By J. Michael Kelly

The Empire State has more than 7,500 fishable lakes and ponds within its borders, but only about one in 15 hold trout. Of the 500 or so bodies of water which harbor wild or stocked browns, brookies, rainbows or lakers, only around 130, including Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, are open to ice-fishing.

Why is our state so protective of trout at this time of year?

As Les Wedge, former Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 fisheries manager, reminded me, ice-fishing is permitted mainly in two types of trout lakes, i.e., waters that are large enough to withstand the cold-season traffic, or smaller lakes that are heavily stocked put-and-take fisheries.

The prevailing management philosophy, Wedge explained, is to grant ice-fishing opportunities in waters where an extra two or three months of angling pressure will have minimal effect on the trout populations.

Some of those opportunities are truly exceptional. In selected fishing holes in every region of New York, hardwater specialists have an honest chance to hook trout weighing 5 pounds or more on their tip-ups.

The following are among the best places in the state for winter trout fishers to make their trophy dreams come true.

The irony is, you needn't choose between the two species. Instead, why not start the day by jigging up a few frying-size smelt, then slip one of those tasty little fish on a No. 2 bait hook and lower it into the lake trout strike zone? Some days, the lakers will be hugging bottom; on others, they'll be right in the middle of the smelt schools getting a bellyful.

Champlain lake trout are mostly 3- to 8-pound fish, but every so often somebody catches a double-digit beauty. As a bonus, the lake has a fair population of landlocked salmon, which are also inclined to dine on smelt.

Some of the best lake trout fishing in 15,900-acre Lake Champlain is in its Essex County midsection, roughly from Willsboro south to Crown Point. Most of this expanse of ice is closely paralleled by Route 9 and accessible from west shore village piers, including those at Willsboro, Westport and Port Henry.

Anglers may creel up to three trout and two salmon of 15 inches or longer per day in Lake Champlain.

The DEC Region 5 office in Ray Brook, at (518) 897-1200, is a logical source for recent Lake Champlain fishing reports, while the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce, (518) 563-1000, can assist readers in locating nearby lodging.

Photo by Paul Updike

Sportsmen who took part in the Lake George angler diary program during the 2003 season reported many catches of 12 to 20 lakers. About one-fourth of those togue measured at least 23 inches, which is the minimum creel length for the species in Lake George.

The sport is so good that Rich Preall, a DEC Region 5 fisheries biologist, is thinking of lowering the creel length or even increasing the existing two-fish-per-day creel limit for lakers a couple of years from now.

Drill wide-diameter holes if you decide to tackle lakers here. One of Preall's DEC colleagues pulled an 18-pound lake trout through George's frozen surface a few winters back, and 10- to 12-pounders are caught annually.

Salmon are a different story.

"The catch rate for landlocks today is maybe 10 percent of what it used to be," Preall said.

He suspects that a decline in Lake George's smelt population is a factor in the salmon fade-out. Smelt numbers dipped so sharply in the 1980s that biologists banned their use or possession in the lake. Although the baitfish seem to have made a bit of a rally in recent years, the prohibition against their use is still in effect.

Lake George is off Route 9N in Warren County. Maps are available at sporting goods shops in Lake George Village, including Ellsworth Bait and Tackle at (518) 668-4624. Anglers who scan the maps will immediately notice that Lake George has two fairly distinct basins, north and south. The north basin, roughly from Ticonderoga south to the narrows at Tongue Mountain is by far the better of the two for trout and salmon. Ice-fishing access to the north basin can be had at the villages of Hague and Silver Bay, both off Route 9; and at the DEC campground at Rogers Rock.

For advice on area lodging, visitors may contact the Warren County Tourism office at (800) 958-4748. Be sure to ask for a copy of their Grand Slam Fishing booklet when you call.

In addition to its robust landlock population, Schroon Lake has an abundance of lake trout.

"It's not known for monster lakers, but has lots of them of good average size," Preall said. "I'd say lakers of 3 to 5 pounds are the norm."

Such fish are frequently caught through the ice in the 100-foot depths between the north shore village of Schroon Lake and Clark's Island, which many locals refer to as Word of Life Island after the religious congregation that holds activities there.

Another likely location for both lakers and salmon is the deep water at the narrows, where the lake is cinched by two prominent opposing points.

The creel limit for lake trout in Schroon Lake is two per day of 18 inches or longer. Anglers are also allowed to keep up to three landlocks of 15 inches or better.

Along with trout and salmon, Schroon's waters happen to harbor some of New York's biggest northern pike. Fishing near the weedy north and south ends will give you a crack at pike up to 20 pounds.

Schroon Lake spans 4,100 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 152 feet. The DEC office in Ray Brook, listed above, will supply interested readers with a basic contour map. The Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, (518) 532-7675, also has a map-brochure that includes a listing of local accommodations.

Some of the togue in Lake of the Woods weigh more than 10 pounds. The creel limit is the same as the statewide standard, three per day of 21 inches or longer.

Lake of the Woods is about 85 miles north of Syracuse. To get there, take Interstate Route 81 north to Exit 48, north of Watertown. There, turn east on Route 342. Take that road to Route 37, turn left and drive about 15 miles to Cottage Road, which leads to Burns Road and the DEC access site.

The DEC office in Watertown, (315) 785-2261, has a free booklet on the Indian River Lakes that includes a basic contour map of Lake of the Woods.

You should be able to find bait and other tackle items at Hughes Grocery in Theresa at (315) 628-5342. The 1000 Islands International Tourism Council at (800) 847-5263 is happy to assist anglers who need help finding overnight lodging and other amenities near Lake of the Woods.