Cold Cod Offshore, Thick Ice Upstate
Super cold temperatures this week changed the fishing scene around New York. Ice fishing in Upstate New York hit the next level as more lakes locked up giving more options. Fishing near the coast stalled in the weekend’s high winds and big seas and the Lake Ontario region got buried by lake-effect snow, keeping many anglers away from the tributaries and steelhead.
As of Monday, the Viking Fleet was finding cod out of Montauk. Though dogfish overwhelmed the cod in many areas, anglers were able to get through the dogs to pluck out enough keeper cod to fill the coolers. Cod up to 25 pounds were brought aboard the Viking boats. Closer to Block Island, some fine sea bass were caught as well.
The offshore sea bass bite has continued to produce coolers full of big sea bass whenever the boats get out. Many party boats run these long-range trips on the weekends, leaving the dock in the middle of the night in order to be on the fishing grounds by sunrise. Though the hours are long, the fast action is well worth it. And there are always a few surprises mixed in with the sea bass.
Lake George is finally starting to lock up reports the folks at Fish307. Many of the bays have fishable ice, as does Million Dollar Beach. Smaller ponds throughout the region have thick ice, 8 inches or more and the fishing has been fantastic.
My friend Scott Glazier of the Tinker Tavern Lodge up by the Salmon River posted a photo on Facebook this week showing his truck buried under the snow. Reports from the Salmon River have been spotty. With these cold temperatures, you can expect slush ice in the lower half of the river.
Best Bets for the Weekend
It’s going to be a frigid weekend, but the seas look calm, so the headboats should be sailing. Call ahead to make sure and enjoy some cod or sea bass fishing. Heading upstate to get in on the ice fishing is another good call. There should be plenty of options to choose from by the weekend. Make sure you secure some frisky live baits before heading onto the ice and, as always, be safe.
If freezing your buns off for a few fish doesn’t sound appealing, you can always visit one of the winter sportsman’s shows. This weekend, The Fly Show is coming to Somerset, New Jersey, not a terrible ride for many New York fishermen.