SCHROON LAKE and Surrounding Ponds Thread

[hardwaterhonkey]

Thanks Fish. I guess the smart decision is to give up on next weekend. Hopefully, I can work something out for Feb.

I wouldn’t give up on it as the area is chocked with lakes I frequent the nyc reservoirs often… maybe willing to trade some info PM me

[SchrnLker]

Group of guys ice fishing off the boat launch on Schroon this morning.

[captmango]

Group of guys ice fishing off the boat launch on Schroon this morning.

Eagle Point launch in the South, or the Schroon Lake beach launch to the North? Hoping to head up there this coming Saturday and do a little investigating.

[SchrnLker]

Eagle Point launch in the South, or the Schroon Lake beach launch to the North? Hoping to head up there this coming Saturday and do a little investigating.

South of the Narrows open water.

[SchrnLker]

Today, Wed. 1-17

[lowaccord66]

Too much interent for me.  I remember when one could put in some leg work and get out there first ice with limited traffic and enjoy a nice early ice schroon gold smackdown.  Those days are long gone.  Thankfully the giant lake up a few exits gets less air time (and its lakers are larger!)

All that said I do enjoy some schroon action and then some food at sticks and stones.  I did stay at the new lodge in August and it was decent. 

[SchrnLker]

Rescue call this morning (Thurs) 2 people through the ice on Paradox.  Just because there is good ice on the boat launch side doesn't mean the whole lake is safe. West (big) side froze much later and unevenly.  UPDATE; boat launch side, 8 wheel Argo.

[62&done]

OMG!

[lowaccord66]

Going to be a lot of that with people chasing ice reports and not checking before venturing out.  Hope they are ok.  Dont argo's float?

[SchrnLker]

Going to be a lot of that with people chasing ice reports and not checking before venturing out.  Hope they are ok.  Dont argo's float?

I believe they do, better than having to go down and retrieve a 4 wheeler, still..... 

[hardwaterhonkey]

Going to be a lot of that with people chasing ice reports and not checking before venturing out.  Hope they are ok.  Dont argo's float?

Was just thinking that amphibious vehicle pretty great idea safest bet besides an airboat or hovercraft used in Midwest rivers hope they where alright

[SchrnLker]

Machine was an 8 wheel Argo, went in head first, took on water but did float. Guys got wet, but didn't go in. They got towed back and off the ice.  Where they went in was the Narrows, a spot that is notorious for having bad ice, even in the coldest of winters, which this is not.  Shallow water, springs, and strong current adds to the danger.

[LLclearwater]

Any updates, looking to head up to Schroon this weekend?
Thanks in advance

[SchrnLker]

Lots of water and slush out there this morning. I'm waiting till early next week for things to button up.

[LLclearwater]

Thank you tony

[kpd145]

4 inches of crappy ice off eagle yesterday. It didnt seem to make or lose any ice while I was there.

You can park at the bottom still

[jeremywhorf]

I fished the north end of Schroon on Saturday.  About 4 inches of slush / water on top and 6 - 7 inches of ice.
4-5 inches of good ice / about 2 inches of snow ice.

Managed 1 small Laker and about a dozen perch.
Couldn't believe how deep the perch were!

Thanks

[pmaloney86]

I fished the north end of Schroon on Saturday.  About 4 inches of slush / water on top and 6 - 7 inches of ice.
4-5 inches of good ice / about 2 inches of snow ice.

Managed 1 small Laker and about a dozen perch.
Couldn't believe how deep the perch were!

Thanks

Found about the same at the narrows with similar success.  Wasn't marking much.  The ice did vary in spots.  Mostly what you described but found an area of about 2" black with 1" white and spots with almost a foot of water on the ice.  will have a lot of crappy ice after this week once it all buttons up.

[WICTNY1712]

Fished just north of the narrows and the south end late last week. Fishing seemed more quiet than usual. I feel like the lack of ice on LG has really affected Schroon the last 2-3 years. A lot more pressure and tip up farms out on the ice than I remember and I feel like the fishing pressure is affecting how the fish are interacting. Just need to hone in on what they want I guess!

[lowaccord66]

Typical reports for this time of year from this guys perspective.  Schroon was always a feast or famine fishery.  Pressure is way up. 

[hot tuna]

Typical reports for this time of year from this guys perspective.  Schroon was always a feast or famine fishery.  Pressure is way up.

