Lake Wallenpaupack Fishing Report- 8/27/12

Fished both Saturday and Sunday.  Both days, air temps in the low 80s, skies partly cloudy, water temp 75F.  Fished from 5am to 10am each day.  Fished with my bro-in-law which is why I was able to post this pic.  Between the two of us, I'd say we caught a dozen legal size Smallies (>12") each day.  A couple 2+ pounders that we didn't get a photo of.  The Lake is "pea green" with a viz about 2 ft. at best. The shoreline has a distinctive white residue from the drying green algae.  I'm wondering why it turns bright chalk white after being green.  Is it from all the minerals/phosphates/etc. in the algae?  I don't know..that's what I'm guessing.

Our fish were caught on an assortment of lures: Pop-R's, jigs, senkos, tubes, Spooks in the early a.m.  I missed a HUGE Smallie or LM on a Jitterbug.  I had him on, but lost him.  Probably because he rolled on the lure and pulled it out of his mouth.  I hate the hooks on the Jitterbug and the fact they aren't connected via split rings which allows them to roll and get off.  Normally, I replace them but I didn't have the chance before we went out.  Oh well.

The majority of our fish were caught in 6 ft. of water with rocks and weedbeds nearby...even though I was marking a lot more fish in 15-20 ft. of water.   It also helped that we were fishing at the dropoffs from 6 ft. to 20 ft.  We didn't catch any fish deeper than 6 ft.  The bite on Saturday was more aggressive than on Sunday.  On Sunday the bigger fish were picking the bait off on the bottom.  They almost wanted it "dead still".  You couldn't hardly detect the pickup..just had to watch your line move or feel slight tension on the line..and you knew it was on.  If I were fishing solo, I would have moved out a little deeper and fished the better structure where I was seeing more fish.  I probably would have drop-shotted for those deeper fish.

The Lake wasn't too crowded this weekend.  I expected more boats but then again, the kids went back to College this past weekend so maybe a lot of family's didn't come up.  I hope it's less crowded this coming Labor Day Weekend but I have a feeling it's going to be crowded because for some..it's the last hoorah for the Summer.  Thank God.  I'll be glad to see them go.  The best time for fishing is in the Spring and/or Fall when there are fewer boats and BIGGER fish are caught.

Fish ON!  Rob

2012 TZX 190 w/ Jackplate

Here's a pic of a TZX 190 from a friend Randy (from Louisiana) I met on the net.  Randy's boat, like mine, is a 2012 Skeeter TZX 190.  However, Randy has some additional items I don't have such as a tandem axle trailer and a 4" Jackplate on the transom.  I'm going to have a JP installed on my TZX 190 over the Winter.  The JP is a good idea on this boat for several reasons: a) you get better performance out of the outboard (less drag=higher speed + better mpg), b) better shallow water boat/trailer loading, c) gives Side Imaging transducer room for a better look/view  and d) puts the engine higher and further back of transom for a better ride and frees cables/hoses from binding on stern deck.  Just a good investment if you ask me.

Good lookin' boat Randy.  Fish ON! Rob

Lake Wallenpaupack Fishing Report- 8/12/12

Got out on Sunday..60F when I started at 0630.  Water temp 77F.  Slight wind out of the East, Sunny skies.  Air temp warmed up to mid 70s by 1030 when I took-out.

Fishing was good.  Caught 6 Smallies, two of them in the 2+ lb range.  Caught em on worms and a drop-shot rig.  Fished a nice stretch of shoreline that I don't normally fish across from my Cove.  Noticed that the lake level had fallen once again and that there was a distinct white chalky shoreline residue.  Also noticed that the water is turning a "pea green" color which my friend (Bill Albright) and I believe is an algae bloom.  That could explain the white chalky shoreline.  You would think the residue would be green but maybe it's white because of all the minerals/nutrients in the algae..who knows.  We have noticed that the weed growth (hydrilla) has been very sparse this summer.  Perhaps that is from the algae stunting its growth?  Who knows.  Regardless, the fishing remains good.  I just hope this algae die-off (which happens in the Fall) doesn't affect the Bass.  I think the algae is particulary dominant in the Lake this year because we didn't have any ice/snow on the Lake this past Winter to keep the sunlight from penetrating.   It's the first time in a LONG time that there hasn't been ice/snow in the middle of the Lake. The algae may have started growing sooner than normal.  Plus, we've had a particularly hot/humid Summer which is probably adding to the algae growth.

Until next time..Fish ON!  Rob