Lake George fishing — 1888

April ice melting brings May anglers.

“Trout fishing commences today,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 1, 1888. “Glens Falls and Sandy Hill fishermen who make trips to Lake George every spring will doubtless get their fishing tackle in readiness at once for an assault on fishing beauties.”

There would be plenty of fishing stories as the months progressed.

“K. Mason of Sandy Hill caught a nice lot of trout (at Lake George) on Saturday, the largest weighing nine pounds. Conkey, the photographer of Glens Falls, went to the trout grounds with his little steamer on Friday,” The Morning Star reported on May 9

Mrs. Joseph Smith, a guest at the Grove House “won distinction … when she landed a five-pound pickerel,” The Morning Star reported on July 9.

It was about half the weight of a pickerel that another woman caught later in the month, if boasting is accurate.

“Miss Louise Lenotell of Stillwater, yesterday, hooked a fine pickerel weighting — well, say ten pounds. This gives her the championship around the ladies of Bolton,” The Morning Star reported on July 25.

Eli Hallock caught an 8.5-pound pickerel at East Lake George on July 20.

A great catch on a Saturday tempted this vacationing preacher to violate the next day’s Christian Sabbath.

“The Rev. G.P. Reed, of Brooklyn, captured a ten-and-one-half-pound pickerel near Bolton on Saturday last,” The Morning Star reported on July 19. “With difficulty was the reverend gentlemen restrained from fish for his (the fish’s) mate on the following day.”

The Morning Star, in the same issue, recommended an expert fishing guide.

“Went Finkle is the most popular fisherman at Bolton, if you judge from the prizes he secures and the calls made upon him for a day’s fishing. With Mr. Finkle as guide, you are sure of good fish and good treatment.”

Aug. 1 was a major day on the fishing calendar.

“The bass season opens today, and lovers of the toothsome fish may now cast without fear of Constable Burnett”

The catch was plentiful.

“J. Brown of New York and Ira R. Allen of Fair Haven, Vermont, landed a very fine string of bass (from Lake George) on Saturday, the largest weighing four pounds and two ounces,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 6.

“Last week was noted for bass,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 9. “Mr. Erwin brought in twelve fine bass and a number of pickerel. He has the reputation of being able to catch them from the piazza of the Locust Grove (hotel).”

Luck seemed to favor the vacationing fishermen from Sandy Hill later in August.

“Eli Hall of Sandy Hill, who is a guest of Horicon Lodge, hooked a ten-and-one-half pound pickerel the other day,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 22. “Gipson Mason, also of Sandy Hill, caught a pickerel weighing ten pounds.”

This group camping at East Lake George had a designated fisherman.

“The ‘Star Gazers’ from Glens Falls are making it lively and having a good time,” The Morning Star reported on Sept. 3. “Harris furnishes the fish for the party. He caught a fine string of bass yesterday, the largest weighing twelve pounds.”

This family appeared to have a designated fisherwoman.

“Henry Pierson and family, of Troy, have returned home after three weeks’ sojourn at the Grove House,” The Morning Star reported Sept. 3. “While here, Mrs. Pierson caught a four-pound pickerel, a three-pound eel, and a three-pound bass, beside a large quantity of perch and bullheads.”

Big fish were still being caught in October.

“W.H. Crawford of Troy, whole trolling on Lake George last Friday, caught and landed a pickerel weighting eighteen pounds.”

Diehard fishermen were still plying the waters in mid-November.

“Landlord Pardo has gone down the lake for a few days’ fishing,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 15. “He will make his headquarters at the Hundred Island House.”

It was a restful time.

“Landlord Pardo of the American House returned yesterday, cheerful and smiling, from an enjoyable fishing trip down the lake,” The Morning Star reported on Nov. 19.