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I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a lousy prognosticator, but I’ll go out in a limb and declare that the month of May will sweep away the tattered remains of early spring and usher in the glorious, sunny weather that we all deserve. I know the odds are with me in this prediction, but I’m nagged by my memory of sitting in the woods one raw, May morning, snow falling vindictively as I tried to get the attention of a turkey I wanted to roast. I’ll never know if it was the frozen shower that quelled his amorous inclinations or my own ineptitude with striker and slate that kept him away. Perhaps he just didn’t hear me for the chattering of his beak. His loss. He would have been in a much warmer place had he just come a calling. I can say though, with absolute certainty, that this May will be a month of celebration for the sportsmen and sportswomen of the state.

Thursday, 24 March 2016 11:04

All Outdoors: Something To Look Forward To

The most persistent fall on record is finally coming to its overdue conclusion. With bitter determination, it succeeded in staving off winter’s attack, and is now allowing spring to assert its mild self. Who needs winter anyway? I know some of you have been thinking it and I don’t begrudge you your opinion, I’ve got plenty of them, just ask. I and many others, who enjoy and even depend on winter’s presence, having taken one last rueful look back at lost opportunities, are focusing our eternal optimism to the warm season to come. C’est la vie, Que sera, sera, life goes on and all that stuff!

Spring is imminent, but not quite here by my reckoning. The snow and ice are all but gone, shirtsleeve weather has graced us, but I have not yet seen nor heard the telltale signs that I have always associated with the arrival of spring. As of this writing, I have not seen any red winged blackbirds or heard the call of the spring peepers. I watched frogs bounce across the road last week, and huge flocks of blackbirds settling in farm fields, looking to refuel after a long flight - but no flashes of red or peeps from the swamp. It could happen any day though - keep your eyes and ears peeled. 

Frogs and toads and salamanders, Oh My!

A great way to celebrate the arrival of spring is to participate in the annual Big Night. “What is that,” you ask? Big Night is not an actual, single date on the calendar, but an event that occurs on numerous nights starting in late March and running through the middle of April. On rainy nights, our amphibious friends will wake from their winter slumber and make their way to vernal pools and wetlands to engage in the serious business of meeting members of the opposite sex and making copies of themselves. On the way to their romantic rendezvous, you can observe hundreds, nay, thousands of hopeful frogs, toads and salamanders hopping and crawling across roads. The Department of Environmental Conservation welcomes the help of thousands of volunteers that don their rain gear and head out to observe, identify and count the critters on these nights. The DEC uses the observations to map the distribution and abundance of populations to better manage and protect these important and vulnerable species. Participating in this annual event is a fantastic way to learn more about your local environment and to introduce your children to nature in a fun and educational way. To learn more about how you can participate, go to www.dec.ny.gov/lands/51925.html where you can find out what it takes to be a volunteer.

April Fish’s Day

April 1marks the statewide opening of New York’s trout season. This is cause for celebration for the tens of thousands of anglers who will trek to their favorite stream to pit their skill and patience against the whims of the rainbows, browns and brookies residing within. Due to the anemic winter we just experienced, the odds are in our favor of finding very fishable conditions in the local waters. Most years, anglers have to contend with snow-covered banks and near-flood conditions. Unless we have a late season surprise or biblical precipitation between now and then, opening day will be easy by comparison. When you head out to catch your limit of opening day trout, leave your dry flies at home and bring nymphs and streamers instead. The water will be cold and there won’t be any insect hatches to bring the trout to the surface. If you’re not a fly fisherman, drift a worm into pools or cast a spinner to likely hiding spots behind rocks and snags where trout will find shelter from the current. Be persistent, because you may have to make numerous casts to the same spot to entice stubborn fish. You will also want to take extra tackle because you’re not losing lures - you’re not fishing in the right spots! Get your mind right by attending the ‘Fishmas Eve’ celebration on March 31 at The Parting Glass on Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Hosted by the Adirondack chapter of Trout Unlimited, this celebration of the wonders of cold water fisheries will put you in the company of fellow fishing fanatics with fantasies of fish flip flopping frantically for freedom, Pfewwww. There will be prizes, fly tying and appetizers and a special raffle for an Orvis Helios 2 rod. For a meager $10 donation or $5 plus three of your favorite flies or a single killer spinner, you can join these ardent anglers from 7 to 10 p.m. and get your game face on.

