Made it to the lake today.

[Baron49]

Decided to try a small lake about a hour away from where I live in Watertown for my first trip out.  Water temps averaged 68 degrees and the air temps got to 88 degrees today.  About a week ago Saranac Lake got 34 inches of snow.  Go figure!

Winds were starting to blow so I tried a point off a favorite island.  Threw a jig and pig and nailed one close to 4 lbs right off the bat.  Caught two other smaller ones on the jig and then as the wind blew harder the jig bite died.  Headed to a few semi-protected areas with milfoil growing about 5 feet off the bottom in about 10 to 12 feet and found several more willing to bite a tube.

The winds started blowing about 25+ and that ended my day.  Caught a nice bunch of decent bass, several Northern Pike, and lost a Walleye.  Not bad for the first trip out of the year.

The boat ran great! My hat is off to Gambles, in Carthage NY for the super job of repairing the boat and motor.

[Mike Cork]

Great news about the boat  Even better news that your pet bass at home are still biting Thanks for the report.

Question: for someone that doesn't fish where lakes freeze over. Does the vegetation survive the winter or does it have to start completely fresh after ice out? Seems like having 4-5 feet of vegetation in that in 12 fow already is impressive, unless it doesn't completely dye out in the winter?

[Donald Garner]

Baron,

Thanks for sharing the trip with us.  Congrats on the catching 

[Baron49]

Great news about the boat  Even better news that your pet bass at home are still biting Thanks for the report.

Question: for someone that doesn't fish where lakes freeze over. Does the vegetation survive the winter or does it have to start completely fresh after ice out? Seems like having 4-5 feet of vegetation in that in 12 fow already is impressive, unless it doesn't completely dye out in the winter?

Mike, most of the vegitation will die out over the winter, but not all.  Pike, Perch, and pan fishermen look for spots on points where there is still some green vegitation when ice fishing.  It does not take the milfoil long to start growing once we get ice-out which usually happens around mid April.  By the Bass season opener the 3 rd Saturday in June most of the weed beds are up over 6 to 8 foot high in 12 foot of water, by July when the water heats up, most of the milfoil will be to the surface with some growing out to 15-18 feet of water.....Baron