Tag Archives: New Jersey

Ice Fishing

The Surreal Nature of Ice Fishing

I am back to the blogging world after a bit of a break to help venture out into the world and bring about some serene pictures backed by fascinating tales!
As we all know, this has been a rather unpredictably troubling winter, but finally, the ice in Northern New Jersey is safe enough to venture out on without the constant fear of a rather chilly bath. This past weekend has brought about some good laughs, good friends, and of course a few good stories that I shall share with you all.

Ready To Go
Ready To Go

Saturday morning started around 6 am for me as I arose to the tantalizing scent of a fresh pot of coffee being brewed. I’ve never been a morning person, but the rewards of waking up early help me deal with the pain of waking up and motivate me to catch that early morning bass or that sneaky rainbow trout. So there I sit sipping down my coffee, ‘Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band’ playing in the background as, contemplating what adventures lay in front of me for the day. Fighting with the chilly temperature of 7 degrees, I load up my gear and the dog and set out for my first destination, Lake AeroFlex in Kittatinny Valley State Park.

Morning Flight
Morning Flight

Beautiful sights and great trout fishing always brings me to this spot at least 5 times a year, but this was my first time ever fishing it in the winter. Unfortunately, I was approached by the State Park Rangers and was asked to disperse before I could even get my gear set up! No, I was not being disruptive or doing anything illegal!! Apparently, they were practicing, with the local fire department, saving people from falling through the ice. So destination two has now become my main score.

A local airport in Warren County holds key to a beautiful little fishing hole that many people are not aware of. It’s a sweet little gem that doesn’t get much attention from fishermen, so it’s become the perfect little cast away spot for the MKFF crew. Here at MKFF we like to end days on a good note so if we are having a bad day of fishing, this place always helps lift our spirits by the mass amounts of fish that we catch.

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The geese took flight about 20 minutes after we arrived. Unfortunately we had only brought fishing gear on this day and had left our shotguns safely at home, nestled in their safes.

Now, as most of us know, ice is and always will be extremely slippery and unsafe, so when you are ever on it or near it you need to practice safety and prepare for anything. Always have a pair of ice picks in case you fall through. Never go on the ice alone and make sure that someone knows that you are on the ice. And one big item that you need, that our one fisherman Mark learned is that cleats do help quite a bit to help you stay on your feet, and not on your backside.

Taking a Tumble
Taking a Tumble

Now back to the fishing! So this local spot didn’t let this angler down on Saturday. Producing quite a few fish helped save our moods from the high temperature of 17 and a wind chill of 4. Yeah, chilly conditions were saved by good fishing and a nice flask filled with some Johnie Walker. 2 perch were caught on this day as well as one 24 inch pickerel and about 25 bass ranging from a pound and a half to 5 pounds.

First Fish of the day
First Fish of the day

It feels great to be back writing and sharing my adventures! Stay tuned for more exciting excerpts from the life of the MKFF crew. Be sure to get out there and share some of your stories and pictures with us! And of course be safe and always remember to be courteous to mother nature.

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Ice Fishing

Hard Water is Here

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Happy New Year to all of our readers and followers! The snow event we received at the end of December brought with it the January cold. Last weekend the ice was thick enough, in some places, to head out. Fortunately, for everyone’s waist lines and sanity the Christmas season has come and gone leaving some quality time to get caught up on Rippin’ Lips.

Shakespeare Ice Combo With a Glow in the Dark Spoon.
Shakespeare Ice Combo With a Glow in the Dark Spoon.

Farm Ponds of Warren County

In northern New Jersey, some winters, we will have ice and others we will not. Last winter, there was no ice. Taking a peek at the long-term weather, it is difficult to tell how long the ice will last this year. That being said, smaller, shallow ponds freeze more quickly than larger bodies of water. The farm and horse country of northwest New Jersey is host to thousands of little ponds. Every farmer, former farm or country estate seems to have a little body of water. These puddles are often stocked with Bass and large ones at that.

Old Bucket Mouth Lip Grip.
Old Bucket Mouth Lip Grip.

Bass Under the Ice

In the past we have dedicated some page space to the optimal temperature for Bass. The winter is by no means ideal for this species; Bass slow down their movement and tamper their aggressiveness, though they still must eat.  Early ice provides for more action than late ice, especially when there is no snow cover. In a farm pond or other man made structure the Bass congregate in the deepest area.

The fish were trending smaller on this day.
The fish were trending smaller on this day.

Venturing Onto the Ice

All outdoor activity carries with it certain risks, you should be fully aware of these before venturing out. We recommend carrying certain minimal safety equipment with you. The MKFF crew carries a rope and a set of picks for extraction. Additionally, it makes it easier to walk and you less likely to fall if you use a set of cleats.

