Shroon River Report

[nylunker]

Has anyone been fishing the Schroon river yet. I am heading up to Chestertown this weekend and I plan on hitting the river from the Starbuckville dam downstream. I fished there a few weeks ago and there was nothing hatching, but I pulled a few browns on some streamers. Water was still fairly cold at that point.

I have also heard that there is decent fishing near the Gristmill in Warrensburg but I have never headed down that way.

Any update would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SClay]

I was also wondering how that piece of water is, thinking about heading up there myself...

Steve

 

[smp928s]

Steve,

The Schroon is another river I was going to mention. I like the stretch below the dam along what I believe is called River Road. There is public access near a spot I believe is called and don't quote me on this "Fireman's Hole" or something to that effect. Sorry I cannot be of more help on that. I am going up to try the bouquet tomorrow. This weather is probably going to get everyone out on the water.

 

[DoubleHaul]

(sp) is Schroon. There are 3 pieces to consider: the upper- that feeds into Schroon Lake and the Lower- Basically from The Starbuckville dam down stream to exit 24 then the section that flows through Warrensburg.
NO NEW FISH HAVE BEEN STOCKED IN THIS WATER THIS YEAR.

The Schroon is a put and take river. Your chances for hold overs exist but are small. There is better fishing in other places near by, the Schroon is popular with day fishers who want to do it close to the Northway.

The river is a foot above comfortable wading (look for 3 ft or less on the USGS gage for good/ safe-full access wading)
The highest temp I have pulled this year is 45 degrees. Today was 42. I check it daily.

I'm not trying to chase you off but I want you to know before you go and not be disappointed. Sunday is "my" fishing day and I'm driving to the south.

This is my home river and I fish it year round (the Schroon is open year round). I have yet to get a strike this year.

BE AWARE THAT THE EXIT 24 OVER PASS IS CLOSED FOR WORK AND YOU MAY NEED TO TAKE A DETOUR IF YOU USE THAT AREA.

DH

 

[SClay]

Just like DH said, the river is cooking along. I ended up heading up there just to take a peek this afternoon. Quite a sight I must say. Couple people out there, but not sure I'd want to even try being in that water.

Question for you DH, I see the reading for the Schroon is at Riverbank, that is below the dam correct? For some reason I would have thought the flow would be regulated by the dam itself, and it would stay pretty constant, is this not the case? Or is it really a matter of the flow out of the lake?

I only ask because I noticed the Schroon system is really hefty in size, and am under the understanding that the north part of the river is a totally different environment. Thinking maybe at this point the northern part would be a better bet when the lower flow is absurd...maybe? I could just be totally confused, probably more so the case!

Steve

 

[DoubleHaul]

Yes, but you have to remember that the Schroon drains more than 5oo square miles. When it rains, it rises HUGE in the upper. The dam is run by the schroon lake park comm. The dam has ONE PURPOSE- to regulate the lake level so the rich guys can get their boat in & out of the estuaries & under the bridges. river flow & trout be damned. When they rebuilt the dam a couple of years ago, they installed a fish ladder to appease the fishermen. that was great but the migratory fish (LLS) don't get stocked in the river, they get stocked in the lake ei the fish ladder is worthless.

 

[SClay]

Oh ok, that makes sense then in a way. So would the fishing, at least for stockies, upstream of the dam, be better? I think I had read when I was post searching on here, that right after the dam is a decent spot to fish, being able to catch many different types of critters from one spot. But the post was from a while ago so maybe times have changed. Not that I am heading out just to catch stocked fish, I'm mostly just curious...

Steve

 

[troutbum2live]

Don't mean to butt in guys just thought Id throw in my 2 cents!

The Schroon is a fun spot to mess around for me here and there, but it's very susceptible to high water just look at the banks over the bridge by exit 24! I've caught decent sixed trout below the dam, but I've never given it the 100 percent attention I give other rivers. Above is a different kind of river and maybe DH can help me on this, but Ive heard doesnt recieve nearly as much stocking?

Also, DH...Do people ever float areas of the schroon? I know of the canoe drop in area, but Im hoping to get a nice Pontoon later in summer and I was looking for a place to mess around with it.

Anyways, IMO I think the Schroon is fun when its fun, and not when its not if that makes any sense.
--It's the place I'd stop to cast at after work during summer break due to how close it was.

 

[DoubleHaul]

I hope I didn't give you the wrong idea. The Schroon is a good place to fish but has the potential to be a great fishery if management inproved. I have a complete plan that is very in depth and doesn't really need to be posted here. Unless you have some working knowledge of the river it would bore you.

