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April 10, 2009 by
Northeast
Spring is slowly emerging in the Big Apple and New York anglers are seeing more opportunities to shake off cabin fever and wet a line. Karl Anderson at Urban Angler on 5th Avenue reported water temperatures fluctuating between 40 degrees and 48 degrees. “Fishing early in the season is super hard because release flows are not announced,” he explained, “you could show up to the river and find the trip blown cold or high water.” So, Karl has been fishing New York reservoirs and creeks on eastern Long Island for brown and rainbow trout. He’s using streamers like white Zonkers or small black wooly buggers. “Streamers can imitate anything from a bait fish to a hellgrammite,” Karl says. Nymphs patters such as the gold ribbed hare, small black stones, pheasant tails, and copper Johns in size 4 to 12 have also been effective. “Fishing is tough,” he said, “you’re lucky if you catch just one fish.”
Mid-Atlantic
It must be spring because anglers from New Jersey to North Carolina are encountering large numbers of big tog. Captain John Nedelka www.karensueboat.com has been blistering big blackfish out of Indian River, Delaware. He’s been fishing with green crabs and clams on wrecks that are in 80 to 90 feet of water. Last week, they scored 11 fish between 9 and 11 pounds. And Nedelka calls that a “slow day” expecting the fishing to get even better as the water gets warmer. Last week, we fished with Ken Neill and crew on the Healthy Grin and caught 38 tog, including 14 keepers over 14 inches, off Virginia Beach. Ken started fishing offshore and hit several wrecks in 100 feet of water before coming inshore and loading up on one piece of structure in 70 feet. We were using blue crab and chowder clam on a single dropper bottomrig with a 3/0 baitholder hook and 6 to 10 ounces of lead. Anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel have also been getting in on the tog bite by anchoring over the rock tubes or in front of the pilings. Matt Shepard and his kayak-fishing buddies hit the south island of the CBBT last week and found steady action on keeper tog on the change of the tide. It seems that everywhere Mid Atlantic anglers turn, they are encountering tog.
South
“Lots of wind and no fishing,” reported Chris at Professional Sport Shop in New Orleans. For the past week, anglers have been hemmed in by the weather. Luckily, chris expects the action to fire up when the wind lies down. First, he looks for trout to show up along the bridges and trestles. He says that anglers will troll RatLtraps with lead-core line along the pilings. Chris suggests replacing the back treble hook on the plug with a 2 foot piece of leader and a soft plastic jig. “Use a flats boat and bump troll along the pilings,” Chris says. He expects fishing in the creeks and canals to pick up as bait moves into the area. Right now, the best bite is on Tsunami swim shad or Fin-S soft plastics. Perch fishing has also picked up along HWY 51 in Manshack and Riddick. He said that anglers casting Bettlespins, crickets, or worms are loading up on tasty pan fish. Offshore fishing has also been slowed by the weather. Crews are catching wahoo, blackfin, and yellowfin when the wind subsides. Once the conditions improve, Chris expects the fishing to take off. “Right now, we either get rain and high water or wind that blows the water out,” he said.
Midwest
Bass fishing on fire around St. Louis, Missouri this week. John at Bull’s Eye Bait and Tackle www.bullseyebaitandtackle.com reported excellent fishing on Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and North Fork. He suggests looking for the fish in the shallows on a warm day and in 12 to 18 feet of water when the temperature drops. The best baits have been Lucky Craft suspending jerk baits. “Everyone has his favorite color,” John says.
West
The spring run of Chinook salmon is picking up speed as the fish move up the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Jim at Chinook Bait and Tackle www.chinookbaitandtackle.com reported the best springer action around Portland and Longview. He said that anglers who slow troll plug-cut herring on the incoming tide or back bounce a sardine wrap on a Quickfish during the outgoing are averaging one keeper salmon to three throwbacks. Jim said that local anglers are just starting to explore the possibilities around Deep River and Brookfield. He had just outfitted several crews and sent them to fish the pilings around Brookfield. “Can’t wait to hear how they do,” he said.
[ Read Full Post ]April 3, 2009 by
Northeast
Fans of the NCAA’s Final Four are in for some good basketball and great fishing this week. After the game, UCONN anglers will want to head to the Connecticut River and fish for monster pike. Trevor Burwick at Connecticut Outfitters www.ct-outfitters.com told us that early spring pike fishing is heating up in the shallow coves and marinas. “Guys are fishing with big shiners or big soft plastics,” Trevor said. He recommends rigging a 7- to 12-inch Houdini shad on a 7/0 to 9/0 hook with no weight. “The pike are getting into spawning mode,” he told us. Trevor expects big striped bass to show up soon. “We’re already catching schoolies in the coves, discharges, and main river,” he said. Anglers are fishing sand worms on a fishfinder rig with a 2/0 to 3/0 hook. When the bigger fish move in, Trevor recommends anglers add chunks of menhaden to their bait menu and increase the size of the hook on their fishfinder to 5/0 to 8/0 hook. Trevor was hopeful about the spring fishing season. “This warm weather should get the fish biting,” he said.
