by Jeff Goldberg (1999)
Peace Pipe Fishing Outfitters & Fly Fishing Outfitters
The Adirondacks, with their incredible mountains, streams, lakes, and rivers, hold unrivaled fishing opportunities.
Some neighboring bodies of water include Lake George, Brant Lake, Trout Lake, Friends Lake, Loon Lake, Glen Lake, Schroon Lake, Garnet Lake, Jabe Pond, Twin Siamese Ponds, Thirteenth Lake, Fourth Lake, Lake Luzerne, Harrisburg Lake, Round Pond, Schroon River, plus many more. You can see the opportunity is there, and it’s a matter of trying your luck and honing your skills or learning new ones.
The local fish population, consists of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, landlocked (Atlantic) salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, northern pike, walleye, bullhead, crappie, perch, rock bass and sunfish.
Fly fishing is and always has been a great deal of fun. It is definitely not as hard as it looks and deserves an adventurous try; after all, that’s what a vacation is all about.
Here are some suggested fly patterns for the southern Adirondacks and the Lake George region. From opening day, April 1, through mid-May, streamers, muddler minnows (6-10) black nose dace and grey ghost (sizes 6-10), black and olive matukas and Thunder Creek minnows (6-8), nymphs, zug bugs, hare’s ear and other dark nymphs.
From mid-May through mid-June, use streamers and nymphs as above, plus dries such as Adams, Hendrickson, blue quill, grey fox, cream, ginger and dun variants, march brown and caddis. As the water gets lower into mid-June and July, use the same patterns, but smaller sizes. During August and September use small dark nymphs such as hare’s ear and brown olive midge. For dries use blue-winged olive, parachute Adams, ants, hoppers, and caddis patterns. For specific productive waters stop in at a local tackle shop and ask. They will be happy to help.
