Saratoga Lake

Well I finally got to do some fishing after nursing a bum leg all summer. I
went to Saratoga Lake on Friday. The weather could not have been better with
clear skies and a temperature of about 80 degrees.
I started off with a spinnerbait but did not have much luck due to the flat
water. I switched to a Senko and caught 2 nice ones out of the weeds. Things
slowed down a bit after that so I decided to try some dropshotting off Snake
Hill. I got a couple of 12 inch smallies on a small hand poured 4" green
pumpkin worm. After that it was back to the weeds with a Yum Dinger. I
caught a few more 12 to 14 inch largemouth. I decided to try my luck in Fish
Creek so off I went. I switched to a 4" Power Worm fishing the outside edge
and managed to put about 4 or 5 more small largemouth in the boat but could
not connect with anything bigger than that.
All in all I was just happy to be out in the boat on such a great day. I
caught quite a few fish even though the size was a bit lacking and came away
with a big smile.

Phil

I usually do very well in the pads in Fish Creek this time of year.
(usually is a poor choice of words. I've probably got 10 September days on
Saratoga in my life. But I'll bet I did well in the pads on 8 of them.
Another week or two though, and it'll all be about how long you can sit on
Snake Hill and fish deep.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

I usually do very well in the pads in Fish Creek this time of year.
(usually is a poor choice of words. I've probably got 10 September days on
Saratoga in my life. But I'll bet I did well in the pads on 8 of them.
Another week or two though, and it'll all be about how long you can sit on
Snake Hill and fish deep.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

"RichZ" wrote in message
...
I usually do very well in the pads in Fish Creek this time of year.
(usually is a poor choice of words. I've probably got 10 September days on
Saratoga in my life. But I'll bet I did well in the pads on 8 of them.
Another week or two though, and it'll all be about how long you can sit on
Snake Hill and fish deep.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing


Hi Rich,
First off I'd like to say great report on your trip to Champlain on Ivan
weekend. I enjoy reading about all your trips because you have a way of
making the reader feel like they are right there with you. Also having
fished with you I know how passionate you are about the sport and it really
comes through in your writings.
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday so I
hope the pads pay off. If not I will most likely try just what you said and
go deep around Snake Hill.

Phil

"RichZ" wrote in message
...
I usually do very well in the pads in Fish Creek this time of year.
(usually is a poor choice of words. I've probably got 10 September days on
Saratoga in my life. But I'll bet I did well in the pads on 8 of them.
Another week or two though, and it'll all be about how long you can sit on
Snake Hill and fish deep.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing


Hi Rich,
First off I'd like to say great report on your trip to Champlain on Ivan
weekend. I enjoy reading about all your trips because you have a way of
making the reader feel like they are right there with you. Also having
fished with you I know how passionate you are about the sport and it really
comes through in your writings.
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday so I
hope the pads pay off. If not I will most likely try just what you said and
go deep around Snake Hill.

Phil

Philip wrote:
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday

THIS COMING SATURDAY?!?!?

That's dangerously close to the anniversary of the '87 snowstorm -- which I
spent on the water at Saratoga, coincidentally.

It was the 2nd day of NEBA TOC. I was middle of the pack with a small limit
of smallies. My pad bite from practice had disappeared with the dropping
water level, and my largemouth bite at the south end of the snake hill
point hadn't worked. But I knew I could catch a limit of smallies on real
light stuff off the north end of snake hill, and that's what I'd done. Had
to catch about 5 fish to get a keeper. but I still culled out a few to get
to about 8 pounds on day one.

Day 2, a few wet snowflakes in the morning on the way from the hotel to the
ramp. I was over 5 pounds out of the lead, and knew I needed to go for the
LM to have a shot. The snow and wind started heavy by the time I got to
snake hill. Caught a 2 pound LM real quick. 50 guys in the TOC. By noon, I
realized I hadn't seen another boat in a couple hours. Most of the field
had left by then. My amateur partner was in tears when the lightning
started around 1. That's when the LM turned on. I caught 3, including a 7
pounder, out of 35 feet of water on a 1 oz jig and pork frog, in about 20
minutes. Never had another bite. Kept telling myself to go to the other end
of the hill and catch my limit fish, even if it only weighed 12 or 13
ounces. But I really felt I needed another 3 pounds to have a shot at
winning, so I stuck it out. In the end, I came in 3rd. 1oz behind 2nd, and
3 oz behind 1st. One little smallie from the other end of he hill would
have done it for me, no problem.

The stretch from Saratoga to Cambridge received 22 inches of snow that day.
It was the 4th of October, if memory serves. Power was out all the way
home. Lucky thing I'd filled the truck on the way to the lake in the
morning, cause you couldn't even get gas.

Those were the good old days!

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

Philip wrote:
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday

THIS COMING SATURDAY?!?!?

