Smallie Fishing

Micropterus Dolomieu

aka the Smallmouth Bass or Smallie- pound for pound the strongest fighting fish in North America.  Identified by the smaller mouth- where the jaw does not extend beyond the center of the eye when the mouth is closed, and the vertical diamond shape markings.

Micropterus Salmoides

aka the Largemouth Bass or Bucket Mouth- the Smallies bigger/heavier brother.  Identified by the larger mouth- where the jaw extends beyond the eye when the mouth is closed, and the horizontal lateral line/stripe.

Cold Weather Returns

I spent the Holidays up at the Pack and was happy to see the snow and cold weather return...albeit only a dusting of snow.  In fact, next week the weathermen are predicting temps in the single digits at night with daytime highs only in the 20s.  Why am I happy?  For one, I knew the mild temps wouldn't last, secondly, I'm hoping the local ski resorts can start to make some snow because I'm planning on skiing this year and thirdly, if it's cold enough, the Pack will freeze over allowing ice fisherman to do their thing.  Personally, sitting on a bucket and ice fishing ins't my idea of a good time.  When I'm out in the cold, I want to be moving.  That's why I like to ski, mtn. bike, hike, etc. in the Cold/Winter.  But hey, if ice fishing is your gig...all the power to ya.

Speaking of fishing, when I was out on Briar Hill Summit Point today, on Lake Wallenpaupack, (see photo above), I actually saw two fishermen in a boat in Martins Cove.  Are you serious?  I'm a diehard fisherman but, sitting in a boat when it's 32F with a 15 mph wind, (wind chills in the 20s) is not my idea of a good time- even if I was catching fish.  Plus, I can't imagine it's that safe..if you accidently fell overobard...even if you're wearing a PFD.

If you have a boat and haven't winterized it yet, now is a good time with low temps in the forecast.  Don't forget to pour some of the RV safe antifreeze (pink color) in the livewell drains.  Open the valves so water/anti-freeze drains.  Remove the drain plug.  I like to put steel wool in the drain plug hole and any other hole/gap that mice might be able to enter into the boat.  Also, remove anything from the boat that mice/rodents can get into...including cushions, towels, anchor rope, etc.  I also remove all of my soft plastics from my boat/garage too.  Last year it got so cold the plastics shriveled up in my tackle boxes.

Winter's ON!

Brookfield Renewable acquires Lake Wallenpaupack

It wasn't too long ago that I heard that the long time owner of Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL), sold to Talen Energy.  Now, Talen Energy, it seems, sold to Brookfield Renewable.  How does this new acquisition affect the day-to-day operations of the Lake?  I don't know.  More importantly, how will it affect the fishing?  Again, I don't know.  Only time will tell.  Here's a link/article as to the new acquisition: http://lakewallenpaupackhydro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Lake-Wallenpaupack-News-Fall-2015-WEB.pdf

Bill Albright RIP

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I write of the loss of one of my good friends Bill Albright.  Billy passed away on 11/22/15, his birthday.  For those of you that knew Billy, and were fortunate to fish with him, you know that he was a good man, a class act, and one helluva bass fisherman.  Billy left behind his father, his son and his relatively new bride Marlene (who my wife and I have grown to love).  Billy was a former Bassmasters Top 100 Touring Professional and a full-time bass fishing guide on Lake Wallenpaupack.

I traveled with Billy to many Redman Bass Tournaments over the years from the 1000 Islands down to the Potomac River.  We always caught a lot of fish and BIG fish when we pre-fished our tournaments.  Here's a photo of a nice Largemouth that I caught at the 1000 Islands and the nice Smallie that Billy caught no more than 15 minutes after I caught mine.

I was also fortunate to have fished Lake Wallenpaupack with Billy over the years.  The Pack (as Lake Wallenpaupack is known by the local fishermen) was Billy's home lake as well as mine since my parents had a house on the Lake since 1972 and I've had a house on the Lake for the last 3 years.

As a tribute to Billy, I will be posting more frequently on this Smallie Fishing Blog for years to come.  I'm also going to try to hold/organize the first Bill Albright Memorial Bass Tournament on the Pack in 2016 w/ proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.  I don't know if a Memorial Tournament was ever held at the Pack before.  If not, good reason to start one.  If anyone would like to help me run/organize the tournament in 2016..email me: mullerrj@gmail.com  I'm not sure which is the best time of year: Spring/Summer/Fall.

Until next time, RIP Bill Albright..my friend.  Until we meet again.

Fall Foliage

I looked into the blog archive for September 2013 and early October blogs and guess what?  Nuthin' to report.  Now, I'm starting to realize why.  That's because the September/early-October timeframe is historically NOT a very productive time of year for me at the Pack.  Sure, I catch a few in September..but not the quantity or size like I do in the Spring.  And, not the size or quantity like mid to late October or early November.

