having fun. Walking off the ice knowing you gave it your best effort is your best catch

[Doppler2]

Thank you guys for the advice. Any idea of how deep to fish these lakes? I have read people fishing in 8 feet and people fishing in the 100 foot holes. 

[icefishinman88]

Where about you from I'm north of Utica maybe I can give you a few ideas

[Doppler2]

Where about you from I'm north of Utica maybe I can give you a few ideas

I am gonna be near Newport, close to Hinkley resovior. I don't really have any intentions on fishing Hinkley.

[Kobey]

I don't know the area, but whenever I'm taking kids or inexperienced people, I always make sure to bring some smaller minnows too.  More flags are always more fun for them than sitting around waiting for the big one to come along.  Good luck!

[lowaccord66]

I'd leave the tipups at home and jig pieseco instead if you have electronics.

[Doppler2]

Thank you guys! Hopefully I'll have at least a depth finder. I'll set a couple tip ups and focus mostly on jigging (it seems way more fun)

[Hardwaternubie53]

Thank you guys! Hopefully I'll have at least a depth finder. I'll set a couple tip ups and focus mostly on jigging (it seems way more fun)

I always jig and use tip-ups on Piseco, out of the northern most camp ground. I usually do pretty good with the small trout. Two things to know about this lake:
  1) Last I knew, the legal keeper length is 21". I've never caught one bigger than 20". If you are just looking for fun in catching them, it is a good place to go. I have been going there for years with friends and have only ever seen one keeper taken. 2) The local ENCON officer, a REAL nice guy, lives on the lake and checks fishermen frequently. Have a GREAT trip!

[Raquettedacker]

If your looking for a lot of action and panfish and pickerel look up Oxbow Lake..  Easy access and not very big....

[Hardwaternubie53]

If your looking for a lot of action and panfish and pickerel look up Oxbow Lake..  Easy access and not very big....

And not far from Piseco.

[Doppler2]

Any suggestions for what to jig with. Spoons or jigging raps or do they prefer salted minnows? Do those glo in the dark jigs work well at those depths?

[tblaster123]

I am gonna be near Newport, close to Hinkley resovior. I don't really have any intentions on fishing Hinkley.

Hinckley is worthy of checking out. If you can get out by the islands I've heard of nice trout being caught............

[Doppler2]

Hinckley is worthy of checking out. If you can get out by the islands I've heard of nice trout being caught............

I've heard fishing is ok, but I am concerned with the current and changing of water levels making the ice unsafe.

[fullThrottle]

I was out on a lake today south of Piseco with my atv. Lots of ice!

[Hardwaternubie53]

Any suggestions for what to jig with. Spoons or jigging raps or do they prefer salted minnows? Do those glo in the dark jigs work well at those depths?

I use jig heads, glow in the dark or light colored and spikes with a little Gulp minnow spray.

[Doppler2]

So I'm going to be staying further north now near lake pleasant,  piseco is still in the crosshairs but does anyone know of some smaller ponds that can offer some action in that area too?

[tblaster123]

So I'm going to be staying further north now near lake pleasant,  piseco is still in the crosshairs but does anyone know of some smaller ponds that can offer some action in that area too?

if you wanna catch short lakers all day long, one after another and catch nothing else, that's the place to go. I personally will never waste a day fishing that lake, and ive had others confirm the same findings. that's not to say that there are no good fish to be caught, but id avoid that place.


if youre looking for a small lake, check out Gilman. somebody will be livid i even mentioned it.. but by now theres probably 20 inches of ice on it.

[Doppler2]

if you wanna catch short lakers all day long, one after another and catch nothing else, that's the place to go. I personally will never waste a day fishing that lake, and ive had others confirm the same findings. that's not to say that there are no good fish to be caught, but id avoid that place.


if youre looking for a small lake, check out Gilman. somebody will be livid i even mentioned it.. but by now theres probably 20 inches of ice on it.

That's what I am looking for. I'd rather maybe catch a few little lakers than to waste the trip getting skunked. Once I get more experience I'll go for the bigger fish

[Doppler2]

Might be a reports and conditions post but since I have the thread I'm heading up to piseco this weekend. Looks like we are all getting quite the snowstorm this weekend. I'm not used to fishing big lakes, do you think this will affect a hole hopper like myself from navigating lakes on foot? Is not bringing the machines gonna suck? They're not really an option due to the implications

[tblaster123]

Might be a reports and conditions post but since I have the thread I'm heading up to piseco this weekend. Looks like we are all getting quite the snowstorm this weekend. I'm not used to fishing big lakes, do you think this will affect a hole hopper like myself from navigating lakes on foot? Is not bringing the machines gonna suck? They're not really an option due to the implications

well ya, it will make it more difficult to navigate the lake on foot. is it easier to walk on 1 inch of snow or 20 inches? I think you should be alright, a good work out never hurt anybody.

[Doppler2]

well ya, it will make it more difficult to navigate the lake on foot. is it easier to walk on 1 inch of snow or 20 inches? I think you should be alright, a good work out never hurt anybody.

That's for sure, I don't know what else I would expect. I hope the rest of the crew can take it too.

[Doppler2]

Thank you everyone who responded or PM'd me. I'll take the advice and hopefully I'll report back if anything wants to find it's way on top of all that ice and snow.

[Doppler2]

Pretty neat! Got my first laker! And another smaller one. Unfortunately my buddies didnt get one yet.