Great Sacandaga Lake Report
Friday – Big Fuel-N-Food 3-Day Tournament Weekend
Good morning, everybody.
It’s Friday of the big Fuel-N-Food 3-day tournament, and I just came off the Great Sacandaga in the pickup.
This year’s weight station is set up in the parking lot at Wally’s at Driftwood Park for all you proper people. Stop by, see Lisa — Taylor’s sister — and grab a drink while you weigh in.
The rain last night really didn’t hurt things much at all. There are some slushy spots out there, but nowhere near as bad as I expected. In the worst areas, it was only a little over ankle deep. Yesterday I could move along pretty good in the truck; today I had to slow it down or it would start to chug, but I still had no trouble getting around. The snow has melted down enough that it’s not hanging you up on the skid plate anymore.
That means wheelers and side-by-sides should have a much easier time getting around than they did over the last month. Sleds should be finding it a whole lot smoother too. That warm, sunny day on Wednesday really flattened things out and softened the snow, and it also helped smooth over a lot of the vehicle ruts.
If you’re out on a sled this weekend, just be aware there will be plenty of ruts from all the ice fishing traffic.
Ice thickness is running 24 to 30 inches, so no worries there. We’re not seeing any real runoff yet opening up the inlets, which means the ice is still pretty consistent across the lake.
My prediction: next weekend could be the best riding of the season. It should be flat, fast, and it ought to be a breeze next Friday or Saturday to get your shanty off the lake. So if you’ve got a heavy shanty, you may want to wait until next week to pull it. We’ve got until the 15th.
Can’t wait to see everybody out there. The weather looks like it’s going to cooperate — not much rain, warm temps, and heck, by Sunday we might even catch a little tan.
And with daylight saving time kicking in, we get an extra hour of evening light for the parking lot party. Let’s send off the 2026 ice fishing season the right way and show everybody how Sacandaga Lake does it.
And don’t forget to tip your bartenders.
Fishing Report
The bite has been decent:
Perch: picking up some nice fat ones
Walleyes: lots of small fish
Pike: average size so far, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one push 48 inches this weekend with this weather
Trout: still mostly nonexistent
Bass: not in season, but they’re biting like crazy
Tip of the Week
When you’re riding, wait for your girlfriend.
Ask Jack Belknap.
Disclaimer: Ice and lake conditions can change quickly and vary by location. Please use caution, travel at your own risk, and always check conditions before heading out. Follow all local laws and regulations, respect posted warnings, and use appropriate safety gear at all times.
