Hoffman Notch Fishing: Access For All

Don Sage, the President of the Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club, is making a passionate plea to reopen to off road vehicles the old trials leading to the ponds of Bailey, Marion, Big and North.

In a letter to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, published on February 23, Sage says that opening the old roads in the Hoffman Notch area will not only allow sportsmen to have easier access, but will also make the NY DEC compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hoffman Notch should be more accessible

To The editor:

Re: Hoffman unit access:

As the state Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation look to expand the use of the Hoffman area, we, the sportsmen, request designated routes to the fishing ponds be opened for off-road vehicles. Roads already exist to these ponds: Bailey, Marion, Big and North. DEC policy of denying boats left at these ponds, forcing anglers to carry in and carry out each day, greatly reduces their time to fish. Early morning and late afternoon fishing will not be allowed as time must be spent lugging prams, rowboats, etc., back and forth, in and out daily. The establishing of a designated corridor following the old town roads for off-road vehicles will allow the anglers to spend more time enjoying their sport.

Read More

Fishin’ For A Great Weekend

With the return of winter this week, the 20th Annual Schroon Lake Ice Fishing Derby looks set to have a terrific turnout this year, organizers say.

“With the snow today, that’s going to help us keep the ice temperatures cold,” Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club President Don Sage told us. “You don’t want it breaking up on a weekend like this.”

“Overall the conditions look good, but we are a bit concerned with the rain (in the forecast) on Saturday.”

The Tournament officially kicks off at daylight Saturday and goes through to 4 pm on Sunday.

So far about 110 advance tickets have been sold with many walk-ins expected Friday night and Saturday morning. The entry fee is $15.

“We had 230 entries last year and I think we are on track to do the same this year. Our records was 450 a few years back,” Don said.

Read More