Schroon was always a tip up over a jigging produce to me.
LG was all video games

[jeremywhorf]

Hot Tuna,
I couldn't agree more. I caught 12 perch out of one hole with a tip-up in it.
I was getting tired of setting and resetting tip ups for perch in 55 fow, so I tried jigging unsuccessfully no more than 5 feet away.
The flag kept going off all day so it kept me busy, and I am definitely not complaining about that.

Just thought it was strange.

[lowaccord66]

Tiny smelt.  If you are jigging a normal 3" plastic its too big for good numbers (90% of the time).  The lakers there do not like aggressive jigging most of the time it turns them off.  Lg lakers are a bit looser and eat larger.  Once I figured out the larger lake up north I found it difficult to want to hit lg and schroon aside from annual april fools trip on schroon. 

[hardwaterhonkey]

Hot Tuna,
I couldn't agree more. I caught 12 perch out of one hole with a tip-up in it.
I was getting tired of setting and resetting tip ups for perch in 55 fow, so I tried jigging unsuccessfully no more than 5 feet away.
The flag kept going off all day so it kept me busy, and I am definitely not complaining about that.

Just thought it was strange.

I disagree with this, ppl aren’t fishing perch here they are fishing lakers. Jigging for lakers will out fish a Tipup and bait 9/10 and I rarely set bait in the water for them certain instances and places maybe yes but normally no don’t drill one hole all day near the fleet go get away from the crowds miles away with a jigging rod the right baits presentation etc and things will start to click

[SchrnLker]

I disagree with this, ppl aren’t fishing perch here they are fishing lakers. Jigging for lakers will out fish a Tipup and bait 9/10 and I rarely set bait in the water for them certain instances and places maybe yes but normally no don’t drill one hole all day near the fleet go get away from the crowds miles away with a jigging rod the right baits presentation etc and things will start to click

I'll chime in here. Most of the times I've heard of guys catching numbers of Lakers during an outing, they were jigging. I remember an outing at the Narrows with JAGER61 and WEC and a couple other guys we had 25 tipups in, caught 25 Lakers total, only one on tipups. I'm not saying you can't have good days with tipups. Back in the 90's we had a small group fishing a "secret" spot south end, and we caught 78 Lakers that day, maybe 5 or 6 of us. I remember the number because my buddy had his hard shanty down there, and would mark off each fish we caught every outing. That day stood out!!!  Thing about jigging, if you have a machine and can be mobile, and know the lake, you increase your odds.  I'm not anymore, so I stick with tipups and cooking venison sandwiches in our pop up!  A man has to know his limitations!

[lowaccord66]

Couple yeara ago Tony my best day there was 44 all on the jig.

[hardwaterhonkey]

I'll chime in here. Most of the times I've heard of guys catching numbers of Lakers during an outing, they were jigging. I remember an outing at the Narrows with JAGER61 and WEC and a couple other guys we had 25 tipups in, caught 25 Lakers total, only one on tipups. I'm not saying you can't have good days with tipups. Back in the 90's we had a small group fishing a "secret" spot south end, and we caught 78 Lakers that day, maybe 5 or 6 of us. I remember the number because my buddy had his hard shanty down there, and would mark off each fish we caught every outing. That day stood out!!!  Thing about jigging, if you have a machine and can be mobile, and know the lake, you increase your odds.  I'm not anymore, so I stick with tipups and cooking venison sandwiches in our pop up!  A man has to know his limitations!

Good input Tony I agree with this! Numbers aren’t out of reach if your in tuned with lake your gear and movements I did decent last weekend averaged 40 for two days and tbh I was telling a buddy it was ehh cuz that’s how I felt honestly, the two anglers you mentioned are very very top knotch fisherman as well! that always helps rolling with a serious crew

[hardwaterhonkey]

And this isn’t to gloat everyone has different definitions of a good day 1-3 lakers can be a good day! I don’t want to discourage people more to educate n show what’s actually obtainable

[SchrnLker]

And this isn’t to gloat everyone has different definitions of a good day 1-3 lakers can be a good day! I don’t want to discourage people more to educate n show what’s actually obtainable

Agree. Plus I think the older you get your expectations change, becomes more about the experience than numbers, at least with me. If I can get a couple Lakers on the ice, even short ones, have a nice hot lunch, like this venison meatloaf sandwich, I'm a happy boy!

[lowaccord66]

That looks good Tony.