If pan fish are more your style, you can thank the early ice out for the early start of the spring fish fry season.  Fishermen are already hitting the local waters for big bluegills, crappie and perch and are leaving with a mess of fish to clean. Saratoga Lake is already giving up crappie and ‘gills to local anglers. The fishermen I’ve talked to say that patience is a virtue at this time but the fishing will get better as the water warms and the fish get more active. Try fathead minnows under a bobber in six to 10 feet of water for crappie; then switch to one of the ice fishing jigs that didn’t get enough exercise and tip it with a small piece of worm or a spike to catch bluegills. The places I would go are the north end of the lake in the Franklin Beach weed beds, or the southern end of the lake, at Browns Beach. If you enjoy catching but not keeping, try your luck fishing the Hudson River at lock 5 in Schuylerville. The perch are biting and you never know what’s going to tug on your line in the river. 

Whatever type of fishing you prefer, remember that the water is still very cold, and a slip or dip can result in a very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation. Use caution around the water and wear a personal floatation device whenever you’re on it. Not only is it a good idea to wear your life preserver while boating, it’s the law until May 1. No fish is worth risking your life, for so play it safe and smart.

I almost forgot to mention that this year’s trout stocking reports are available on DEC’s website - broken down by county and region, so you can check out your favorite ponds and streams and see what the state put in. Other organizations, towns and counties will also be adding to the numbers of fish stocked in these waters so get ready for some fine fishing fun.

 

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at 518-584-3952. The store has a new location, at 111 Green St, Schuylerville. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

Thursday, 18 February 2016 17:30

All Outdoors - Winter’s Broken Promise

I have not yet reached the “Old Codger” stage of life, but I am old enough to see their point when they say, “winters aren’t the same as they used to be”. Hurtling breakneck down steep slopes, snow forts and snow banks taller than dad are held up as evidence against recent winters, especially this year’s sub-par showing. Nothing seems to measure up when viewed through the cloudy lens of time. 

 

If my twelve-year-old self had suffered through a winter like this, I would surely have blocked the unhappy season from my memory. We tend to glorify our old memories and gloss over the recent past when it suits us, so don’t get upset when I ask you to recall the previous two winters and compare them to this dud. They were COLD and SNOWY just like when I was a kid! Maybe Old Man W spent all his cold cash and had to economize this year.

 

A lot of people are welcoming the break from harsh conditions they’ve suffered though in the past. Just as many are lamenting lost opportunities and cancelled plans. I truly feel bad for you if you have a shiny new snowmobile sitting idle in your yard. We’ve had precious few cold days and nights but snow makers at the ski slopes have worked some white magic and have opened some trails to their patrons. 

 

Ice fishermen have seen most of their fishing holes freeze over but have had to forego the use of their machines and use extreme caution when going forth. Many outdoor enthusiasts just gave up or are hoping for a late season resurgence of winter weather. According to that darn woodchuck though, spring’s coming early if it hasn’t already arrived.

 

I think about the impact a winter like this has on the local flora and fauna. With the exception of recent and often unwelcome new arrivals, plants and animals of this area have evolved adaptations that allow them to survive, and often thrive, in harsh winter conditions. Most critters great and small are enjoying the mild conditions and will greet spring fat, happy and fruitful. They need a break once in a while so I’m happy for most of them. 

 

The cute and furry ones aren’t the only ones benefitting, I expect that we may have a bumper crop of pests as well. The lack of extended cold may allow pests like ticks and other insects that can cause damage to local plant life and crops to survive, and cause us grief in a few months. There has been some worry that the mild temperature may have caused apples and other fruiting trees to prematurely use the stored resources they will need soon, time will tell.

