Spring Crappies at Spruce Run Reservoir

For shore access, nothing seems to beat the jetty beyond the car lot off Van Syckles Road, but if you have a boat, you might find crappies near the mouth of the Mulhockaway. I know early spring northern pike come to creek mouths entering the reservoir, drawn to flows for spawning. They don't go up into the creeks, or very rarely do, but I got news of a three footer in a little creek in Verona, off the Passaic. But why crappies swarm in these two areas, I don't know, besides that they go shallow previous to spawning and the water is warmer in thin water, especially in the evening after a sudden rise in daytime temperature.

They're not always there. My son and I, and a number of friends, fished the jetty, as well as the Black Brook cove, between 2005 and last year during late March and April. Of all those many outings, well over a dozen total, we really only ran into crappies twice. Both times the water temperature had suddenly spiked with a newly arrived warm spell. I also saw a crappie at least as big as the photographed caught well into May at the jetty. I caught another that measured 15 inches and weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Most are about a foot long, good crappies. I've heard of 17-inchers caught in Spruce Run Reservoir.

The jetty gets lots of fishing pressure, both during the week and on weekends. But this is a 1200 plus acre reservoir. The fish move in and out. Just like the fishermen. It seems we've met new people every time we've visited here. I've often wondered how exactly the fish do. I've seen this area when the reservoir level was down 10 or 12 feet. There's not much of a well defined channel from the original Spruce Run Creek at all. It's flat out there beyond the jetty tip. But fish find it, the little cove, and creek mouth. And they come and go. I imagine rocket bass, more widely known as hybrid striped bass, move in out with cavalier swiftness. The crappies seemingly float in like balloons and hang out a while. All of ours have been caught on large shiners. Not the two to three inch medium variety, but full sized pike shiners. I use a plain shank, size 6 hook, no weight. I do use a fluorocarbon 15 pound leader tied to a small barrel swivel. The chance of catching a pike may be greater. More likely, that is. And who would deny a great northern pike? A lot of people like crappies, though. And Spruce Run has big ones.

Large Crappies

Greeting Spring at Dingman's Ferry, Delaware River, for Walleye

For many years, reading the Freshwater Report of The Fisherman magazine, I've come upon references to winter walleye caught at Dingman's Ferry, those winters when the river didn't freeze over, or during periods of open water. I've held the desire to try for winter walleye for years, having caught a number of small walleye a couple of times in December at Bull's Island from my 12-foot boat as a teen, with a younger brother. Early spring not excluded, the water is very cold, but walleye happen. The river changes with the seasons and conditions, and I like familiarizing myself with differences.

So when Joshua Bunkers, blogger at www.sussexcountyfisherman.blogspot.com , messaged me yesterday, I was just minutes away from a fast affirmation of the invitation to try Dingman's. The idea of meeting up to fish with someone new on a mild, early spring afternoon felt rejuvenating, and at least when the wind would subside out there, we stood and sat unmistakably on the better side of the season.

The clouds broke up, the sun came out, Sussex County fields and ridges on our return ride glowed with the awakening presence we all expect this time of year. We had fished jigs tipped with shiners, and I also worked a Rat-L-Trap slowly, right at the bottom, 10-25 feet or so deep, finally losing it to a snag, surprised I got as much use from it as I did.

Catching Pickerel Through the Ice in River Styx, Lake Hopatcong, Knee Deep Derby Day

I don't know how I got the notion in my head that the Knee Deep Ice Fishing Derby on Lake Hopatcong would begin at 8:00 a.m., and registration could be effective any time thereafter before the 4 o'clock close. Joe phoned Dow's to have bait bagged before our arrival, which would be about 9:30, and got the bad news. My feelings sank especially since my son felt somewhat excited about participation. We agreed that next year we will do it. I just have to take the time to read the procedures carefully.

But we had a great morning and early afternoon, fishing until 2:30. River Styx tends to be productive. My pickerel measured 24 inches, Matt having first caught a largemouth about 11 inches, and Joe jigged a perch. All released. We also witnessed a larger pickerel caught, over four pounds. I asked the guy if he registered in the derby, no. Photography a maze of opportunity, it always is with Joe along, who is photogenic and doesn't mind my habit of endless shooting with my Nikon.

The ice had melted to 12 to 15-inches thick. I learned today that it's thick at the edges, where melt tends to be vertical, rather than horizontal. Joe went right to the edge and put his hands in the water, finding the ice five inches thick. I told him to please not do it, feeling nervous. And yet, if he fell through, I had ice spikes on hand. I feel my conscience is absolved by having the device. The car situated a hundred yards away, he would have warmed up after I tossed the spikes to him. Nevertheless, he learned a lot from Bob Neals, holder of the New Jersey state record 42-pound and some ounce musky, who introduced Joe to ice fishing more than 15 years ago.

On Joe's first ice outing, Bob cut a hole and told him, "Put your hands in the water, then hold them out to dry in the wind. You won't be cold the rest the day." The wind then happened to be about 15 degrees, minus wind chill factor.

