“Trophy Largemouth on the Fly”
Many kids grow up learning to fish with a spinning or push button style fishing pole. It is common for novice anglers to chase perch, sunfish and largemouth bass. I remember many early mornings and sunset evenings spent on the water in my canoe or boat fishing for that 5+ pound “trophy” largemouth bass. The excitement of catching a trophy bass has always lured me back for another opportunity. Once I really got into fly fishing I switched my tactics to chasing wild trout or lake run salmon and steelhead in moving water. Largemouth bass hunting and warm water fishing was put on the backburner to chase cold water species. What I always underestimated was how passionate anglers (including me) are about chasing bass. Largemouth don’t give an easy fight; they dive deep and shake their heads with power and ferocity. Warm weather, site casting and strip setting is a blast. Once you’re locked in, the battle on a fly rod can keep a grin on your face the entire time. The Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club has given our team at Zero Limit Adventures the opportunity to truly enjoy the power of a largemouth bass on a fly.There are many locations both locally and overseas where fly fishermen can travel to catch trophy largemouth bass. Substantial costs, large crowds, and travel time make this difficult for many anglers. Fortunately, there’s quality fishing opportunities in a beautiful setting available closer than you’d think in New York State. The Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club is located on 450 acres of gently rolling land with three still water lakes. This warm water fishery is only a few miles from our new favorite the Tailwater Lodge on the Salmon River. It gives us anglers the opportunity to get away from crowds and fish in water that likely holds a New York State record largemouth bass. This fishery has been managed over 25 years by a passionate expert who is dedicated to produce healthy fish. Not only does the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club produce trophy sized largemouth but also bluegill, crappie, and sunfish, all much larger than average size.
There are three lakes at the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club that provide anglers with up to 40 acres of exclusive and prestigious bass water, all spring fed. Each lake is of varied size and has multiple vegetative characteristics. Throughout each of the three lakes there are different depths for these fish to inhabit, and most importantly, hunt. Currently, this fishery contains northern strain largemouth stocked 25 years ago with over 3500 fish. The lakes were also stocked 15 years ago, adding another 1000 to the waters. No doubt there are largemouth lurking in these waters from 25 years ago! A few king sized bass have been recorded. The property owner caught and released a 10.5 pound largemouth bass last summer (2014).
Initially, I wondered how it was possible for the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club to sustain and grow largemouth bass to record size in Upstate NY. When the season reaches the peak of winter in Upstate NY, it’s hard to think about any life surviving through such bitter cold temperatures. After many years of fishing, a 5lb largemouth has always been the trophy size. I have only heard of 10+lb largemouth being caught in southern states like Texas, Georgia or Florida. The answer is that this exclusive fishery has the perfect ecosystem. Between the Tug Hill geography and management of the property, the microscopic water life, waterborne insects, dragon flies, frogs, mice, salamanders, bait fish and chubs all make sustainable food sources for the biotic organisms in the fishery. If you were to create a food web of these lakes and see where energy is transferred, it shows the most efficient circle of life, and toward the top of the food chain, largemouth bass are reaping the benefits. Management has also strategically enhanced the fishery to foster an aquatic ecosystem. They have submerged structures underwater to build up algae and have laid down 125 spawning beds throughout the lakes for bass to nest. Each bed has the optimum gravel and stone size to provide largemouth protection during mating season. After putting down the first few beds down, weeks later, management noticed fish were on the beds using them to spawn. The Zero Limit Adventure team wants to give anglers the opportunity to experience a rod-bending adventure of a lifetime. This adventure is one you can fit in your schedule. Zero Limit is open to accommodate a morning or evening fish, group trip, family trip or a corporate event. The Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club and Zero Limit Adventures will ensure your time spent will be well worth it. Take your shot at record size largemouth bass on the fly with comfortable accommodations at the Tailwater Lodge. Be the next angler to hoist a king sized largemouth at the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club with Zero Limit Adventures!
