Tag Archives: crappie

End of Summer 2015

The summer of 2015 commenced as a cooler than average summer trailing a long, cold and snowy winter. In fact, due to the weather we experienced, Rainbow Trout have been taken from the Paulinskill throughout the summer. Since mid August, a significant heat wave combined with a lack of rain has reduced river-fishing opportunities. These conditions will improve once the fall rains commence. In the meantime, fishing for warm water species early in the morning or late in the evening remains quite productive.

Sunfish, palm sized delight.
Sunfish, palm sized delight.

August Doldrums

To celebrate the conclusion of this summer and the beginning of, “Cast and Blast Autumn 2015,” we of course, went fishing. This time of year, I cannot stress enough the importance of waking up before dawn and wetting your line by sun up. With Mark still driving from Morristown, I headed over to Dale’s Market in Blairstown for one of their famous breakfast sandwiches. After consuming this delicious creation and 16 ounces of fresh coffee, I hopped in the FJ and headed north to the river.

Crappie that came over the dam.
Crappie that came over the dam.

This morning was to be an epic day of catching warm water species in the Paulinskill. I have often said, the Paulinskill holds a seemingly unbelievable biomass. This morning was a strong confirmation of my previous statements. Mark and I caught the following species in multiple: Crappie, Smallmouth, Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass. They were caught consistently until around mid day. In this river, the fish may not grow the largest but there are a plethora of them.

The Epic Battle

Throughout the summer, these electronic pages have catalogued the pursuit of Smallmouth Bass in the rivers of Warren and Sussex County, New Jersey. Of the countless hours I have put in pursuing the scrappy fighters, the four hours on Saturday were highly rewarding.

A diminutive Smallmouth that fought well for its size.
A diminutive Smallmouth that fought well for its size.

Perched in the spillway of the dam, which didn’t have much water coming over due to drought conditions, I spied some actively feeding Bass in the sand and weeds. These Smallies must have been chomping on little minnows and crustaceans that were washed over the dam.

Spotting the feeding fish, I false cast my Sage 8’6” VXP 4WT two times and then fired about 50 feet of line out of the tip. A near perfect cast, my custom mohair Woolly Bugger landed right in the opening where the Smallmouth was hiding. As the ripples from the splash settled, I quickly gave the fly some action as it fell to the river bottom. Then I felt the tug, the tug that could only originate from a sizeable Smallmouth!

Typical Paulinskill River Smallmouth.
Typical Paulinskill River Smallmouth.

I maneuvered the fish and put the fight on the reel, just as this was complete, the Smallie went aerial. I bowed the rod to the fish simultaneously losing my balance and almost going for a swim. My studded wading shoes prevailed and I caught myself before swimming with the fish. In the end, I landed this fish, tagging in at about two pounds.

You can note how low the Paulinskill is right now.
You can note how low the Paulinskill is right now.

More Fun

As anticipated the fishing turned off by eleven and it got quite warm outside. The whole team then headed over to the Lazy “K” Ranch, our club headquarters, currently under construction in Frelinghuysen, NJ. There we tried out the new Ruger .357 revolver that Zach acquired in the last week. We also started to work on our wing shooting performance that will be required in less than two months.

Mark takes aim with the Ruger .357
Mark takes aim with the 1911.

2014 Ice Fishing – First Installment

A good ice fire is a welcome pleasure of ice fishing.
A good ice fire is a welcome pleasure of ice fishing.

Old man winter blew in strong at the twilight of 2013, four days of consecutive ice storms. Creeping into 2014 he laid a deep freeze over the land through the “polar vortex.” Be that as it may, we are now in a period of 50-degree days though some ice remains. As with all things, you have to make hay while the sun is shining.

Drilling holes becomes more difficult as the ice grows in thickness.
Drilling holes becomes more difficult as the ice grows in thickness.

The MKFF crew had a few opportunities to get out on the hard water before the January thaw. Of course we took every chance we had to dangle a piece of bait into the icy abyss. I’ll run the December through January highlights below.

Brant Lake

New Years Eve fell midweek this year, essentially terminating all plans for a four-day weekend. We salvaged what we could and went up to Brant Lake, NY to drill some holes into the ice. The good news was that the ice had grown to a thickness allowing us to be safely out on it. Three days of fishing various locations on the lake, we were unable to hook into a single fish. Talk about disappointment! Additionally, we moved over to Loon Lake for a few hours on our way home, despite two hits, again we emerged without a fish. Even through a brutal skunking, any trip to Brant Lake is a great time!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Predators

During the warmer days preceding the polar vortex we finally experienced predator action. The pickerel came out to play and we were more than happy to oblige them. Customarily, I like to rig a heavy mono set up for pickerel, 15lb test at least; the interesting thing about early season in this instance is that they were leader shy. The pickerel were taking the Perch rigs I had out, let me tell you, 6lb Fluorocarbon and a toothy Pickerel result in a challenging fight. In the end, we missed two and landed two, all of the lines broke on final push through the ice.

Predators like to play.
Predators like to play.

Jigging for Perch

Perch provide incredible entertainment when you are hanging out on the hard water. They tend to travel in schools, once you key in on their behavior, a skilled ice angler will be able to land at least a few of them. Always useful is a fish finder, sounder or underwater camera, these tools enhance your understanding of the chilly world below the surface of the ice. In addition, you will avoid wasting time jigging holes where no fish are. Jigging imitates a dying baitfish, all jigs work by lowering the jig to the bottom of the lake, raising it six inches or so and allowing the jig to flutter powerless to the initial vertical position. This process is continued repeatedly while slowly changing the vertical zone you are targeting. Without a fish finder, I was able to land two Perch and missed several. Dave also nabbed one on a tip up.

Perch are great entertainment.
Perch are great entertainment.

 

Crappie Success

Dave loves to eat Crappie, this is a fact, whenever we go to the undisclosed location in Sussex County with a Crappie overpopulation problem; he eats for at least a week. Pressing on, by mid January 2014 we have experienced some warm days and severe ice melt conditions. For example, I went for a run in shorts and a t-shirt last Sunday. That very same day, Dave was ice fishing! Despite the ice being four inches thick, the holes he drilled expanded to the size of garbage can lids. Ice fishing rigs are a foot in length at best; this is where Dave truly shines, innovation, he used sticks to prop across the holes creating a wooden platform with which to support a tip up. A normal human would have given up, not Dave! Using a small shiner on a medium to small hook supported right of the bottom at dusk; Dave successfully pulled in four Crappie, him and his girlfriend will have a delightful meal soon!

This will be food for his girlfriend to cook (seen in back horrified).
This will be food for his girlfriend to cook (seen in back horrified).

Coming Up

Mark, a few other friends and myself are headed out to meet up with Brenton in Utah for my 30th at the end of this week. I am looking forward to some snowboarding and maybe a little Trout fishing. When we return, we are hoping for a little more ice fishing. After that it will be two months to Trout season; the preparations and fly tying will begin. Stay tuned!

An innovative rig to overcome nature's thaw. 'Merica!
An innovative rig to overcome nature’s thaw. ‘Merica!

For more info on tools and equipment, see our page on ice fishing.