SCHROON LAKE and Surrounding Ponds Thread

[SchrnLker]

Anyone know how Paradox is looking?

When I fished it week and a half ago there was 13" ice, I'm sure it's fine.

[Walkin624]

Had kind of a slow day today.  Me and a buddy landed 2 decent lakers but was out there for awhile.  Still couldn't find any decent size perch.  If anyone knows where I can find some decent size I would appreciate the advice? 

[fishyfishes]

Had kind of a slow day today.  Me and a buddy landed 2 decent lakers but was out there for awhile.  Still couldn't find any decent size perch.  If anyone knows where I can find some decent size I would appreciate the advice?

Read the very first page.

[sjord89]

Slow today

[Garufi518]

Anyone ever fish horseshoe pond? In the area of scroon did a big search and turned up nothing

[Brucebob7]

Caught 50 Nice Perch Today Mostly on Tip ups can't give my Spot away ..... Sorry

[TheThinIce]

When I fished it week and a half ago there was 13" ice, I'm sure it's fine.

Thanks so much!

[SchrnLker]

Anyone ever fish horseshoe pond? In the area of scroon did a big search and turned up nothing

I never fished it, but friends of mine have, 10 minute snowmobile ride from my cabin.  Pike, perch, and I think crappie.

[Garufi518]

Thanks boss wasn't just trying to figure out if it was worth it to bring the tip ups I appreciate it

[nitzer]

Does the bait shop on the strip have big shiners? Or just your typical pike bait?

[WADuckman]

Did anyone get out this weekend for trout on the north end? If so how was the bite?

[Mikey Ice]

Put a long day in yesterday (Saturday ) did good but a lot of smaller fish with only a few keepers in the mix to 22inches
Then fished half a day today and had two nice Lakers early then it died out for us so we packed it in by noon
Tip ups were quiet all weekend with only a few flags, the jigging was the way to go if ya wanted the action

[MJB518]

Today was so so. I managed to land 7 lakers jigging. All 7 were in between 18-20"s.  Couldn't find anything bigger. Only 1 of those fish was caught near bottom. Took a couple hours to notice that the fish were running about 20-25dt off bottom.

[SchrnLker]

Today was so so. I managed to land 7 lakers jigging. All 7 were in between 18-20"s.  Couldn't find anything bigger. Only 1 of those fish was caught near bottom. Took a couple hours to notice that the fish were running about 20-25dt off bottom.

Back in the "old days", and when I say that I mean 70's to mid 90's, old timers would have their shanty towns on Schroon.  They would have their tipups pre set to 20-25 ft under the ice, with button markers, and they fished every day for Lakers that way.  Never sounded bottom, never fished bottom, always 20-25 ft under. Always caught fish, just sayin'   

[EatenByLimestone]

Saw a nice laker pulled out of 3 or 4 feet of water.   Belly was full of smelt and a 3" perch.

[SchrnLker]

Saw a nice laker pulled out of 3 or 4 feet of water.   Belly was full of smelt and a 3" perch.

One year I had a hard shanty set up off Talichito Point, north end, right in the rocks there. After setting tip ups I went back in the shanty to warm up. Just for kicks I drilled a hole in the shanty, foot, maybe 2 of water, when a HUGE Lake Trout swam by. Grabbed my perch pole with a white sweedish pimple, but, too late.  The 20lb Pike that is in Pitkins Restaurant was caught by the owner, Randy, right in the rocks along the east shore below the Island.  I really don't think we ice fish the shorelines enough.

[Ketchan Raleese]

I couldn't agree more SchrnLkr, So many times  while I am watching for flags on Raquette,I will jig up a Landlocked or Brookie, from a hole that I could almost fish from shore.Sometimes, I am standing on twice as much ice as water! With predation from birds and lethally-warm water not an issue under the ice, shallow water is wide open for trout

[Brucebob7]

Funny u Should say that i Fished sat North end Caught 2 nice Lakers on my perch Rigs in 10 foot of water only thing i can think is they were chasing the perch school Weird !!

[SchrnLker]

Funny u Should say that i Fished sat North end Caught 2 nice Lakers on my perch Rigs in 10 foot of water only thing i can think is they were chasing the perch school Weird !!

That's the thing, I don't think it is weird.  When the Lakers are on the feed in Schroon you're more apt to catch them along the shorelines trying to trap schools of bait, or on the shallow perch beds going after them.  The key, imo, is "when they are on the feed".  When they are not, you're more apt to entice them on the deep water flats.

[AriettaBob]

I will not let Schroon beat me... I will not let Schroon beat me. Just felt like venting, not looking for sympathy or anything. Only 3rd trip here, all in the last few weeks, so I know I'm still a newbie with tons to learn. But damn, I want one of her lakers.

Thought I had one today, flag goes on my deepest tip up, maybe 70' with a hunt right on the bottom. Hook what I know is a small fish, but hell, I'm not picky on size. Get it to the hole and it's a damn perch. What the heck. I'll be back. She will not beat me!!!

[Ketchan Raleese]

Good attitude AriettaBob! I've got a similar "grudge lake" near me. I never seem to do very well, just well enough to keep me going out. Every time is my last time. But, the only absolute in fishing is:100% of fishermen who stay home don't catch fish. Good Luck!