 

It’s not as obvious but we have been suffering drought conditions for quite some time now and that will spell trouble this spring and into summer. Unless we get rains of biblical proportions this spring, water levels in local streams and rivers will be very low because there is no snow pack to speak of. This could lead to water shortages and depleted aquifers. At least we won’t have to worry about flooding, right? I grew up on the banks of the Kaydeross Creek and spent a lot of years downstream of Lake Lonely, so I know a little about flooding. 

 

Thankfully, the high water events I experienced were more of a temporary inconvenience than a disaster. The good these seasonal floods do is often overlooked by the inconvenienced. They re-sculpt, recharge and generally rejuvenate the streams they effect by flushing away accumulated silt and depositing it in the surrounding fields and wetlands, washing in nutrients, deepening or digging new channels and piling fallen trees, thus creating new habitat for fish and their prey to use. Without snow packs to provide a source of cold runoff, stream temperatures can rise too high and fatally stress trout that need the cooler water. A normal, plain Jane, run of the mill, unremarkable and completely forgettable winter would have been better in my humble opinion. 

 

It has been pointed out to me though, if I may paraphrase the words of someone you may have heard of, “You can’t always get what you want; you get what you need”. I’m sure the Rolling Stones were talking about something else, but there may be some truth in that refrain.

 

Let’s look on the bright side. If the current weather pattern continues, we will see an early start to the spring fishing season - that’s something for most anglers to look forward to. We’ve all had a break from many of the usual challenges we face from frozen pipes to high heating bills. Harsh winter weather strengthens the vitality of wildlife by winnowing out the weak and less adaptable, perhaps the mild weather pattern will have the same effect and will promote positive change. One year won’t make that much difference, but if this is the pattern that many are predicting will become the norm, we will all be adapting. 

 

March will be upon us soon and it has a contradictory reputation. Given the milk toast winter thus far, I won’t bet on the lion making much of a statement next month, since the lamb is here early. A late season whopper of a snowstorm won’t hurt my feelings though. We can all agree that the lengthening days tend to brighten ones mood and sense of optimism. Spring with its rain and summer with the resultant lawn work will be upon us soon, so enjoy what’s left of winter, it may surprise us yet and remind us of the old time winters of our youth!   

 

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at 518-584-3952. The store has a new location, at 111 Green St, Schuylerville. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

 

Thursday, 21 January 2016 11:06

All Outdoors:At Long Last!

Those whooshing sounds you heard was a collective sigh of relief from all the ice fishermen out there who had wondered if they would see their favorite fishing holes would freeze this winter. Cold weather finally descended from the northern latitudes and buttoned up most of the local waters. Ice fishermen ventured cautiously out onto the fresh ice and declared, “It’s good”! The ice-fishing season has begun and for that, on behalf of all ice fishermen (and ladies) and winter enthusiasts in the region, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the clippers from Alberta, Jack Frost and all of you for your cold wishes that finally came true.

WARNING!

