Long weekend report

[Skunk City]

With it being a holiday weekend, I always make an effort to stay away from the crowds, and this year was no different. Of the 4 locations I fished, all 4 were fishermen-free with exception of the people I had out with me .

Thursday/Saturday: Hit a local spot with the girlfriend and a buddy. Threw my swiss cheese waders on and fished small plastics and metals on the medium-light setup. Picked away at some feisty sunfish and white perch. Forgot how much fun you can have when you leave the 6" plugs and 45lb flouro at home .

Sunday: Managed to hit 3 different bodies of water with a few fish from each. Hit another local spot in the yak from 9-noon. My ultimate goal was to test and tune my new transducer holder and get the fish finder dialed in, which still needs some work lol. Managed a pair of Pike and a Smallmouth before the sun was high in the sky.

Threw the yak back on the roof and headed up to Sussex County for BBQ/fireworks at a Lenape Lake (private). Drank some beer, ate some dogs, watched the fireworks from the water, and picked up 3 magic hour Largemouth to 18" on topwaters.

Threw the yaks back on the roof yet again, took a 30 minute power nap and headed up to Swartswood for some night action. Though we were greeted by spawning herring upon arrival around 1130pm, I purposely left the plugs in the truck to fish strictly herring. Downrod and livelining both produced on a nice dropoff. Picked up a handful of nice Crappie, all between 11"-13" as well as a monster Eel. Also managed to donate my new rod/reel combo to the lake, so if anyone snags into a Tourney Trail/Pfleuger President combo before the rust starts, I will gladly give you a reward . Spent the last hour of the trip dragging jigging raps across the bottom in hopes of being reunited with my baby, but no luck. Got off the water just as it started getting light out.

No monsters, but a great weekend to not work and enjoy the water and friends .

[23cardinal]

Nice weekend! Sorry bout the rod man.
Cool to see fireworks don't spook the fish.

[Eskimo]

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Originally Posted by Skunk City

With it being a holiday weekend, I always make an effort to stay away from the crowds, and this year was no different. Of the 4 locations I fished, all 4 were fishermen-free with exception of the people I had out with me

That's the way to do it. I made the mistake this weekend of going to The 'Gap. I've never seen it so crowded. The parking lot to the boat launch was full, so I unloaded and rigged my kayak and waited in the parking lot for someone to return so I could take their parking spot.
Another van-load of kayakers did the same and I was growing concerned they were going to fight me for the next available parking space, but they let me have the next available spot without a hassle.

A bunch of Russians set up a bivouac camp on the island directly across from the boat launch which I thought was strange, but whatever.

The entire shoreline of the river was crowded with anglers and picknickers. I paddled my way to a deep hole that was far away from everybody that looked like it had potential. I dropped anchor, tied on a jig, got two casts in when a family came crashing out of the woods and began fishing the same submerged tree directly in front of me.


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[Chrisper4694]

Good stuff buddy. I've broken a couple but have yet to lose a rod completely..came close once as a 14lbs channel cat pulled it off a dock but I went shoulder deep and blind grabbed it and landed the fish. Saw my buddy's new setup shot off the dock from what I'm assuming was a hybrid...one of the he funniest things I ever saw that I wasn't allowed to laugh at hahaha.

[Mikey topaz]

How you loose the rod hahaha!!!! Nice relaxin weekend skunky boy

[icebadger]

great photos skunk you are a fishing machine.fireworks,bbq and largemouths nice sorry to hear about that setup going down,i fish that lake if by chance i hook it i will let you know.if you were by the drop off i'm thinking of the chances are slim at best

[AndyS]

Swiss cheese waders, luv it, sounds much like mine.

YOU lost a rod and reel combo !! (getting rusty on us)

Nice pics, great read.