Today it remained cold, never getting above 30. The breeze felt pretty fierce at times, since we weren't dressed to the utmost protection, expecting temperatures in the mid-40's. But we dressed well enough to bear it and have a good time, layered, although my son could have used his wool pants, even though he did have long johns on.

Ladder used Ice Fishing to Traverse Edge Melt

A couple of guys were out ice fishing Round Valley Reservoir, catching nothing. I haven't seen anyone on the Pond beyond the dike in a while. A ladder-like device got used to traverse the edge melt. Often, ice fishermen set up logs to traverse an edge at the end of the season. It may be awhile until this ice fishing season is over. It's still plenty thick out there, despite the slushy surface yesterday and melting where the dark ground absorbs heat and melts the ice near it. Laurie Murphy of Dow's Boat Rentals and Bait told me recently that sometimes Lake Hopatcong doesn't completely melt until early April.

Knee Deep Club is hosting an ice fishing derby on Sunday, March 16th on Lake Hopatcong. All are welcome: $25.00 for non-members, $20.00 for members.

Ways to Catch Early Spring Largemouth Bass in Ponds

 

 

I'm jumping the gun to post this piece, but who knows, maybe in two or three weeks ponds in North Jersey will ice out. They will before Lake Hopatcong and other lakes and reservoirs. Knee Deep Club has scheduled another ice derby for March 16th and all indications are that it will be. I remember just a couple of years ago when in March we had sustained temperatures in the 80's and lily pads on the surface.

 

          Spring is not officially here yet, but for the practical intents and purposes of largemouth bass fishing, it is with open water. The advantage of smaller, shallower waters is that they warm faster than area lakes. They cool off more at night also, but plan to fish late in the afternoon and possibly into dusk on a mild day and you may even enjoy topwater plug action. At the least, to get out and fish now will help set your life in motion for the rest of the year. We all remember how we anticipated spring’s arrival as kids. We felt that events got under way because we were oriented to activities outdoors like various sports and hang outs. That’s still in us as adults, and to step aside from the fast track even for an afternoon can make a difference.

          Topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, in-line spinners, and floater/diver plugs are especially effective bass catchers, and since I’ve mentioned surface action, I’ll first discuss a method that works on calm ponds with water as cold as 47 degrees F. The Rebel Minnow is not a topwater plug per se; it’s a floater/diver plug made of plastic that floats. The way it floats is what gives it a special quality.

          Unlike balsa wood plugs like Rapalas or other floater/divers with types of plastic and/or amount of it that float the plug evenly on the water, the 2 ½ inch Rebel Minnow will float at an angle. The rear is submerged. The plug sits almost at a 45 degree angle to the surface. Use no more than six pound test line on a light spinning outfit. Twitch the plug on the surface very slightly. The nose is pulled forward and the rear lifts then drops back.

         This is subtle lure action and what the cold water calls for. It won’t work if the temperature is 47 degrees and falling. It works late in the afternoon or evening after sun’s been on the water, warming it on a mild day. Bass will take the plug as if they aim at the rear as it drops. You may only see a dimple on the surface as silent as a trout sipping a dry fly.

           If water temperatures are moving through the 50’s, a whole range of small topwater plugs will likely be effective on a calm surface at dusk. You can experiment with retrieves, but slower blooping and popping and such is likely all that will work. If the pond has a northeast corner that has some shallows adjacent to deep water, that’s where you should try your best. With the sun in the southeast, that northeast corner warms most.

          Topwater plugs require the most patience. Spinnerbaits and in-line spinners allow you to cover a pond’s entire range of shallows by fan casting. These lures may be especially effective with sunlight present, which they reflect. But they will work when the sun goes down also. Typically, wind calms at this time. If it doesn’t, don’t bother with surface plug fishing, use a spinner or possibly a floater/diver retrieved, which I’ll discuss in a moment. If water temperatures are moving through the 50’s or higher, a spinnerbait buzzed near the surface, retrieved so that it leaves a wake, may attract bass especially when air is calm.

          Success is not guaranteed. But over years of finding peace of mind by casting lures, I’ve noticed what tends to work and what doesn’t.

          Floater/divers can be retrieved with truly frantic action. I loved these plugs as a teenager. Rebel Minnows work better when water temperature is in the lower 50’s than the more quickly responding balsa plugs that float high. You can impart crazy action to the Minnow by constantly jerking the rod tip. The plug stays a little deeper at slower retrieve than Rapalas and darts side to side, straight, and somewhat up and down. Bass seem to find this irritating and strike even without hunger, perhaps. On a warm afternoon when water temperatures have shot up suddenly, they seem to like to vent some of the excitement of spring fever they have by chasing down a darting plug.

          These are basics enough to follow and have some success on the pond off Route 206 at Bedminster, Heddon Park in Dover, Sunrise Lake in Washington Township, Mount Hope Pond in Rockaway Township, or any other. But never forget to open your perceptions as wide as possible to take in the natural world. The more aware of it you are, the better the game.

