Northwest Fishing Reports

Had a chance to visit my daughter/ Son in-law/ and our Grand daughter-new grandson in Fort Drum, New York. Had a few days of fishing the Black River there and was able get some nice Small mouth Bass to 16 1/2" and a nice Pickerel That went 21 1/2".

It can be fun back there! I go back to PA to visit with the wife's family and fish the Susquehanna River for SMB every couple of years. Lots of fun, but with all the warnings published by the Fish and Game Dept. concerning PCB's and other pollutants in the river I do strictly C&R. Glad you got into a few...

i grew up in saratoga new york, (upstate ny) I LOVED fishing for pike/pickerel and smb/lmb crappies, and walleye in the hudson river/tributaries & lake champlain, the fishing for these species is so much better than here in wa state (not even close), i like the trout/salmon don't get me wrong, but that pic of your chain pickerel brought back some fond childhood memories, fishing with a fathead minnow under a bobber, just waiting for the next lunker. that pickerel is a very nice sized pickerel too, they don't get a heck of a lot bigger than that. thanks for the post

Growing up in Minnesota around Paynesville / Willmar area I caught my share of PIKE/Muskie/Pickerel. But I have not caught any since 1989. It really was a memorable experience to get this one. This one followed to the shore were I teased it several times to get it to bit. Though I Know this state has some area's that have good fishing for pike I have not been able to justify going that far to fish for them. Here some interesting pict.s from the Black River.

the backwaters of the hudson river are FANTASTIC pike/pickerel fisheries because that whole river system has been strictly catch and release for nearly 40 years, and people follow the rule due to pcbs. upstate new york, especially north of albany, has some amazing pike opportunites in the lakes aswell. i believe the state record pike has been 44lbs, caught from great sacandaga lake, lake champlain is also an amazing fishery, for many many species. the new york state record muskelunge caught from the st lawrence river is 69lbs 15 oz, so ny has a history of absolutely gigantic pike/musky, my best was a mere 18lbs, @ 42" pike, still haven't caught a musky yet.