Don’t just throw caution to the arctic wind and rush out onto the ice just because someone said the lake was frozen or you saw people out there. Some of those people may place less value on their hides than you or they may truly be crazy. All discussions about safe ice starts with a statement that goes something like this, “No ice is safe”. Studies carried out by agencies as diverse as the Army Corps of Engineers and the departments of natural resources of various states all agree closely about minimum safe ice thickness for various loads. There are also different qualities or conditions of ice that can affect its strength. The problem with minimum safe ice thickness is that there is no room for error. Ice quality and thickness can vary within a few feet so the smart money says not to risk your neck on thin ice. Type: “How much ice is safe” in the search box when you go online and a number of sites will come up that will offer their findings. Personally, I don’t like to go out on ice that is less than six inches thick because if it varies by an inch or two, there’s still enough to support my well-fed form. The same reasoning goes if you’re considering taking a vehicle out on the ice. Wait until the ice exceeds minimum thickness as indicated on the charts by a few inches to reduce the chance of mishap. Educate yourself, take precautions and don’t take unnecessary risks. No fish are worth swimming for this time of the year and I’d like you to read my column next month!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s time to have some fun. Once you’ve determined that the ice is safe enough for you to venture onto, you can get down to the serious business of catching a mess of fish. Ice fishing is like most other sports and pastimes; you can keep it simple or go hog wild. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with all the tackle choices you’ll find at the local tackle shop. All you really need is an ice bar or a hand auger to cut through the ice and a jigging rod or tip-ups to fish with. An assorted selection of hooks, jigs and bait will round out the basic needs. Ask a friend to help with tackle choices or pick the brain of the shop proprietor. Both are great resources and want you to be successful.  Of course, you don’t want to forget a bucket for your catch that will double as a seat while you tempt the fish to bite. 

Ice fishing is supposed to be fun, so pick a day fit for man and beast if you’re a rookie, you know, a Goldilocks day. Learning the ropes is easier when you’re not battling frostbite. Speaking of which, make sure you dress properly. Multiple layers, a windproof shell, extra gloves and a towel to dry your hands are essential if you want to be comfortable. If you’re a veteran, you know what I’m talking about. 

Think of a really big number. That is how many books, articles and blogs have been written to tell you just exactly what you need to buy, where to go and how to use what you bought to dominate your piscatorial adversaries. This article won’t increase that number and besides, I don’t have enough space. This is a “learn by doing” activity. Apply the advice generously provided by others and be flexible in your technique. Pay attention to details that an experienced tutor may not mention because it is just automatic to them. Usually less is more when it comes to ice fishing. Use lighter line, tie directly to the jig instead of using a snap and move the lure less. A light action rod will help you to detect subtle strikes when the fish are finicky. You will soon be hooked as firmly as the fish you’re pulling up through the ice. 

Now that you’re an ice fisherman and have pictures to prove it, you can start looking at all the neat gadgets, electronics, shelters, special clothing, snowmobiles etc. etc. etc. that promise to make you a better fisherman, catch more fish, keep you more comfortable and get you to where the fish are biting in style. I’ve used those things and they will help you be a more efficient angler but I still like to keep it simple. You will decide for yourself how far down the rabbit hole to go and you will have fun doing it. I’ll be happy to help you on that journey, just give me a call if you have any questions or to share an adventure.

Until next time, stay on top, catch a bunch and enjoy the fish fry!    

 

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at 518-584-3952. The store has a new location, at 111 Green St, Schuylerville. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook. 

 

Friday, 18 September 2015 13:24

It Won’t Be Long Now

Do you feel it? Are you seeing the signs? There’s no sense denying it, another summer is coming to a graceful conclusion as fall gathers momentum and draws us into a new season. We’ve had a great summer but it’s time for a change - let the new season begin! 

I remember my mother telling me that time will pass faster as I grow older whenever I grew impatient, or I was bored and “didn’t have anything to do”. She must have been speaking from experience because, boy oh boy, was she right! 

It seems like only yesterday that I was impatiently waiting for bass season to open and now deer season is almost here and I haven’t done all the things I had planned to do in preparation. Truth be told, I’ve done none of them… so I’m about par for the course. No worries though, I’ll rationalize my lack of preparation by taking satisfaction in knowing that I helped a lot of other people get ready for their fall adventures. 

Early archery season begins statewide on October 1. If you were one of those who did your fieldwork and spent the necessary time on the range, I’m sure you will be rewarded with plenty of opportunities for success. Defining success can lead to vigorous debate and even recognizing it can be a challenge sometimes. When you’re at the moment of truth, experiencing towering elation or working through the devastating disappointment of what just happened, it’s easy to define success and failure. In most cases, you have to look for the silver lining, keep a good sense of humor and hope another chance comes your way. Luck is a funny thing though and it can be a long time between payoffs. But luck can also be improved with a few simple preparation steps. 

