Post Spawn Blues- 6/1/13

If I had a guitar on the boat today..that's what I would have been playing..the Blues..to go along with the lousy fishing.  I can't say the fishing was terrible, because my brother-in-law and I caught 5 legal Smallies..but the fish were barely legal..definitely bucks.  If it was a tournament it would have been 5 fish for 5 lbs.
Bluebird skies, temps in the low 80s, water temps moving up into the high 60s, slight breeze

We started at 0530 from Capri Marina and targeted all the points.  I wanted to see if I could call-up a Post Spawn female with a Zara Spook or some other topwater- reaction bait.  I did see a couple boil-ups..but nothing wanted my Zara Spook regardless of how I worked it (fast, slow, erratic, etc.)  What the Smallies did like, however, was the smaller Pop-R presentation.  And, interestingly, they wanted it shallow..I'm talking 1 ft. of water shallow. 

We fished until 0930 because we couldn't buy a bite from 0900 to 0930..not even a Rocky (Rock Bass) bite.  Although the Lake level is at its highest..and there was a lot of structure (trees/rocks/etc.) on the banks..most of the fish we caught were on/near the pea gravel and or boulders.  The funny thing too is, that the Smallies didn't want any plastic spoon fed to them at all...I'm talking senkos, swim baits, tubes, jigs, bugs, etc. regardless of how they were fished or where they were fished.  They only thing they hit was a jerkbait..and they were swatting at it instead of eating it good.

I'm guessing the Blues will last another week until the Smallies are done their Post-Spawn Blues and the water temps warm up into the low 70s.  When the water reaches the low 70s, the topwater bite begins..at least traditionally for me at the Pack it starts.  If you find the right place, you catch some nice size Smallies..and a lot of em.

Until next time.  Fish ON!  Rob 

Smallie Fishing Lake Erie

I've ALWAYS wanted to fish Lake Erie for Smallies...and why not?  Could it be because the NY and PA Smallmouth Bass record are out of Lake Erie (8 lb. 4 oz.)?  Could it be from the countless articles that speak of 100 fish caught per day in the Spring/Fall?  Or, could it be this years' Bassmaster's Magazine rated Lake Erie as Top 5 Bass Fishery in the World?  Regardless, I needed to see first-hand why this was said to be Smallmouth nirvana/heaven.

I took a week off work and made the 7 hr. drive (at 70 mph, with stops for gas and coffee) from my home in Doylestown, PA to Erie, PA.  A lot of people don't realize that Pennsylvania is that wide.  Well, it is.  I arrived in Erie, PA on a Sunday..the air temps were warm (80ish) and the skies clear.  I decided to spend my first day, scouting out Presque Island Bay and the main lake.  I launched at the West Marine Launch out of Presque Island State Park.  It seemed to be the most popular launch for bass fishermen because it is FREE and it is well protected from the wind.

The Bay was shallow in spots..at least where the bass fishermen were fishing.  I'd say the depths ranged from 1 ft. to 5 ft. in the grassy flats..from the shoreline to the channel.  The main lake was shallow near the shoreline.  You'd have to be at least 400 yds. from the shoreline to safely navigate at speed where the water depth is 10 ft.  Visibility ranges from 15 ft. on a good/clear/calm day to less than 4 ft. on a windy/overcast/post-storm day.  The key to finding fish on the main lake is to find structure..whether it's drop-offs, humps, grass, rock or preferably grass/rock.  I could see BIG Smallies laying on the bottom in 13 ft. of water.  They could NOT however, be coaxed into biting regardless of what I tried or how stealthy I made the presentation.  I guess when you're on a bed/nest and ready to drop eggs, the last thing you want is food dangling in front of you.  There is no doubt in my mind the BIG females were ready to drop their eggs.   The water temp in the main lake was nearing 55F and the full moon is/was on May 25.  BTW, the water temp in Presque Island Bay (PIB) was at least 7-8F warmer than the main lake.

Each day I fished the main Lake in the a.m., making 10+ mile runs down the Northeast coast line.  And, each day I came up empty handed.  I just could NOT catch a thing (other than rock bass, gobies, perch, etc.) regardless of what I threw or what depth I tried.  And, let me tell you, I threw everything but the kitchen sink from 6 ft. of water to 30 ft. of water.  After blanking out on the main lake, I fished PIB where I ALWAYS got into them.  I'd say two guys, who know how to fish, could catch 20-30 nice size Smallies in PIB each day.  And, these Smallies would run from 2-4 pounds.   I didn't catch anything larger than what was pictured...which ran 3+.  I saw perhaps one other fish caught that was closer to 4..but that was it from ANY boat (that I saw) the entire week.  I wanted the 5 or 6 pounder that I heard so much about swimming the waters of Lake Erie..but it was not to be.  That is why I was adamant about fishing the main lake.  I figured I had a better chance of catching a big boy/girl in the main lake than I did in PIB.  After all, I did see some HUGE fish laying on the bottom in 13 ft. of water on the main lake.

