Ice Fishing Fort Drum: Walleye & Salmon Trips
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Private ice fishing trips targeting Walleye and Salmon speciesAll gear and bait provided with professional guide serviceBeginnerfriendly adventures in Fort Drum North Country area
When winter locks up the lakes around Fort Drum, that's when the real fishing begins. I'm talking about some of the best ice fishing Upstate New York has to offer, and I've been guiding anglers through these frozen waters for years. Whether you're a complete beginner who's never held an ice rod or a seasoned angler looking to dial in your walleye game, these private trips are designed to get you on fish while keeping things safe and fun. We're targeting prime walleye and salmon through the ice, and trust me – there's nothing quite like feeling that first tap on your rod tip when it's twenty degrees outside and the fish are hungry below.
This isn't your typical crowded ice fishing scene. You get me as your dedicated guide for either a half-day or full-day adventure, and we're fishing spots I've been dialing in for years around the Fort Drum area. I handle all the heavy lifting – drilling holes, setting up the shelter, and making sure you've got everything you need from rods to bait. The North Country winters can be brutal, but that's exactly when walleye and salmon are most active under the ice. We'll be working depths anywhere from twelve to forty feet, depending on where the fish are holding that day. I bring portable shelters to keep you comfortable, and all the electronics needed to locate schools of fish. Safety is always the top priority – I check ice conditions constantly and carry all the necessary safety gear. These trips work great for solo anglers who want personalized instruction, and I love working with beginners because there's something special about watching someone land their first walleye through the ice.
Ice fishing for walleye and salmon requires a completely different approach than open-water fishing, and that's where my experience really pays off. We'll be using medium-light ice rods paired with quality reels spooled with six to eight-pound test line. The key is sensitivity – you need to feel every subtle tap and lift from these fish, especially walleye which can be notoriously light biters in winter. I provide everything from jigs and spoons to live minnows and wax worms, depending on what's working that day. We'll typically start with jigging spoons to call fish in, then switch to more finesse presentations once we locate them on the electronics. The beauty of guided ice fishing is that I'm constantly adjusting our approach based on conditions – sometimes we're aggressively jigging, other times we're dead-sticking minnows just off the bottom. I'll teach you how to read your rod tip, when to set the hook, and most importantly, how to fight fish through a six-inch hole without losing them. The electronics setup includes a quality fish finder so you can actually watch fish approach your bait, which adds a whole new dimension to the fishing experience.
Walleye are the main target species, and for good reason – they're absolutely phenomenal through the ice in our North Country waters. These fish typically run anywhere from fourteen to twenty-four inches, with the occasional trophy pushing toward thirty inches. Winter walleye are different animals compared to their warm-water behavior. They school up tight in specific depth ranges, usually relating to structure or drop-offs, and when you find them, you can often catch multiple fish from the same hole. The best bite usually happens during low-light periods – early morning, late afternoon, and especially that magic hour right before dark when they really turn on. What makes walleye so exciting to target is their fight combined with their incredible table fare. A fresh walleye fillet is hard to beat, and these winter fish are absolutely prime eating. They're also perfect for beginners because once you locate a school, they're generally willing to bite, giving new ice anglers plenty of action to build confidence. The salmon we target add an extra dimension to these trips – they're stronger fighters and provide great variety when the walleye bite slows down.
The ice season around Fort Drum typically runs from late December through early March, depending on weather conditions, and the fishing just gets better as winter progresses. These private trips book up fast because word gets around when the bite is hot, and having a dedicated guide makes all the difference between a good day and a great day on the ice. I'm constantly monitoring ice conditions and fish activity, so when you book with BattleFish Black River, you're getting real-time local knowledge that you simply can't get anywhere else. The half-day trips are perfect if you want to test the waters or have limited time, while the full-day adventures let us really dial in on the best bite windows and explore multiple spots. Every trip is tailored to your experience level, so whether you're looking to learn the basics or fine-tune your ice fishing skills, we'll make it happen. Contact BattleFish Black River today to secure your dates – the best ice fishing in Upstate New York is waiting, and I guarantee you'll leave with a new appreciation for what winter fishing is all about.
Upstate New York