With deer hunting - keep in mind that you are trying to sneak into the deer’s home. They can see, hear and smell what’s around them better than you and they know what belongs and what doesn’t. We all have access to the best camouflage and equipment that money can buy. We also have one thing in common… we stink! 

Scent killing soaps, sprays and deodorants all help, as do cover scents that make us smell like something else, but it’s almost impossible to defeat a deer’s nose. Play the wind as well as using all the products at your disposal to reduce the chance of being detected. 

In my experience, I’ve had deer look at and walk right up to me because they’re curious creatures. I’ve also had deer come to investigate me while I was making a racket preparing a stand location - but the second they caught my scent - they headed for the hills. The nose knows as they say so don’t let them smell you no matter how good you smell. 

Try not to be over anxious about checking your trail cameras or scouting your hunting area. Time is getting short and you don’t want them to change their habits because you just had to get another look at them. Trust in your knowledge of the area and the deer that live there and keep out. If your spot has plenty of food, water and cover or is on the way from one of these key areas to another, the deer will be there so keep out until opening day. Finally, keep practicing on the range so that when the opportunity presents itself, the shot will be second nature and backstraps ‘n bacon will soon be sizzling. 

Saratoga Tackle Tuesday Bass Challenge Championship

Sunday, September 13th, the ten top teams of our Tuesday Bass Challenge met for the final time of the summer and battled for six hours to see who would come out on top. It took a 15-pound bag to win and the team of John Jenkins and Dave Munger went home with the victory - and $600 to boot. Throw in another $200 for the lunker weighing 5 ½ pounds and you could say they had a pretty good day! 

Second place, and $435 went to Scott Kingston and Mark Bogausch, who fished the whole season without a motor on their bass boat. $300 went to Tom Kail and Laurie Wells for their third place finish. Dan Dyer and Jeff Russell earned Angler of the Year honors for their outstanding efforts throughout the summer. I would like to congratulate and thank all who participated in our bass challenge this year and we at Saratoga Tackle are honored by the support they have given us.

It won’t be long now before the hills are ablaze with the colors of fall. You can start to see some of the maples starting to turn - soon they will be in their full glory. Plan on enjoying the changes that are coming soon. 

A day trip to the Adirondacks or an autumn boat ride on Sacandaga or Schroon Lake are great ways to take in the sights and maybe catch a few fish if you take your poles with you. Don’t mourn summer’s passing - rejoice in the season ahead.  

 

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is located on Route 9P, Saratoga Lake next to the state boat launch. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

Thursday, 02 July 2015 11:58

Outdoors: Some Fun!

Earlier this week, I towed my boat to work so I could go fishing on Saratoga Lake after I finished my shift. I called my friend, Nick and invited him along. A true fisherman, Nick showed up early and was prepared to fish so there was no delay in getting on the water. After launching the boat, we discussed where we wanted to go and how we were going to fish. We ended up deciding on Stony Point as a starting point and then let the fish dictate our course thereafter. As we were idling out to the lake, Nick looked down into the floor drain and said, “why is there so much water in the bilge?” My lame response was “I don’t know, I put the plug in.” I immediately turned on the bilge pump, put the motor in neutral, opened the deck lid and saw why the lake was in the boat where it didn’t belong. The livewell pump that I had replaced earlier in the day had mysteriously detached itself from its base. I quickly re-attached the pump to the base, told it to “STAY!” and continued on while the bilge emptied.

With the problem solved, we motored to the south end of the lake and started fishing in 15 feet of water. I had gotten a report that Walleye were biting at that depth earlier in the day and wanted to see if we could catch a few ourselves. Half an hour later, we decided that we were in the right place but at the wrong time so we moved into the weeds and started fishing for Bass. That proved to be a wise move because the Bass were cooperative.

They weren’t picky either.