All of my fish were caught and released.  They (PA Fish/Boat Commission) say you can keep one this time of year in Lake Erie if it is 20 in. or better.  I never measured any of mine but I'm betting the one photo'd was close to 20 in. 

On a side note, I headed to Lake Chautauqua on one day because the main lake (Erie) had too much wind and the weather forecast was calling for thunderstorms.  Boy did it rain/thunderstorm which is why I only caught two fish on Chautauqua..a nice size LM in a Marina and a decent size Smallie on a  main lake point..but that was it.  A little disappointing to say the least.  I heard/read good things about Chautauqua before fishing it.  In fact, a guy I talked to at a gas station said, "you should have been here yesterday..we killed em".  Story of my life.  But, then again, I read about 100 fish per day in Lake Erie too...this time of year.

All-in-all..a good trip.  Did it live up to the hype?  Heck NO!  Not even close.  Had I known the main Lake was going to shut down like it did for the week, I would have rented a small aluminum boat with a 9.9 hp to fish the PIB.  That's all you needed.  I'm glad I made the trip to Erie though..because I had to check it out for myself.  Will I be back?  Hard to say because I was disappointed.  I guess only time will tell.  There are plenty other Smallie factories that are on my bucket list.  Until then, I'm going to have fun fishing my home Lake...Lake Wallenpaupack...in the 2013 Bassmasters Magazine's top 100 bass fisheries.

Fish ON!  Rob

Lake Wallenpaupack Fishing Report- 5/4/13

Man..if you didn't get out on the water this weekend and fish you probably missed one of the nicest weekends (both weather and fish caught) of fishing you will EVER experience at the Pack.  All three days (Fri-Sun) were bluebird days with highs in the upper 60s low 70s, moderate winds, sunny and warm.  In fact, it felt a LOT warmer than the mercury indicated.

Water temp on the lake varies (by location) from 59-62F depending on where you fished.  I fished from Ironwood up to Capri Marina.  Visibility is about 5-6 ft.  I can't remember the last time the water was this clear.  Perhaps it's because we haven't received much rain/runoff lately.  I don't know for sure.

Both Saturday and Sunday I was out on the Lake btwn 9-10am.  That's the beauty of fishing this time of year.  You don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of good Smallie Fishing.  You can catch em all day long.

The bucks are up on the banks fanning out the nests for the big females.  I caught about a dozen smallies each day and 95% of them were bucks up near the beds.  They averaged just a little over a pound.  I caught a couple females that went about 3 pounds.  I can't tell you how many fish I had chase my bait..swipe at it with their tail, etc.

I threw and caught all my fish on a jerkbait.  There are all different types/sizes of jerkbaits but I like the small "jap jerkbaits" because they suspend MUCH better than the others.  According to Bill, of Bills Guide Service, the soft plastics are working well along with spinners.  I didn't even think of changing baits because I absolutely love throwing jerkbaits this time of year.  Probably because I don't throw them any other time of the year at the Pack.

I also watched a guy (and his girlfriend/sister/wife/whatever) catch and boat a 20 lb. Striper.  I believe they were fishing live bait.  When that Striper hit...he hit hard and just ran with the bait.  They caught it in 15 ft. of water with a live minnow off of Briar Hill North Point.  It took them about 5 minutes to land the fish.  They caught it at approximately 3pm.

The weather might not get any better in the upcoming weeks (how can it..this weekend was perfect) but I know the fishing is going to get better.  I predict the next two weeks will be the best times for both quantity and size.  The full moon is on May 25th, and the water is warming up nicely to the mid 60s....a time when the BIGGER female Smallies will move in and spawn.

So, get out there the next two weeks.   FISH ON!  Rob

Lake Level

In case you didn't know, there is a link on the internet to PPL's website showing the current water level at the Pack.  It's www.lakelevelppl.com

Last time I checked, the water level was exactly where it should be this time of year.  The high mark is June at 1187 ft.  So, the water level will be rising another 1.4 ft. in the month of May.  I wish they had a website showing the water temp..that would even be better.