I called my buddy Billy Albright up the othe day and asked him how the Pack was doing and he said they were getting the Largemouth pretty good.  Only a few Smallies but the ones he did catch were big.  There could be a lot of reasons for the fewer number of Smallies: falling water levels pushing the Smallies deeper, docks/boats being removed for the Season (Smallies lose cover), cooler temps (slows bass' metabolism so they don't eat as often), more frequent cold fronts (affects barometer and fishes swim bladder), etc.  

Perhaps, for me, it could be the wrong place at the wrong time.  I know from experience just because it's slow on one section of the Lake doesn't mean it's slow on the other.  But, that's just an excuse...at least for me it is.  What I need to do, is spend more time doing what I'm NOT doing.  For starters, instead of beating the bank, I should move off the bank and fish deeper (in 10-15 ft. of water).  After all, the Smallies will move deeper when they drop the water level.  And, they've dropped the water level dramatically at the Pack in the last 3 weeks.  Also, I need to start watching my fish finder closer for structure (weeds/rocks) and for food (baitfish swarms).  I know I don't do that enough in the Fall.  A lot of times the Smallies will force the baitfish into the coves and go on a feeding frenzy.  Creeks are a good place to fish in the Fall too, because the Fall rains bring a lot of food (like Crawfish) into the Lake.

Anyway, if you're like me, change it up in the Fall..I'm sure you'll get better results.  Fish ON!  Rob  

Fish ON!

Fished the Pack for the first time in 2014 on Monday, April 21.  It was a beautiful day..bluebird skies, no wind, temperatures in the high 60s, low 70s.  The water temp varied from the high 40s to low 50s depending on where you fished.  I didn't get on the water until 11am.  I fished from 11-4pm and the fishing SUCKED!  That's right..it was terrible.  I caught a couple fish..but that was it.  Missed a BIG Striper on Monday..right near the boat.  I did hook into a decent size Pickerel but that wasn't the game plan.  The game plan, as always, was to hook into a BIG Smallie.  Nothing doing.  I was throwing what I normally do this time of year- jerkbaits and swimbaits.

Tuesday, I decided to get on the water early.  I launched at Ledgedale which only had one ramp (of two) open.  On Monday, I launched out of Capri.  They too only have one launch ramp open.  The other ramp had a big concrete slab on it.  I have no idea where that came from. If I had to guess, I'd say it was from the end of either ramp.  It seems the ice/wind/etc. broke it off and moved it.  No telling when the blocked ramp will be open this year.  I hope they work on it soon.  I assume the State Launch Ramp is open but I try to stay away from that..because it's normally too congested with Marina's test driving new boats and leaving their trucks parked on the ramp.  I kid you not.  I've seen it in years past.  Plus, I've heard all kinds of horror stories at the State Ramp. i.e. trucks being broken into, trucks/trailers being side swiped, etc.

Anyway, back to the fishing.  On Tuesday, I launched at Ledgedale at 0700.  The sky was cloudy/overcast, no wind, temps in the low 50s.  I fished from Ironwood Point down to Ledgedale.  As soon as I dropped the trolling motor it was Fish ON!  I caught at least 6 Smallies in the first hour.  I also caught a small Striper (shown above).  I caught BIG pickerel and even caught a couple Yellow Perch.  And, I fished the same baits I got skunked on the day before.  So, it definitely wasn't the bait..it was the time of day and the weather conditions that made the difference.  There was an approaching cold front that I'm sure helped as well.  I fished from 0700 to 1200..before the rain.  It was a great morning.  I caught approximately a dozen Smallies..all 2-3 pound chunks.  The only short was the Yellow Perch that went about 10 inches.  Normally, when I get on to the Yellow Perch..they are near 15 inches.  Yes, 15 inches.

I'll be back to the Pack this weekend to pick up where I left off on Tuesday.  The fishing can only get better as the water warms up and the Smallies start feeding.  If you want to catch BIG Smallies at the Pack this is the time to get after them.  Also, if you want to catch BIG Stripers..this is the time.  When I say BIG, I'm talking 25 lb. BIG!  I haven't got one yet..but that's the game plan this year.

Until then, Fish ON!  Rob

Ice Off!

According to the video camera at Lighthouse Harbor Marine (on the Lake), the ice is officially off of the Pack.  I guess these last couple days of mid 70F temps melted the last of the ice.  You can go to  http://www.poconoweather.com  and see for yourself.

Now, I'm getting excited.  I've been out fishing already on the Susquehanna Flasts for LMs, but can't wait to hook into my first Smallie on the Pack.

I'll be up for a week in the next few weeks, so I'll post my first Fish Report at that time.  I may even do some Striper fishing this year..for the first time.  I saw a guy catch and release a 22 pounder last year.  He weighed it right there on his boat...so I know it was a legitimate 20+ pounder. I'm not sure what he was throwing.  If I had to guess I'd say live baitfish.  Big ones!  I'm not a bait fisherman but I may have to give-in this year, buy some baitfish and try to hook into one of these monsters.

Until then, Fish ON!  Rob