[Adkrs]

I will not let Schroon beat me... I will not let Schroon beat me. Just felt like venting, not looking for sympathy or anything. Only 3rd trip here, all in the last few weeks, so I know I'm still a newbie with tons to learn. But damn, I want one of her lakers.

Thought I had one today, flag goes on my deepest tip up, maybe 70' with a hunt right on the bottom. Hook what I know is a small fish, but hell, I'm not picky on size. Get it to the hole and it's a damn perch. What the heck. I'll be back. She will not beat me!!!

Fished Schroon hard last year to learn it and catch my 1st laker. one thing ill share, which has been reiterated in the above posts,...the whole lake is cold enough for them during the ice season. Dont be afraid to go shallow....

[JAGER61]

Back in the "old days", and when I say that I mean 70's to mid 90's, old timers would have their shanty towns on Schroon.  They would have their tipups pre set to 20-25 ft under the ice, with button markers, and they fished every day for Lakers that way.  Never sounded bottom, never fished bottom, always 20-25 ft under. Always caught fish, just sayin'   

I learned how to Ice Fish for lakers with my dear friend Butch in 2005 on Schroon. We too discovered that not only did we catch more fish setting our bait suspend 20' or so feet below the ice (regardless of depth) but the Lakers were always the bigger fish! We reasoned that the dinks we were catching jigging near bottom were hiding from the bigger fish so as to not get eaten! Lol! At any rate, regardless of where I'm fishing for lakers, it's always 20' down and it almost always pays off! I've since also learned to put some sets in very shallow with equally good results!
Good post Tony! 

MK

[EatenByLimestone]

I will not let Schroon beat me... I will not let Schroon beat me. Just felt like venting, not looking for sympathy or anything. Only 3rd trip here, all in the last few weeks, so I know I'm still a newbie with tons to learn. But damn, I want one of her lakers.

Thought I had one today, flag goes on my deepest tip up, maybe 70' with a hunt right on the bottom. Hook what I know is a small fish, but hell, I'm not picky on size. Get it to the hole and it's a damn perch. What the heck. I'll be back. She will not beat me!!!

My revelation this year was how deep perch go.  In summer I'd never think to look for perch deep. 


Last weekend I had a flag pop, I ran up and the line was flying off the spool.  I set the hook and could feel some nice tugging on the line... I wasn't sure what was on it, but I figured it was something good.  A very ambitious 4" perch came out of the hole.  I think he had taken lessons from sunfish in the summer.

[EatenByLimestone]

I learned how to Ice Fish for lakers with my dear friend Butch in 2005 on Schroon. We too discovered that not only did we catch more fish setting our bait suspend 20' or so feet below the ice (regardless of depth) but the Lakers were always the bigger fish! We reasoned that the dinks we were catching jigging near bottom were hiding from the bigger fish so as to not get eaten! Lol! At any rate, regardless of where I'm fishing for lakers, it's always 20' down and it almost always pays off! I've since also learned to put some sets in very shallow with equally good results!
Good post Tony! 

MK

The ice is a great big convenient wall to pin smelt against.

[prchslyr]

I was one of few idiots fishing off Eagle point yesterday.
Our nicest fish hit a tipup in 15fow before we had the nads to cross the pressure ridge out there.
There is a nasty stretch of open water out there. Many of you locals know, but I fear it's going to skim and be a death trap for anyone assuming there is 6" of ice all the way through that area just off shore. It put me on edge every time a sled came ripping through. I'd watch each one of them ready to jump out of my shack and go help someone.
Tough action. I jigged my butt off all day for 3 fish 18-20". For some odd reason. My largest jig stuck the only 3 fish. 1/4oz head with a secret plastic.
I won't be fooling around out there until it looks a lot better than it did yesterday. By then... We'll have ice on LG. 

[lowaccord66]

That ridge is pretty narly that's for sure Jamie.  If you walk north you can find somewhat decent spots to cross.

[prchslyr]

That ridge is pretty narly that's for sure Jamie.  If you walk north you can find somewhat decent spots to cross.

I got to that ridge and my legs turned to rubber.
Tony was on the other side probably laughing at a few of the texts that won't be shared here.
I stuck one fish before I crossed it in 20fow or so. Set the hook a foot or so under the ice and had it on top with zero retrieve.
Has anyone noticed better luck with plastics as opposed to spoons? I'm still learning.
I had a harder time getting them to follow any pimples or buckshots. Big or small.
The few fish that I did catch all hit a plastic. I must've had 20 fish follow within 10' of the surface jigging a plastic bait. The spoons never got chased for more than 5 or 10'.

[prchslyr]

Oddly.
The previous 2 years were the opposite now that I think of it.
The smallest pimple in the box got pounded every time I fished Schroon.

[bigredonice]

I will not let Schroon beat me... I will not let Schroon beat me. Just felt like venting, not looking for sympathy or anything.

If it makes you feel any better, it has a nickname:  Screw'em Lake.   The fish in the lake get funky at times.   Very frustrating lake until you can start putting patterns together.