Easiest Non-Panfish Fish to Catch in Cold Water?

[KSanford33]

I'm trying to get a buddy of mine into fishing, so I'm taking him out on the Mohawk River this weekend. The high will be 40 and the water temperature might hit 35 if we're lucky. Yes, before you say it, I know taking him out in these conditions isn't the way to get him into fishing, but he wants to get out of the house. So I figure if we're going to be outside we might as well get on some fish while we're there. Any suggestions?

[Jar11591]

Edit* I was erroneous in my initial response! 
 

@KSanford33, Both esox and walleye season is open until March 15th. Both are active in cold water and abundant in the Mohawk. I forgot it’s only March 1st.

[gim]

2 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Esox species bite very well in the cold water, however pike, pickerel and muskie season is currently closed in NYS. Trout thrive in cold water as well, but they don’t live in the Mohawk. Walleye may be your best bet. They’re very active in cold water - they’re a common catch through the ice and the Mohawk is loaded with them. 

Walleye season is open there but pike season is closed?  How odd.

[Finessegenics]

Tough one. Soaking some nightcrawlers and seeing what bites is probably the way to go. I’d say Walleye but I don’t know your river. They tend to migrate to the big waters in the winter so I don’t know if they’ll hold in your river. If it’s a larger and deeper river then probably! 

[Jar11591]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Walleye season is open there but pike season is closed?  How odd.

I was mistaken. I got a month ahead of myself. Walleye season is open until the 15th, as well as the esox season. 

[gim]

1 minute ago, Jar11591 said:

I was mistaken. I got a month ahead of myself. Walleye season is open until the 15th, as well as the esox season. 

In that case, I'd target the northern pike.  As you stated in your previous post.

[KSanford33]

19 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Edit* I was erroneous in my initial response! 
 

@KSanford33, Both esox and walleye season is open until March 15th. Both are active in cold water and abundant in the Mohawk. I forgot it’s only March 1st.

Thanks Jar! That's what I'll do then; take him to the dam and see if we can hook into anything.

[Bluebasser86]

Any white bass or white perch in the area? They're usually pretty catchable in icy water. 

[KSanford33]

4 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Any white bass or white perch in the area? They're usually pretty catchable in icy water. 

Unfortunately no, both are extremely rare around here. We have plenty of yellow perch though.

[casts_by_fly]

The crappie are moved shallow right now. Right as ice out a couple degrees is enough to get them onto shallow cover to warm up. Perch are usually with them. A dozen or two fatheads or small shiners and soak them. Throw a twister tail on another rod while you wait. 

[TnRiver46]

[bulldog1935]

I can't believe no one has answered rainbow trout.  

Dumbest fish out there, and one of the prettiest.  

In spite of "wild trout only" testaments and snob appeal, the wilder, the dumber.  

 

You can catch them on spinners, jigs, corn.  

I taught my (then) young daughters to fly fish by having them sit in my lap to tie fake corn kernel flies, and chumming stocked trout with corn.  

[ATA]

15 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I can't believe no one has answered rainbow trout.  

Dumbest fish out there, and one of the prettiest.  

In spite of "wild trout only" testaments and snob appeal, the wilder, the dumber.  

 

You can catch them on spinners, jigs, corn.  

I taught my (then) young daughters to fly fish by having them sit in my lap to tie fake corn kernel flies, and chumming stocked trout with corn.  

I was about to but you beat me to it

 

[Jar11591]

19 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I can't believe no one has answered rainbow trout.  

He mentioned he’s fishing the Mohawk River. There are no trout in the Mohawk.

[Deleted account]

On 3/1/2023 at 1:38 PM, KSanford33 said:

I'm trying to get a buddy of mine into fishing, so I'm taking him out on the Mohawk River this weekend. The high will be 40 and the water temperature might hit 35 if we're lucky. Yes, before you say it, I know taking him out in these conditions isn't the way to get him into fishing, but he wants to get out of the house. So I figure if we're going to be outside we might as well get on some fish while we're there. Any suggestions?

 

Might as well fish for peacocks, cause the results are going to be similar. Taking out folks who "want to get into fishing" in low probability situations is a great way to make golfers.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

He mentioned he’s fishing the Mohawk River. There are no trout in the Mohawk.

Ya - but according to Cornell U, Freshwater Drum have moved in...dunno how easy those are to catch.

https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/mohawk-river-watershed/fisheries-mohawk-river-watershed

 

Otherwise maybe Walleye.

[Jar11591]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - but according to Cornell U, Freshwater Drum have moved in...dunno how easy those are to catch.

https://cals.cornell.edu/water-resources-institute/watersheds/mohawk-river-watershed/fisheries-mohawk-river-watershed

 

Otherwise maybe Walleye.

Not surprised, they are in some of the larger bodies of water around here like Lake Champlain. I’m near the eastern stretch near where it dumps into the Hudson. Although I’d like to know when northern pike we’re considered rare (according to Cornell) in the Mohawk. It’s been loaded with pike for my entire existence.