That's dangerously close to the anniversary of the '87 snowstorm -- which I
spent on the water at Saratoga, coincidentally.

It was the 2nd day of NEBA TOC. I was middle of the pack with a small limit
of smallies. My pad bite from practice had disappeared with the dropping
water level, and my largemouth bite at the south end of the snake hill
point hadn't worked. But I knew I could catch a limit of smallies on real
light stuff off the north end of snake hill, and that's what I'd done. Had
to catch about 5 fish to get a keeper. but I still culled out a few to get
to about 8 pounds on day one.

Day 2, a few wet snowflakes in the morning on the way from the hotel to the
ramp. I was over 5 pounds out of the lead, and knew I needed to go for the
LM to have a shot. The snow and wind started heavy by the time I got to
snake hill. Caught a 2 pound LM real quick. 50 guys in the TOC. By noon, I
realized I hadn't seen another boat in a couple hours. Most of the field
had left by then. My amateur partner was in tears when the lightning
started around 1. That's when the LM turned on. I caught 3, including a 7
pounder, out of 35 feet of water on a 1 oz jig and pork frog, in about 20
minutes. Never had another bite. Kept telling myself to go to the other end
of the hill and catch my limit fish, even if it only weighed 12 or 13
ounces. But I really felt I needed another 3 pounds to have a shot at
winning, so I stuck it out. In the end, I came in 3rd. 1oz behind 2nd, and
3 oz behind 1st. One little smallie from the other end of he hill would
have done it for me, no problem.

The stretch from Saratoga to Cambridge received 22 inches of snow that day.
It was the 4th of October, if memory serves. Power was out all the way
home. Lucky thing I'd filled the truck on the way to the lake in the
morning, cause you couldn't even get gas.

Those were the good old days!

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

Good luck Phil buddy!

Warren

"Philip Goodwin" wrote in message
...

"RichZ" wrote in message
...
I usually do very well in the pads in Fish Creek this time of year.
(usually is a poor choice of words. I've probably got 10 September days
on
Saratoga in my life. But I'll bet I did well in the pads on 8 of them.
Another week or two though, and it'll all be about how long you can sit
on
Snake Hill and fish deep.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing


Hi Rich,
First off I'd like to say great report on your trip to Champlain on Ivan
weekend. I enjoy reading about all your trips because you have a way of
making the reader feel like they are right there with you. Also having
fished with you I know how passionate you are about the sport and it
really
comes through in your writings.
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday so I
hope the pads pay off. If not I will most likely try just what you said
and
go deep around Snake Hill.

Phil

"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Philip wrote:
Back to Saratoga....We have a tournament there this coming Saturday

THIS COMING SATURDAY?!?!?

That's dangerously close to the anniversary of the '87 snowstorm -- which
I
spent on the water at Saratoga, coincidentally.

It was the 2nd day of NEBA TOC. I was middle of the pack with a small
limit
of smallies. My pad bite from practice had disappeared with the dropping
water level, and my largemouth bite at the south end of the snake hill
point hadn't worked. But I knew I could catch a limit of smallies on real
light stuff off the north end of snake hill, and that's what I'd done. Had
to catch about 5 fish to get a keeper. but I still culled out a few to get
to about 8 pounds on day one.

Day 2, a few wet snowflakes in the morning on the way from the hotel to
the
ramp. I was over 5 pounds out of the lead, and knew I needed to go for the
LM to have a shot. The snow and wind started heavy by the time I got to
snake hill. Caught a 2 pound LM real quick. 50 guys in the TOC. By noon, I
realized I hadn't seen another boat in a couple hours. Most of the field
had left by then. My amateur partner was in tears when the lightning
started around 1. That's when the LM turned on. I caught 3, including a 7
pounder, out of 35 feet of water on a 1 oz jig and pork frog, in about 20
minutes. Never had another bite. Kept telling myself to go to the other
end
of the hill and catch my limit fish, even if it only weighed 12 or 13
ounces. But I really felt I needed another 3 pounds to have a shot at
winning, so I stuck it out. In the end, I came in 3rd. 1oz behind 2nd, and
3 oz behind 1st. One little smallie from the other end of he hill would
have done it for me, no problem.

The stretch from Saratoga to Cambridge received 22 inches of snow that
day.
It was the 4th of October, if memory serves. Power was out all the way
home. Lucky thing I'd filled the truck on the way to the lake in the
morning, cause you couldn't even get gas.

Those were the good old days!

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing


Great stuff Rich. I remember that storm well also. I had to work 12 hour
days for 3 weeks straight to get everyone's phone wires back in the air. You
are right those were the good ole days LOL.

Phil

"go-bassn" wrote in message
...
Good luck Phil buddy!

Warren

Thanks Warren I will probably need it.....lol

Phil