Passaic questions

[ng20corn]

Hey all not new to the site just havent posted in a while. I dropped my kayak in the passaic the other day at 2 bridges rd in fairfield and probably paddled a mile upstream casting and trolling at every fallen log, etc. Used spinnerbaits, plugs, and plastic and didnt have a single hit or follow all day. Not asking anybody for their secret spots or anything but if anybody could point me in the right direction on how to get my first pike it would be greatly appreciated.

[Netsfan05]

Stanley Park is decent there are a couple of decent ones below the dam not above, spinerbaits work the best.

[Eskimo]

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ng20corn - that area you fished is like ground-zero for pike and bass on the river. If you didn't find any there than they just weren't biting that day or there was something really wrong with your presentation.

Fishing pressure is higher now than it used to be. Perhaps somebody was fishing ahead of you and hit all the good spots just before you got there.



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[justin1982]

I'm no expert by any means but strangely most of my pike have come from areas on the river that don't look like a pike would be there, i.e. Random open water casting from the bank. Most of my success has come on swimbaits and top water stuff. Fish the swim baits slowly. Hope that helps

[Suntzu]

Someday daya they just don't chew. As was said before you in the middle of the like zone, the pike are there. So sometimes in the P they don't orient to structure, but more depth and lack of current
Stick with the spinnerbaits they catch and do far less damage than the trebles on spinners, plugs and topwater. Need to protect this precious resource

[buzzbaiter]

You never know if someone or a group just went through there. They can put them down. So can the Jetskiers who go through that area. Its like your fishing blind not knowing what's ahead of you.

Its not so much the trees and liedowns as it is the slack water behind and in front. They are not in the current fish and will often sit in the slack areas. They are also sit and wait feeding fish. They are not hunters like bass which swim around most of the time looking for food. Pike wait for food to come to them often lying right in the weeds. Weed beds are just now emerging. In a month or so they'll be in full bloom and they're best areas to target. I get more strikes in/around them then by the trees or deeper pools. Not all areas of the river have weeds. Some stretches have none for miles. You kind of have to explore during low/clear water to find them and remember when the water is higher/cloudier. Pike also like shade which acts as a sort of cover for them. In all honesty they can be anywhere except the main current. They do strike in the current but only because they were following it from their hiding spot. Inside of bends is good too since the current tends to hug the outside of bends. Lastly since they are mostly sight feeders, the clearer the water, the better. Of course on the Passaic clear water is an anomaly. Most days its running turbid at best. Little better in the early fall as the water chills and also midday when carp settle down and are less active.

[Esox Luciano]

X2 on everything Eskimo said. I strike out sometimes, sometimes I get hits all day. They will bite everywhere, not just specific spots or current, everywhere. I've gotten some on far casts in heavy current as soon as the lure lands. Just blame the day & hit em again. Good luck!

[JDTuna]

I agree with everything Eskimo said. That is a spot known for pike, and don't give up on it just yet. For me, this fishery is about covering water. While pike move around throughout the system, they are ambush predators. The more water you cover, the greater the chance that your lure will land in front of a willing fish. Exploring is half the fun anyway!

[Skunk City]

The Carp spawn temporarily slows down the Pike bite around this time every year. Two years ago we had our Pike-a-thon around this time and literally everybody got skunked that day. Keep at it.

P.S.: Watch the moon cycles and water level gauges .

[MudCat08]

Don't give up man, I went to that area the first time and got nothing. But the second time I went there, I caught my first two pike, a 12" baby and a 31" fella.