Where to go...with the wife to fix/relax

[Bigguyone]

Looking to head to NY to catch a bunch of fish in mid sept 17-21st. Have never been to upstate at all as grew up in the western US. Looking for a nice place to relax (likely rent a cabin unless some hotel/resort highly recommended), enjoy some decent food and either rent a boat (on a smaller lake) or just do 1 day guided and then a 1/2 day. Prefer smallmouth as live in TX currently so lotsa largemouth down here. Any GREAT recommendations at all?

THANK YOU in advance.

[ECobb91]

I’d highly recommend the tri-lake area (Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid). Can’t beat the mountains and most of the fish are unpressured. About an 1.5hrs to Champlain so you could get a guide there if wanted. the good thing about this area though is you have great mountain or backwoods pond hiking within minutes of either town, shopping opportunities, great food especially in Placid, can tour the Olympic facilities in Placid and sometimes you can watch the olympians train. Going mid September you’ll be early leaf peeping season so it won’t be too packed and some leaves will color the sky.

In regards to fishing, Boat rentals are plentiful and if you really want to get off the beaten path you could rent a canoe near Lake Clear and it opens to numerous remote ponds/lakes that are only accessible via canoes or kayaks. Upper Saranac lake would have your best bet for smallmouth but it’s a fairly large lake, there’s pontoon boat rentals and smaller v bottom boat rentals available at the Saranac Marina. If you’re into fly fishing, you could hire a guide in Wilmington and fish the Ausable.

some people love the 1000 islands or finger lakes area, but imo the Adirondacks can’t be beat. We’re hoping we can move up near Lake Clear one day but for now we live 30min from the southern “blue line” and 2.5hrs from Tupper.

[BUCK65]

It's hard to beat the scenery of the Adirondacks. You could easily split a week and spend a couple days in the Adirondacks and a couple in Alexandria Bay or Clayton for small mouth.

[BillsFan]

Finger lake region is another great part of the state that might fit the bill.

[mflora98ss]

The Finger Lakes region would be perfect for what you’re looking for. Cayuga, and Keuka are two lakes to check out for brown fish. Also could hit up Oneida lake as well as it’s roughly an hour and a half north of the area.

[BoatBuggy]

Mid-Sept is the best time of year up here. I go for renting a riverfront place in the 1000 Islands. The area pretty much empties out after Labor Day. Walk across the bridge, take a boat tour of the islands, visit the castles, watch freighters pass by so close you can almost touch them and smallmouth - lots and lots of smallmouth. The big ones should be coming up from the depths in mid-Sept with the feed bags on.

[jerzia]

The Adirondak Mt. area is indeed beautiful, breathtaking at times of Fall foliage, but agree the St Lawrence/ 1000 Island area is pretty hard to beat as well. The pre Labor Day crowds are gone and it gets downright peaceful. West Winds motel in Clayton, while not a cabin, offers a very nice stay without breaking the bank. If your are interested in a guided trip, I have a good friend who is one of the best out there. One thing you should know going in, this isn't TX, especially this time of year. The temperatures can get pretty low at night, often into the low 40's. Daytime will probably be quite pleasant, but nothing like the heat you most likely are coming from. This might not matter to you, but needs to be mentioned just the same.

[BUCK65]

The Adirondak Mt. area is indeed beautiful, breathtaking at times of Fall foliage, but agree the St Lawrence/ 1000 Island area is pretty hard to beat as well. The pre Labor Day crowds are gone and it gets downright peaceful. West Winds motel in Clayton, while not a cabin, offers a very nice stay without breaking the bank. If your are interested in a guided trip, I have a good friend who is one of the best out there. One thing you should know going in, this isn't TX, especially this time of year. The temperatures can get pretty low at night, often into the low 40's. Daytime will probably be quite pleasant, but nothing like the heat you most likely are coming from. This might not matter to you, but needs to be mentioned just the same.

Great point about weather. We were there for ten days end of July and had 49 one morning. We stay at Otter Creek Inn in Alexandria Bay. Walking distance to restaurants and can keep the boats in the water in a protected creek. The owners are awesome as well.