Mid-Atlantic
For Philly anglers, the only thing better than watching Villanova win the NCAA Championship would be hooking into a monster striper on the Susquehanna Flats. Herb Benjamin at Herb’s Bait and Tackle http://home.comcast.net/~HerbsTackleShop/index.htm in North East, Maryland reported that anglers are catching big rockfish on the flats with both live bait and lures. While striper season won’t open until May 16, anglers can still catch and release big striper on the flats. Herb recommends launching a boat at Anchor Marina and fish the drift the flats while casting Bass Assassins, Tony Acetta spoons, or RattLtraps. The striper will also hit bloodworms on a top bottom rig or a strip of herring on a Carolina rig. “You have to use a non-offset circle hook,” Herb reminds anglers. He added that largemouth bass fishing has also been awesome. “This area is the third best bass fishing destination on the East Coast,” Herb bragged. He said that anglers are fishing the flats on the North East, Sassafras, and Susquehanna Rivers with a variety of jigs, plugs, and soft plastics. Guys looking to celebrate the big game with a fish fry should head to Turkey Point and load up on big white perch. No matter how the game turns out, the food will definitely be good.
South
North Carolina’s waters will be uncrowded on Saturday while every Tarheel in the state is glued to a television, radio, or computer watching UNC in the Final Four. Ken Merwitzer at Carolina Outdoor Sportsman www.carolinaoutdoorsportsman.com told us that Falls Lake has been a hot spot for largemouth bass up to 9 pounds. “We’ve been selling a lot of live minnows and Bagley Balsawood Baits,” he said. The best starting point has been Bluejay Park. Ken added that shad fishing has been hot for guys fishing Nungesser shad darts from any of the public access areas along Roanoke Rapids. On the coast, saltwater fishing his picking up. Ken said that anglers are starting to catch red drum in the shallows and along the beaches while tuna are getting most of the attention offshore. We called Captain Scott Warren on Big Tahuna for the latest offshore information. Scott told us that bluefin tuna are still thick on the 400 and 500 lines while yellowfin showed up off the rockpile this week. He said that his crew had the fish rolling and busting all around the boat on Wednesday. Scott added that blackfin tuna are still holding over the wrecks and rockpiles while the bottom is covered with blueline tilefish. “Fishing is good and getting better,” he told us.
Midwest
Anglers around the Motor City are revved up about fishing and basketball this week. Not only is Michigan in the Final Four, but the tournament is being held in Detroit at the hight of the walleye bite. Bill Dougherty at Bottomline Bait and Tackle http://bottomlinetackle.tripod.com/ reported excellent walleye action on the lower Detroit River. Bill said that the best fishing has been in Trenton Channel with a jig and minnow or trolling a Rapala plug on a handline. He added that yellowperch fishing is good on the Canada side of the river’s mouth. Bill suggests fishing a shiner on a perch rig along the edges of the shipping channel and around any rockpiles. “I had some yellowperch for dinner last night,” he bragged. Big pike are holding in the back bays and shallows. “They’re feeding heavily before they spawn,” Bill told us. He suggest fishing a live sucker under a bobber to score pike over 34 inches. Anglers looking to fish off the bank should head to Lake Erie Metro Park with a mess of waxworms and small jigs. Before hanging up the phone, Bill added that steelhead are still running in the Huron River. Bill says the best place to find the steelies is along Point Moulliee State Park. “Fishing is free in the park for anyone with a Michigan fishing license,” he adds.
West
So, where will the NCAA Champions go after winning the big game? Disney World, of course. Players looking to take a break from roller coasters and theme shows, should head to Seal Beach with a cooler and a couple fishing rods. Robert Douglas at Big Fish www.bigfishtackle.com in Anaheim told us that the pier has been putting up jack smelt, mackerel, and a few halibut. He said that the pan fish will fall for a sliced anchovy on a two hook bottomrig or Carolina rig. Halibut are looking for a bigger meal. Robert suggests catching live anchovies and sardines with a sabiki rig then turning them into halibut bait on single dropper loop. Surf fishing is also good. Robert points anglers to Huntington Beach and Seal Beach for barred surf perch, corbina and halibut. Robert is really looking forward to the arrival of grunion to the coast. The invasion of these small fish brings larger preditors to the beach. “Hopefully the striper will come back, too,” he says.
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