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