Holding up the prize!
Holding up the prize!

Tip Ups

Traditionally, anglers target fish under the ice using a tip up or by jigging with an ice rod. New Jersey allows you to have five (5) set ups in the water at one time. This could be any combination of rod and tip ups to the maximum number. A typical set up includes tip up, ice line, swivel, two to three feet of leader and a circle hook. A medium shiner, hooked through the back with shot sinker, up the leader, one foot from the hook, does the trick. Before hooking the bait, use a sounder attached to the hook, find bottom and pull up to be at the weed level. Once the level is set, attach your bait, lower it in and set the tip up.

Nice fish Ed!Hooking the Fish

A circle hook, as described above, is set in a different manner from the traditional fishing hook. The hook “sets itself,” leaving the angler at risk of pulling the bait out of the fish’s mouth. We adopted a method; in short, once the flag went up, allow some line to run out, once the run slows, pull on the line until taught. The fish will be hooked and you will begin working the fish back through the hole.

Check Back For More

If the winter weather conditions hold we will be back at it, attempting to catch more and bigger fish. If not, MKFF will hit the trap range next weekend. Either way, catch you next time.

Hunting

MKFF Thanksgiving Edition

Hunting a Turkey Through Hurricane Sandy

Is the Pet Cemetery behind that dead fall?

New Jersey Fall Turkey Season was open from Saturday October 27th through November 3rd2012. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy also known as “Superstorm” Sandy, reared its ugly head and made landfall in perfect synchronicity. Sandy destroyed countless homes, farms and businesses in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Fortunately, in Frelinghuysen Township, adverse impacts were limited to downed trees, closed roads, roof damage and two weeks without power.

Telephone pole just laying there.
Gas lines were the post Sandy topic.

Enough about the return of the dark ages, to the most populated urbanized area on Earth. I am going to tell you a story of how despite narrowly missing entire flocks of Turkey with my truck all summer, NOT a single of these giant flying birds exist. At least that is, on the Moose Knuckle Proving Grounds. Up in Vermont during October, they were everywhere on the Post Mills’ Airport runway.

Flock crosses the runway in Post Mills, Vermont.

The Turkey is North America’s largest ground nesting bird. Experts estimate, when the Pilgrims arrived here, there may have been as many as ten million gobblers waddling around. The colonists, market hunters, settlers and immigrants rapidly populating the United States, brought the large and tasty bird to near extinction. The species’ nadir occurred around 1920, with roughly thirty thousand birds left ranging the continent. Aggressive conservation efforts, led by state fish and game departments, have now resulted in the Turkey expanding beyond its native range. There now are more than 5.5 million Turkey’s roaming North America’s forests, farm fields and suburbs. Facts and figures for this paragraph from Jim Sterba’s book, “Nature Wars,” we will be reviewing in a later blog entry.

The Maersk patio Tom Turkey.

Oftentimes, Fly Fishing is about getting out there in Gods Country. The same applies for Hunting.  When Turkey hunting, the hunter attempts to call in the turkey, becoming one with his/her quarry. In the fall season, the sportsman is focused on ambushing the Turkey. They will be called in, although it is not mating season and the bird is less susceptible to courtship. Mark and I were quickly overcome by the cold, sitting and waiting, you need to dress as if its at least 40 degrees colder than it actually is. The hunter has to appear invisible and keep silent when pursuing the elusive gobbler. The animal has keen sight and exceptional hearing.

Mark pretends he sees a gobbler.

Reviewing my words, I break out into a laugh, I once had an altercation with a Tom Turkey on route to Montclair State University. The vicious creature was blocking the Valley Road entrance after an exceptionally long commute on 46. No matter what we did, this cantankerous avian critter just jutted out its left wing and menacingly danced across the street. Finally, commencing a violent pecking on another student’s car. I drove straight at it, Tom yielded and the battle was won, the war continues.

Giralda Farms has a large and aggressive population of suburban Turkeys.

Unfortunately, after hours of sitting, propped against one of Sandy’s numerous deadfalls on the Proving Grounds, Mark and I were unable to score a Turkey for Thanksgiving. This being 2012, the solution was a short trip to the ShopRite. In the spring, I will purchase more appropriate gear and make my way back in the woods for another round.

Turkey Box Call made in Newton, NJ.

The next weekend, while Bow Hunting, Zombo had a Turkey resting under the treestand for over an hour.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be thankful that America is so great you don’t have to hunt a Turkey to eat one today!