New Years Eve Pike

[Skunk City]

Took advantage of the unseasonable weather and got out on the Passaic River with a couple buddies for the afternoon. Upon arrival at one of our two spots, we spotted a nice Pike hanging out a few feet from shore. After fishing for a bit, my buddy hooked up with a small 16" Pike...not a bad start. Shortly after, I hooked up with one but lost the fish at the surface after a headshake...then had a huge blowup on a topwater Rapala a few minutes later.

About when we were ready to pack it in, my buddy hooked up with this guy on a shiner. All in all, 2 pike were landed and we lost 4 more. I'm hoping to get back down there tommorow and Monday to land one myself. Not bad for Dec. 31st right?

[catfishonthelake]

Nice job man. That's a nice fish.

[Skunk City]

Thanks Mark. I'm hoping for a nice 40" soon lol.

Was pretty surprised on the topwater action in this cold of water.

[AndyS]

Great fishin' and nice Pike !! Thanx for the report.

[NJ219bands]

Outstanding.

[JIMMY L]

Nice fish! I havent fished the river for 4or5 years. Age {66},some nasty odors and debris fields like the one your standing in kind of turned me off. Still have some good memories however of some beautiful smallies and pike. always caught more and larger fish on shiners after heavy pounding w/lures of all types.Good luck.

[Skunk City]

You couldn't be more right about how littered it is in some spots. This particular spot is as bad as I've seen any body of water as far as litter goes...but don't tell the pike that; they're thriving in the Passaic. Boots, any sort of ball you could ask for, liquor bottles, 55 gallon drums, etc. But, I have fished some spots on this river where it's absolutely GORGEOUS and litter free (Great Piece Meadows in Wayne/Lincoln Park). I guess you have to take everything into consideration when it comes to fishing in the metropolitan area right?

Toghead, if you don't mind me asking, what areas did you used to focus on?

[JIMMY L]

Just south of 80 off river road in west paterson and by the old water pumping station in little falls. besides the reasons in my previous post i should have mentioned some of the unsavory characters i would come across.Got to the point where i wouldnt fish alone!

[ReelErIn]

[BIGRED2]

Skunk, what area of the river were you fishing? Also, have you ever fished for pike below the dundee falls in Garfield?? Has anyone for that matter?