Sussex Night Bassin' + River Serpents

[Skunk City]

Got up to Lake Lenape last friday night with the lady and a few friends for a nice dinner, followed by some tasty topwater Bass for dessert. Initially started off soaking livers for Cats, but an army of huge Snapping Turtles made that nearly impossible. Hooked up with two of them before ditching the bait for plugs. Had blowups what seemed like every other cast, most completely missing the lure. Ended up with a few decent fish, with a couple nice ones coming unbuttoned close to the dock.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160709_123807_zpshl9b7let.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160709_123807_zpshl9b7let.jpg.html)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/20160708_223748_zpsr7yo90nk.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/20160708_223748_zpsr7yo90nk.jpg.html)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160709_123023_zpscgthd4ty.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160709_123023_zpscgthd4ty.jpg.html)

Bounced around a few river spots this week with plugs and experimenting with some new big live baits. As always, big Relax swimshads and jerkbaits coaxed a few fish, but the biggest was taken on a rather large ~7" live bait. This lengthy girl was one of my biggest this year, but like a bonehead I have been fishing without my tape measure lately when bank beating :mad:. I believe I know where my tape measure went (hint: her picture is below :p). These fish are really exerting themselves during the fight and need to be revived and released very quickly with these warm water temps.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160714_085142_zpsqqdwamfm.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160714_085142_zpsqqdwamfm.jpg.html)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160713_133046_zpsqokop4on.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/IMG_20160713_133046_zpsqokop4on.jpg.html)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/IMG_20160714_100729_zps2uwxktyd.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/IMG_20160714_100729_zps2uwxktyd.jpg.html)

[Mikey topaz]

Looks very longgggggg to me!!!! Pines lake?

[Chrisper4694]

those are some nice pine lakes fish!!! hahaha

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thats a nice looking river Gator! Beautiful Pike! Looks rather long indeed.
BUCKET MOUTHS at night. Cant beat that! FISH-ON!!!:D

YEA BUDDY!!!

[Bruce Litton]

Nice fish all 'round!

[JDTuna]

Great fish man. That pike is a beast!

[icebadger]

wow:eek:now that's a great pike.the others are nice fish too man you're git-n-er done bro.did you give smaller topwater plugs a try? sometimes bass that short hit bigger plugs can be tempted to take smaller offerings.

[antgogz]

well done rob......big live bait def works...i have caught pike on 10 inch bait lol...what do u catch your bait with?...maybe this will require a PM

[TheDreamCatchers]

I thought pike were real hard to catch in summer cause they get lethargic. But I guess not. Cant wait too throw some spinnerbaits this fall :D

[Jigman13]

Teeth and toads. Good stuff Roberto!

[Skunk City]

I thought pike were real hard to catch in summer cause they get lethargic. But I guess not. Cant wait too throw some spinnerbaits this fall :D

They won't move during the midday sun, but will get pretty active during the sunrise and sunset "magic hour". With the water temps being near 80 degrees, they will start to show signs of distress (ie. red coloration) if played or handled too long. Quick fights, quick handling without being shaked n' baked, and a proper release is super important this time of year. But yes, they will bite.