              

Peek at the Round Valley Ice Fishing Scene

I phoned Landolfi over the weekend, hoping we would get out on Hopatcong, but plans fell through. I'm not in shape yet with my bad back to go alone or to rely on my son to do all the work. Today and last week, I stopped and checked out the Round Valley scene. I've heard of some browns as large as 20 inches being caught, and people have been fishing lakers in deep water. Today I spoke to someone coming off the ice who had caught a 21-incher. On the other side of the dike near the launch ramp, the swimming pond has been good for pickerel, nice fish over two pounds being caught.

Much of the reservoir ice is about a foot thick. It's not visible in the photograph, but some of the water out there remains open. I wondered today how long it will be before I can return to my short stints fishing open water trout. Could be sometime well into March, but in any event, most likely before I begin bass fishing.

Incidentally, the Knee Deep Club is planning another ice fishing derby, set for Sunday, March 16th. You don't have to be a member to participate, but there is a small entry fee of $25.00 for non-members. The ice is about 18 inches thick on the lake and isn't going away anytime soon. Lots of fish are being caught.

 Fishing for browns and rainbows in close.

Fishing for pickerel and bass in the 30 acre swimming pond.

49 1/2 Inch Musky Lake Hopatcong; Ice Fishing Opportunities Now Include Round Valley

 49 1/2-inch true strain musky recently caught on Lake Hopatcong by Bill Archinbald, Knee Deep Club's "Web Guy". Photo care of Joe Landolfi.

Joe got this photo from Dante Dimarco and supposedly the musky is New Jersey's lengthiest so far, besides a 50-incher Dante caught a few years ago. But who knows, really. Muskies get caught, released, and silence kept. But big shiners from Dows Boat Rentals certainly serve the ice season on the lake for big results. Bob Neals' state record 42-plus-pounder was 48 inches, a very fat fish, also caught through the ice, but that of Monksville Reservoir. I'm wondering if any muskies are being caught on Greenwood Lake and also the small Furnace Lake, known for tiger muskies. Mercer Lake is surely fishable through the ice now as well.

My son and I ice fished Furnace Lake in 2009, a nice outing to remember, although we got skunked. For one thing, I probably concentrated too much in the deepest water. I don't know. But I do know Joe Landolfi's big tiger through Lake Hopatcong ice, about 44 inches, came from 20 feet with plenty of water down to 50 feet deep nearby. We fished mostly 25 to 35-feet deep on Furnace, the deepest water.

I get a needle thrust into my spine next week. Whether or not this makes late season ice fishing possible for me this year or not is yet to be seen. Now my reliable trout fishing (not reliable catches) at Round Valley is rendered impossible by ice cover that may remain a while. I recall that during a colder winter, Round Valley remained frozen until late March, 1994.

New Jersey has abundant ice fishing opportunities, and in all of my 38 years of ice fishing, I've hardly begun to fish everywhere. I used to ice fish in Mercer County during my teens and 20's, and we did pretty well on Gropp's Lake, a Delaware and Raritan Canal basin pond of about five or six acres, and especially well on a string of four to six-acre ponds that at the time were owned by Princeton Day School. Since a friend and I took our limits and placed them in a cooler filled with cold water from Colliers Mills one December afternoon and transported the pickerel to PDS, the lower pond became loaded. The largemouth population seemed to remain stable, too. That was illegal activity, but we were 17 in 1977 and not filled in on the prohibition against transplanting fish, at least not enough not to do it. Now I've heard of pickerel being caught in Stony Brook...

We've caught pickerel on Little Swartswood, tried for walleye on Swartswood. Lake Musconetcong has some big perch, and this winter might be a good one for pickerel and largemouths, since last I saw the lake, the weeds were back. Eurasian milfoil apparently does a great job of filtering the water, making it clean, clear, and good for fish. 

Budd Lake was once my favorite. For three or four winters I spent time alone on the ice in the late 90's and early 2000's, catching some pike, but none of them really big. I caught my only channel catfish through the ice there also. Now I'm eager to ice fish Lake Hopatcong more, and over the next few years, the lake may be my only ice destination, since I'm interested in developing a collection of black and white photos associated directly with the lake and depicting any and all forms of recreation I may encounter, as well as scenes. Perhaps sometime I'll try Lake Aeroflex or even Wawayanda. I would ice fish Round Valley Reservoir, perhaps even soon, since my persistent trout fishing has got me interested. I really thought the reservoir wasn't going to freeze over this year, so I was surprised when I drove down into the South Lot yesterday, viewing ice clear across and everywhere. 

Round Valley Reservoir yesterday. 4 1/2 inches of ice near the ramp.

 39-inch northern pike from Budd Lake.

 Joe Landolfi and 25-inch pickerel from Lake Hopatcong.

 Joe Landolfi and hybrid striper from Lake Hopatcong.

Pickerel from Lake Musconetcong.

Ice Fishing Lake Hopatcong