by Captain Jeffrey M. Russell
Highliner Charter Fishing
I’ve been fishing Lake George over 1000 hours a year, more than enough time to know exactly what’s going on with the lake’s fishery. I can tell you first hand that this summer will yield some of the best fishing you’ve ever seen. For the first time since the winter of 1917-1918, Lake George did not freeze. Without ice on the lake, the ice fishing was non-existent. This means an over abundant number of fish waiting to be caught by our summer anglers. This spring, Highliner has already seen record numbers of fish being caught aboard the Highliner boats. Lake trout and landlocked salmon have been the primary target since bass season has just opened on June 15th. Large and small mouth bass are found near shallow water structures in the early part of the season. By mid-July, these fish begin to descend to depths of 20-30 feet. Fish the rock ledges for small mouth and the weedy bays for large mouth bass.
Our trolling techniques can vary greatly depending on water temperature, depth of water and targeted species. The speed of the boat, time of year and types of lures also affect our techniques in catching the largest and the most fish. By mid-summer, expect most of the trout and salmon to be found in deeper water where it is cold enough for their survival. Expect trolling spoons, stick baits, streamer flies and live bait to catch lake trout and landlocked salmon. Your local tackle shops can help point you in the right direction. Of course, for the best fishing action, we recommend a full time reputable charter captain.
We wish you good luck on all your outdoor lake activities. Most importantly, be safe and have fun. Whether you are a beginner or advanced angler, we hope your memories of fishing Lake George are great and last forever.
