Anyone been fishing the Clayton to the TIB bridge area in the past couple of weeks? I will be going up Sunday for a week and I have not been up this year since we sold the cottage at Blind Bay this spring.
Any information of what is working will be greatly appreciated, since this may be the only time going up for the yr.
Thank you much to all replies.
Frank
Sorry no help but just had to say it must have been tough to sell your place on Blind Bay, I haven’t been up there in years i used to rent a place there for a week every year for years and rent 4 cottages from the marina owner every fall for a large group pike fishing trip I loved that area
What is a TIB bridge?
You may get more help if we understand what bridge your speaking of.
Thousand Island Bridge
Originally Posted by jerzia
That’s just a common term for us that live in NY.
just like TITS: Thousand Island Tackle Store
or OBP- Ogdensburg Prescott Bridge
1995 Ranger 481v
1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp
Thank you for the translations. Yes, it was a tough decision, but my FIL is 93 and I have been dealing with pancreatic cancer for the past couple of yrs, so taking care of things was a challenge since not much help from the rest who showed little interest. By the grace of Christ, it sold within a week it went up and we just closed on it. I am going up this Sunday in hope that I can even be able to fish at all since some of the meds make me nauseous, so I would need to make a decision to sell the bass rig if that is the case. I have been fishing the River for 50 yrs, and started going up for a couple of weeks for yrs with my first wife, God rest her soul.
OK (mine was easier)
just like TITS: Thousand Island Tackle Store
or OBP- Ogdensburg Prescott Bridge
OK (mine was easier)
1995 Ranger 481v
1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp
Just got back from a 5 days of fishing up there and there were 2 tourneys going on at the same time. The boating issues from morons running around was a total s*** show, especially with pontoons being rented out at will. I was fishing back end of Bluff Island and I had a crew of clowns go between me and the granite wall about 30' away waving and yelling. The most offensive was a guy on an older 363 Ranger with a 150 Johnson Fast strike near little Round Island coming by me on plane and start fishing couple hundred feet from me. When I shouted at him about it, he says it free water, and again I pointed out to the sign that said "No Wake Zone" that was on the boathouse next to me, which I am sure it pissed of the folks on the deck.
Weather was good and the fish could have been better, but there was a lot of pressure on them from all the tournaments now up there. The fish were mostly 20-50' of water near channel or drop offs with lot of them being in the 16-18" class. One of my friends was up fishing for wallies and he was getting smallies and even a couple of pikes as deep as 50', which to me is a drastic change that seems to be taking place in the last few yrs.
Blanket shoals and Fisher's landing were the most productive with shoals at channel in back of Pickton island close second. It was the gun and run type of fishing with many different areas to goto, so you need your experience hat on. I tried to help out couple of guys that came all the way from Indiana to fish SLR for their "bucket list" on a nice Stratos, but they didn't do their homework on getting to know the area prior to fishing it, since most of the spots I tried to send them, they had never heard of. They were shocked at the boat traffic and how big of a fishing area SLR really is, and sadly they pulled out a day earlier with very little fish.
I have mentioned this to many folks wanting to come fish SLR to do their homework before coming out or prepare to be disappointed and by the grace of God, go home with your boat in one piece, unlike the sunken big cruiser we took a video of on a granite shoal in Fisher landing.
Last edited by digthemup; 08-18-2024 at 11:17 PM. Reason: spelling
We’ve got a group of 10 of us coming up next August for a week and have a place rented near Spicers Marina. Been watching a few videos and caught some of the Elites up there this past weekend. A quick question if you don’t mind. What’s the best ramp to use close to where we’re staying? Don’t mind a ramp fee so that’s not gonna be a problem.
I’ve seen that Cape Vincent has what looks like a newer ramp if anybody wants to try the lake depending on the weather of course. Thanks
Brian Howard
2023 Phoenix 919 Pro XP
2023 Mercury 225
Spicer Marina has a ramp and Northern Marine across the creek has a ramp with nice parking area. If I were you, I would spend more time learning charts of the area especially structure and shoals. The Elites make it look easy with their 50K of electronics and all the money spent with local guides. However, you will be taken aback by the by how vast of a fishing area it is and how challenging it can be with currents and boat traffic.
BTW, unless you have a 20+ foot rig and the weather is cooperative, stay off lake Ontario or you may learn to regret it.
Tight lines to you
Frank
BTW Howard, I just read an article on B A M that most pros in the BASS tourney last week ran to the lake for their daily 25# bag and most of them got pounded by the wind on day 2 and 3, which if you ran from Spicer bay you would be looking at a very long and possibly rough ride
Last edited by digthemup; 08-23-2024 at 06:22 PM. Reason: add more info
Thanks for the update. I’ve got make sure my charts are updated for the area. The guys have been watching videos like me and a couple have fished the other lakes before so they won’t be shocked. Lol
I’ve fished a few rivers across the SE so long runs won’t scare me. Unless it’s windy then we’ll be tucked in behind an island somewhere. Good to know about the ramp situation that helps out a lot. Really looking forward to catching some decent to big smallmouth, the closest lake here with a decent population is Smith Mountain and there’s some good ones there but nothing that compares to up there.
Thanks again and if I have any other questions I’ll send you a DM if you don’t mind.
Brian Howard
2023 Phoenix 919 Pro XP
2023 Mercury 225
Instead of a long run, you would be better served pulling out and put her in at the Cape where you could fish Carlton and the Canadian bays before you decide to go out to the lake. Having a buddy boat when heading to the lake is not a bad idea, especially if you may entertain the idea of going to the Galloo islands, which is open waters of L Ontario
My very best to you
Frank
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