Float? hell yes. You get a pontoon & I will go with you. I have done it solo 3 times last year. I have private access to many spots along the river. There are still some sections I haven't done but are on my list for 2009.

 

[nylunker]

DH,
Thanks for the input. I have a house on loon lake so we must be close. Have you ever fished Mill Creek along route 8? We spent most of the winter heading to Gore for skiing on the weekend, and I as run down route 8 near weavertown, I am always eyeing mill creek. I have never stopped there, but it has peaked my interested. Later is the summer the water looks a little slow & low, but I always thought it must be decent in the early spring.

 

[BIGBOW]

DH,
Thanks for the input. I have a house on loon lake so we must be close. Have you ever fished Mill Creek along route 8? We spent most of the winter heading to Gore for skiing on the weekend, and I as run down route 8 near weavertown, I am always eyeing mill creek. I have never stopped there, but it has peaked my interested. Later is the summer the water looks a little slow & low, but I always thought it must be decent in the early spring.

Mill Creek is a nice trout stream. We have a place outside Chestertown so I fish the area regularly when Im up there. Mill Creek is pretty tight though and sucks for casting, but there are some nice fish in there if you're able to get to them.

 

[BIGBOW]

So would the fishing, at least for stockies, upstream of the dam, be better?

Steve

The stretch of water from the lake to the dam is not stocked. Its slower moving water with warm water species of fish (perch, sunnies, cats, bass). Below the dam is what sees the stocking trucks. The other part of the river where trout fishing can be done is above the lake. In other words, the river flows into the lake, then out of the lake. The southern stretch is fished much more often.

 

[adkwiley]

River was stocked below the damn on April 30th. It's been pretty packed with people since then. I hit it up on sat down stream from the dam and hooked inot a nice big brown and a few nice rainbows. A freind i was fishing with got a bunch of bowns and rainbows , only a few browns of good size, he got a few brookies as well.

 

[BIGBOW]

River was stocked below the damn on April 30th. It's been pretty packed with people since then. I hit it up on sat down stream from the dam and hooked inot a nice big brown and a few nice rainbows. A freind i was fishing with got a bunch of bowns and rainbows , only a few browns of good size, he got a few brookies as well.

Nice report. I dont know what you're doing down there though if you're in the Forks!! Much better fishing up that way.

 

[adkwiley]

Nice report. I dont know what you're doing down there though if you're in the Forks!! Much better fishing up that way.

HaHa, yeah fishing is pretty good up here! Even had em takin on dry flies this afternoon! I got a camp down in Adirondack so I hit the river when i'm down there.

 

[Stonefly]

I used to insure the Warrensburg RV Park and campground and did business with several others in the area, in the 90's so I got to fish it often. the Shroon is ok, but there are more productive streams up that way, that aren't all put and take and don't get as much pressure.

Actually Lake George is real good this time of year with the lakers on the top water, and the upper Hudson has some good fishing over by Dagget Lake Campground a good place to stay by the way.

 

[BIGBOW]

HaHa, yeah fishing is pretty good up here! Even had em takin on dry flies this afternoon! I got a camp down in Adirondack so I hit the river when i'm down there.

Your camp cant be too far from our place on Valentine Pond Rd. I should be heading up for a few weeks within the next month. The Ausable is definately the place to be come June so Ill be heading up your way. Gotta love the breakfasts at Adirondack.. nice little wading beach too.

 

[adkwiley]

Your camp cant be too far from our place on Valentine Pond Rd. I should be heading up for a few weeks within the next month. The Ausable is definately the place to be come June so Ill be heading up your way. Gotta love the breakfasts at Adirondack.. nice little wading beach too.

Yeah my family has a place in the blue sky estates. Love the adirondack general store, great people there, they've opned up after they have closed for me so I could grab a 12 pack! Hopefully by June the water will have dropped and calmed down on the west branch, I hit that up yesterday and its super fast due to all the rain we got over the weekend.

 

[BIGBOW]

I teach so I dont finish work till mid-June. By then the Schroons still decent but the West Branch is usually great. I like small streaming for brookies up there too. You happen to hike the peaks at all?

 

[DoubleHaul]

Lots of fish still hanging around the stocked areas. Raining today - I hope that spreads them out some. Impalied a 2 year old brookie/stocker last night on a floater. Good shape, gettem' while there hot- as soon as the water warms up- they will be toast.

 

[nylunker]

Double-Haul,
How is the Schroon River looking? I just got back from Colorado-5 days of fishing on the Talyor & Gunnison River, and I am looking to continue my streak. We are heading up tomorrow and I'll be on the river a few mornings. Just looking to get an update. Thanks