LOCALadk Magazine

public. We targeted these salmon by setting live minnows down just 3-5 feet with both Jaw Jackers and HT Polar Tip-ups. Joey suggested adding the Jaw Jackers to our spread of Tip-ups, since salmon are notorious for dropping the bait the moment they feel resistance. With these Jackers, they self-hook right aer the fish takes. Also, Joey wanted to be able to release a good percentage of our catch, and a healthy return is more likely since the bait isn't deeply hooked. As I am reasonably new to ice fishing, when I went to acquire my own gear, Joey insisted I use the HT Polar. He told me that the lubricant HT uses is superior and will result in fewer drops while the salmon are running. is couldn't have been more evident than when the beauty pictured ran off with what seemed to be a football field of line by the time I sprinted to the Tip-up. (ose present would describe it more like a limping jog.) is 28 inch, 8 lb. broodstock is perfect evidence that someone new to the sport could score a legitimate trophy on our Adirondack waters. ank you, NYSDEC. Habitat Improvement and the Adirondack Salmon's Future, We have something very unique and valuable in that our lakes and rivers are clean and cold enough to support this wonderful species. Salmon truly are majestic and deserve our best stewardship. Foresight from past NYSDEC personnel was spot on five decades ago, and restored a native species from extirpated status to widespread populations. On Lake Champlain, this effort was a collaborative effort with their peers from the state of Vermont and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. What's occurring now in real time is successful stocking programs augmented by continued habitat improvement. is undertaking isn't just governmental, but involves private groups like Trout Unlimited, who planted 700 willow trees on the upper reaches of the Boquet River. ese plantings will help prevent erosion and keep summer temperatures cool for the juvenile salmon. Josh LaFountain from e Nature Conservancy has helped local municipalities identify and select proper road culverts to provide good fish passage. is also improves flood resilience, which decreases erosion and the silting of the gravel beds essential for spawning. All these efforts are adding up to observable, factual success. Most of the fish present are stocked, but evidence strongly suggests that natural, "wild" fish are taking hold. e biggest reason for this is the dam removal, which was a community-wide commitment that truly expanded the Landlocks' spawning grounds by a huge multiple. For natural spawning to impact the population, the juvenile salmon must be able to live in the river for two years, and they require cool temperatures to survive before becoming the adults that reside in the lake. Bill Ardren from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife has evidenced spawning redds (beds) on the North Branch of the Boquet, which is completely protected and closed to fishing to allow reproduction to occur unimpeded. is is huge, as a sustainable population of native fish will have more successful genetics, a higher likelihood of completing the spawning process, and won't be reliant on human stocking. Quite frankly, the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution on this somewhat fragile species will be reversed, making the efforts of biologists five decades ago monumental. is substantial occurrence on the Boquet can be replicated on the Saranac River with the removal of the Imperial Dam in Plattsburgh, a highly talked-about venture for some time. (See the excellent article of Nov. 11, 2020, in Adirondack Explorer.) e Saranac is a significantly larger river that has the potential to be one of the most acclaimed river fisheries in the Northeast. Rich Redman claims that the rapids and runs above this dam would extend the salmon's range by approximately 13 miles upstream— optimal habitat. Bill Ardren states, "It would certainly be better for the fish if the dam was removed, and in the meantime, fish ladders can be utilized." In my opinion, dam removal is crucial, because it will lower summer watertemperatures and make, the river's flow and scent more attractive to the salmon's instincts. ough I'm not a fish biologist, I have 40 years of fishing the Salmon River in Oswego County, and I can project Plattsburgh could be as popular a fishing destination as Pulaski, New York. Tom Fernandez, who was one of the driving forces behind developing the opulent Tailwater Resort on the Salmon River, knows more about ecotourism of the fishing industry than anyone I'm aware of, concurs. Tom, who has traveled as far as Iceland to chase Atlantic Salmon, stated, "Fly fishing for salmon has incredible, sustainable growth potential, with economic and cultural impact that is long- term. It increases interest in investment property and ultimately creates a tourist location." Two things I have realized is that the Saranac River is within walking distance from the Plattsburgh International Airport, creating a fishing destination opportunity unique to anywhere in the continent. Secondly, the best times to fish these rivers are in the historically slow tourist months of October and November and again in April and May. Additionally, when water conditions are favorable, some Atlantic Salmon will make early runs following large summer rains—something we get plenty of. My personal best Atlantic Salmon (17 lbs.) was landed and released right behind the Tailwater Lodge when several days of July thunderstorms raised the water levels on the Salmon River. Scenarios like that could occur in downtown Plattsburgh if we can get that darn dam down. Related YouTube videos: "Outdoor Passion—Lake Champlain Monster," featuring Trolling Tina Charters. "Bringing Back Salmon: How one community made a difference" (about Willsboro). LOCALadk 31

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