Topwater bite. For real.

[Lard Almighty]

I snuck out of work early today and hit some ponds in Farmingdale. I caught two small bass on a rooster tail, and missed one on a senko. Just for giggles I tied on a Pop-R, and to my surprise started getting surprisingly aggressive strikes from pickerel! I only managed to land one, but it was a 20" rolling pin. Lots of fish in the shallows moving around, too.

If this isn't a sign to get the gear out of the back of the garage, I don't know what is. Get out there!

[fishermanv]

Yep..Went last night to a local pond, the picks where swiping the floating rapala but no hooks. One actually completely jumped over the lure. Nothing hammered the lure though.. getting closer..

[Ely]

had the same experience at lake ashroe over the weekend. Pickerel all over the place but only a few to be caught. it seems to be warming earlier this year and that may switch everything on shortly!

have not run into many guys out there yet so you mostly have ponds and lakes to yourself! might try furnace lake this weekend

[bunker dunker]

black and silver floating rapala twiched on top,pickerel magnet

[fishermanv]

black and silver floating rapala twiched on top,pickerel magnet

Yessir!

[AJFISH13]

Been catching most of my pickeral the way Bunker Dunker mentioned lately. They defintely strike aggresively, much more aggresively than a bass.

[SplitShot]

Just woke up....and after reading these reports, I'm loading stuff into the truck and heading out in 20 minutes for my inaugural fishing of 2011... will post later of any action.... thanks everyone :)

[SplitShot]

Back with report from yesterday...... hit Spring Lake in the AM. 10th cast on a gold/red 1/6oz phoebe landed a 15" Rainbow.... had one more hit but got off on way in. Also had a line out with 2 colors of powerbait with no hits on that. Wind was WICKED!!! White caps on the lake. Only lasted 1 hr before my hands were freezing..... felt nice to finally be out again. Heading to the Somerset Show this morning......