Nick and I would catch a fish on one bait and then throw a different bait just because. This is what we call “junk fishing”. “Junk fishing” is a fun way to experiment with different colors and styles of lures to see what’s working best. It’s also a great way to use up partial bags of plastic worms and clean out your tackle box. Instead of putting on a Senko, which I knew would catch fish, I started “dropshotting” with French fry style worm that were kicking around in my boat. It worked. Meanwhile, Nick was using a different kind of worm and catching fish on that. When he lost that worm, he tied on a spinnerbait that he cobbled together from the remains of others and started catching fish on that. Not to be outdone, I found an old chatterbait with a ratty skirt, attached a used swimbait and caught fish on that until the skirt fell off. I stole a skirt from a jig to replace what was lost and caught more fish. I even used a bloated old waterlogged seven-inch Senko we found in the bilge and caught fish. Nick and I fished this way until sundown and never had a break in the action. We boated Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch and a Pumpkinseed that afternoon.

I’m not telling this story to brag about our fishing prowess but to illustrate a point. There is no single best lure or color or technique or even a best spot to fish because we covered about a mile of weed bed and used a tackle box full of lures that trip. You don’t need to get caught up in the hype surrounding fishing, you just need to get on the water and put a lure in front of the fish. Not every trip will turn out like the one we had, but every trip you take has the potential to be great. Don’t be reluctant to experiment, you just may learn something.

Lake Survey

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting a creel survey of Saratoga Lake this year. The purpose is to check the overall health of Saratoga Lake’s fish populations. NYSDEC will be conducting on the water interviews with anglers to see what they are catching, their concerns and their overall satisfaction of the fishery. If you are approached while fishing, let them know how you’re doing. DEC will also be electrofishing at night to capture fish, which will be released once they are measured. Later this summer, DEC will set nets deep in the water to capture Walleye, some that will be sent to their lab for health department testing. The survey will continue through the coming winter and once it is over, all the information gathered will be collated, condensed, analyzed and written up in a report. The conclusions reached will provide us with a better understanding of the lake and may result in regulation changes that will improve the quality of the fishing in Saratoga Lake and help to conserve the resource for future generations.

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is located on Route 9P, Saratoga Lake next to the state boat launch. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

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Thursday, 18 June 2015 13:37

All Good Things in all Good Times

They, whoever they may be, say that patience is a virtue. Also said by say-ers of sayings, is that fishermen must be the most patient of all people (and by extension, the most virtuous). Most of the people who make the aforementioned statement are not fishermen and are unrepentant in their impatience. They can’t imagine sitting, rod in hand, waiting in anticipation for a fish to bobble their bobber or twitch the tip of their rod. The very idea of waking before the birds, standing in the rain or heaven forbid, venturing out onto the frozen wasteland of an ice covered lake in the dead of winter just to catch a fish, is ridiculous to them.

I, as a fisherman for most of my life, am honor bound to set the record straight. While fishermen, and I would be remiss not to include hunters, can summon the strength of will to spend hours watching and waiting for something to happen, it would be more accurate to say we do this out of grim determination and for some of us, desperation, to justify the time and effort spent on the water or in the woods. Patience quickly runs out and we are sustained by the exquisite torture of believing that what we want to happen will happen if we just wait a little longer. I will admit to all of you that I have been that guy way too many times and will be many more. If I’m shunned by my fellow outdoorsmen for hanging our dirty laundry out for public view, so be it. For those who admit the shoe fits, take heart in the knowledge that your wait will soon be over.

