New to freshwater

[Osprey16]

I've been fishing in saltwater for years and finally decided to give freshwater a try this year. I live about 5 minutes from the Assunpink lakes, so the past couple days I've been screwing around with a little rapala with no luck. I don't have a boat, so maybe being stuck on the shore hurts my chances. Maybe it's just too early and too cold. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction just to get started fishing these lakes for bass, pickerel, or really anything that will put a bend in my rod. Thanks!

[Finprof]

Hi:

I am exactly the opposite. I have been fishing in freshwater for decades and finally got started in saltwater last year. I live not far from Assunpink and within a coupe of hundred yards of Mercer Lake. Both Assunpink and Mercer fish well from a small jonboat because there are good launching ramps. A canoe or kayak also work but not as well.
This time of year the water is cold and the fish are in deep holes with warmer water. I know it sounds weird but the colder water is near shore right now. Later when the sun warms the water near shore in April and May the fish will be near shore, particularly when bass are spawning. Then they go back to deeper water in Summer when the shore water gets too warm.
In Mercer Lake, fishing is best on the points. Assunpink should be the same.
For right now using a boat or canoe and dropping a jig with a pork rind trailer in deep holes should work, although the fish will be sluggish. However, it won't be long before Spring weather turns on. At that point you can get them to hit a floating Rapala.

[kcritch]

Welcome to the site.

It is early and cold right now so it will gt better when the water warms up. I recommend getting yourself a few packs of Senko type baits in Green Pumpkin. Bass Pro Stickos, Strike King, Yum Dinger all good options at t better price but the orginals are killer. Get some in 3, 4, in 5 inche sizes and fish them on 8 lb mono or floro T-Rigged on a 1/0 (smaller sizes) to 3/0 wide gap hook or if not very weedy then whacky rigged is an option to switch it up a bit. Throw them around cover, in weeds, on top os slop, wnaywhere. Letthme sink to the bottom and then lift and drop a few times then throw it again. Put in time with those they'll catch anything. They are probably the easiest bait to use as you relly can;t fish them wrong. They also work as a soft jerkbait or you can swim them. While the water is cold a jerkbait (husky Jerk, Rogue, etc)bait worked slow is also good.

Good luck out there and be sure to post up any trips you take...good or bad...these guys will help you out for sure.

[Osprey16]

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking around for a kayak right now. I've actually been looking for a while because as great as they are in freshwater, they can put you into some awesome spots that most boats can't reach for stripers and fluke in salt water.

I plan on giving it another shot today after work so I'll pick up some senkos and head out. Even if there arent fish around, it beats sitting at home any day.

[CadiShackFishing]

If your looking for a kayak and all that goes with fishing from it you should check out the Paddlesport 2014 show at the Garden State Exhibit Center on 3/28 thru 3/30. My wife and I have picked up some great deals over the years there as we are into kayak fishing. Only thing stopping us now is all the ice.

Jeff

[briansnat]

I agree with Kcritch about the Senkos. Check out Amazon, they sell an assortment starter kit at a very good price. Then you can find the size and colors that work best for you and stick with those. I ’ve found best results with green pumpkin, watermelon or black and I prefer the 5 “ with a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG worm hook through the nose and buried in the side (Texas rig style). It’s a great weedless setup. If weeds aren’t an issue then “whacky” rigged with a 3/0 octopus hook is a good setup. I usually fish them unweighted when fishing water LT 10 feet deep. Senkos are pretty fragile so you may go through a lot. Yumdingers are almost identical in shape, a lot more durable but don’t have quite the same action as the real Senkos.

I usually like to fish the Senko slow. Cast and let it drop to the bottom. Let it sit dead stick for about 15 seconds, then lift the rod tip and let it drop and sit again, and reel in the slack. Repeat until you’ve retrieved it. Of course there are other methods but I usually kill bass this way.

Another good rig is the “drop shot” . There are many online videos showing how to set one up, or even easier, you can buy special drop shot hooks. This can be a deadly way to fish plastics. I usually hook the bait through the nose when using a drop shot.

The Carolina and Texas rigs are also great for plastics. Again you can find a zillion videos on Youtube showing you how to set one up. I like the Carolina rig on summer days when the bass are down a bit deeper. I like tossing the Texas rig at docks, stumps, down trees and weedbeds. Here is a link that shows the various rigs for plastics http://www.wired2fish.com/five-for-5...r-should-know/

Everyone has their favorite plastics. I find dark colors generally work best. In the spring I like the Swim Senko. It’s half Senko, half swim bait. Let it drop like a Senko, then retrieve like a swim bait. I like to fish these with a 6/0 EWG hook and a small, screw-in worm weight. Some of my favorite plastics besides the Senkos are the Zoom Trick Worm, Rage Tail Thumper, Rage Tail Space Monkey, Rage Tail Toad, Gary Yamato Kreature, Zoom Super Fluke, KVD Caffeine Shad and the Zoom Speed Worm.

For bass I probably fish plastics about 80 percent of the time. Others prefer jigs, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits, but I do well with plastics and generally stick with them. They are so versatile. Your mileage may vary.