The day that anglers across the state are waiting for is tomorrow, June 20th, the opening day of Bass season statewide. Recreational as well as tournament fishermen will swarm the waters in pursuit of cooperative Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. The fishing is generally excellent early in the season because the bass are just coming off the spawn and are ravenous as they try to regain what they lost in their procreative efforts. Also, the weeds have not yet reached their full growth making it easier for them to find food and easier for us to fool them with our clever tricks. According to the reports I’ve been getting from fishermen fresh off the lake, you don’t even have to be that clever to catch a limit of bass. In the last few days, excited anglers have come into my shop showing me pictures they took of fish they caught and told me in great detail just how they caught them. While the details differed, the point was the same. They all experienced some of the best fishing they ever had and couldn’t wait to get back out on the water. Plastic worms, spinner baits, crank baits or swim baits, it didn’t seem to matter what they threw as long as they threw something in the water. A bite like this won’t last forever so try to go fishing sometime soon. Rising water temperatures and thickening weeds will bring this fishing honeymoon to an end within a few weeks.

Mornings and evenings will find schools of bass chasing schools of bait causing the latter to launch from the water in their frantic attempt to escape becoming the main course. Try throwing top water baits like poppers, buzz baits to catch the chasers. One of my favorite lures to use at these times is the Heddon Zara Spook. “Why?” you ask. “Because it draws big fish” I reply. If the weeds are a little too thick for those lures, try twitching soft plastic jerk baits like Zoom Super Flukes or Senkos. Rig them weedless with an offset worm hook and no weight. Give them a sharp jerk and then pause, they will dart from side to side like an injured minnow and make an easy target for a hungry bass.

As the day goes on, the bass will start retreating to deeper water and weeds. You can cover a lot of water using crank baits, swim baits and chatter baits to find hungry fish. You might think crank baits and weeds don’t mix well but if you choose carefully, you can catch a lot of fish and leave most of the weeds where they belong. Swim baits are plastic worms with tail that kicks side to side when you retrieve them. They’re simple to use and catch bass as well as live bait. Chatter baits are jigs with a blade attached to the head. The blade causes the jig to shake violently when reeled in. The shaking rings the dinner bell for every bass in the weed bed. Use swim bait as a trailer on your chatter bait and you’ve got a winning combination tied on the end of your line.

If the bite gets tough you can dredge the bass out of the weeds with a Texas rigged plastic worm or a “jig and pig”. The trick to fishing a plastic worm or jig is to fish slowly. If you think you are fishing slowly, slow down a little more. You also need to pay close attention to the line when using these lures because you will often see the line move before you feel the strike. I don’t think you will need to fish this way this early in the season but its good practice for the way you will need to fish later in the summer.

I could go on recommending ways to fish forever but you’ll have more fun fishing than reading about it. The wait is finally over so get on the water and try your luck, you’re patience is about to be rewarded. As another saying goes, “All good things come to those who wait”.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is located on Route 9P, Saratoga Lake next to the state boat launch. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

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Blotter

  • Saratoga County Court  Kathleen M. Callanan, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced to 1 year in local jail, after pleading to felony grand larceny.  Cassandra R. Barden, 38, homeless, was sentenced to 1-1/2 to 3 years incarceration after pleading to felony attempted assault, charged in Milton.  Ashley Vetrano, 35, of Glens Falls, pleaded to felony robbery, charged in Moreau. Sentencing May 23.  Gabrielle Montanye, 63, of Stillwater, was sentenced to 5 years probation, after pleading to felony attempted identity theft, charged in Ballston Spa.  Daniel J. Koenig, III, 53, of Round Lake, was sentenced to 2 to 4 years incarceration, after…

Property Transactions

  • BALLSTON Eastline Holdings LLC sold property at 12 Aspen Dr to Shaun Scott for $596,673 Sunmark Credit Union sold property at 15 17 & 19 Main St to Landmark Holdings 2023 LLC for $240,000 CORINTH Gary ONeil sold property at 115 Hollister Dr to Aaron Schips for $345,000 GREENFIELD Jeffrey Fuller sold property at 4 Lanie Dr to Jacob Brooks for $221,700 Bernice Moeller sold property at 395 North Creek Rd to Devin Vernon for $270,000 MALTA  Maureen Weise sold property at 13 Pepperbush Pl to Robert ONeill for $245,000 MECHANICVILLE Robert Murphy sold property at 406 Park Ave to…
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