I haven't wetted a line yet but will be FINALLY getting on the Pack this weekend.  The latest report, from Bill of Bill's Guide Service, is that the water temp is nearing 60F and the Smallies (mostly bucks) are active in the flats fanning out nesting sites for the females that are staging in the deeper depths.  The full moon is on May 25th, so the females will be moving up in the next couple weeks.  The females usually lay their first load of eggs on the full moon when the water temp reaches the mid-60s.  It's not gospel, but it's a good benchmark.  If you're a veteran fisherman, you know there are NO RULES in fishing.  But, the general rule (which includes the Pack) is that bass will spawn on or near the full moon when the water temp reaches 65F.  Fishing seems to be good, from what Bill tells me, from Ledgedale to the Dam.  I like to target the Ledgedale end of the Lake in the Spring because the water warms up faster and it always seems like there is less boat traffic since the majority of the boats on the lake launch from either the State Ramp at the Dam or Capri Marina (mid Lake).

I'll give my first report this weekend.  Until then, FISH ON!  Rob 

The Mayfly in April

Well, they call em Mayflys but they are out in BIG numbers around the Pack in April.  Thousands of the fockers.  I opened the Lake House front door this a.m. and I kid you not at least 50 of em flew inside.  I don't remember them EVER being this bad in the 40+ yrs. I've been coming up to the Pack.  Maybe that's because we used to avoid coming up during this time of year because of the bugs.  I'm sure if they are bad at my house they are worse down at the water..especially if there isn't a breeze/wind to keep em grounded.

I'm not so sure the Mayfly is a regular in the Smallie diet.  Maybe the trout, but not the Smallie.  At least in the Lake.  Why?  If you were a Smallie and you had a choice of a stinking fly or a nice meaty crawfish/crayfish or threadfin shad..what would you choose?  I'm not saying a Smallie won't eat a Mayfly it's just that given a choice..I'm sure they'd prefer the larger meal..especially since the water is warming up and their body metabolism is picking up.  Smallies probably eat these Mayflys like we eat mints when leaving a restaurant after a big steak dinner.

Enough of the Mayfly.  I haven't dropped a line in the Pack yet this year, but my friend, Bill Albright, and full-time Guide on the Pack is actually out on the water today with a client.  I'll get the fishing report tonight.  Yesterday was a beautiful 70F day at the Pack.  I'm sure the warmer temps warmed up the water and fired up the Smallies a tad.  I know it fired up the Mayfly.  (Sorry, the Mayfly again).  Anyway, I'm guessing the water temp is in in the low 50s.  I will post a fishing report when I hear from Bill.

I probably won't start fishing until the weekend of May 4th.  Fair weather fisherman?  Yes and No.  Yes, because it's still not warm enough at 0700 for me to go fishing (which is the time I usually head out) and No, because I know we're not even close to the Peak Smallie fishing time in the Spring at the Pack.  I'm guessing mid-May will be peak Smallie activity.  Guess we'll see.  Until later.  Fish ON!  Rob

In like a Lion..out like a Lamb

So, the idiom says...March is in like a Lion and out like a Lamb.  However, this year..it's a little bit bassackwards.  March has been more like "in like a Lamb and out like a Lion."  As I'm watching snow pile up in the driveway of my Lake House.  Well, at least compared to last year.  Last year by mid-March we had at least three 70F days and no trace of snow.  This year, I don't think we had three 55F days...and there's been snow on the ground for some time.  I'm not complaining.  I've enjoyed my weekends at the Pack this past Winter.  What's not to like if you're like me and you love the snow.  There's been snow on the ground since December..albeit no more than an inch or two at times.  What I also like about the Pack in the Winter..is NO PEOPLE!  No lines in the restaurants or stores, no noise during the day or at night.  It's the way I like it...QUIET!

 

For those of you that don't like the snow or ice..no fretting.  The ice will be off the Pack in 2-3 weeks.  I know it doesn't seem like it..but it will be..if history repeats itself.  Ice off means one thing and one thing only..and that is SMALLIE FISHING!  Yeah, yeah, I know you can ice fish..and I saw them out on the ice with their ATVs this Winter.  But, drilling a hole in the ice, sitting on a bucket, and dropping a line straight down in the hole in freezing temps is not my idea of fun.  Although the ice is clear in the beginning of April, I normally don't head out onto the Pack until the end of April and the start of May.  Therefore, my first fishing report probably won't be for another month.

 

Until then, this is a good time to start gathering your equipment, re-spooling your reels, etc.  If you need to buy something..buy it now before the shelves are picked clean.  I bought a new Goretex rainsuit at BPS in Baltimore and got close to $100 off in sales and discounts.   I also got some great lures to try out.

 

This year, I'm headed to Lake Erie for some World Class Smallie Fishing.  I'll be posting daily blogs from Erie.  I hope I have some Lunker Photos to share.

 

Talk to you in a few weeks.  Fish ON!  Rob

Lake Wallenpaupack Fishing Report- 11/12/12

There are NOT too many nice days in November like there was yesterday at the Pack.  Actually, Sunday was even NICER which is why I didn't fish.  Normally, when the sun is bright on a bluebird day (no clouds- blue skies), the fishing is not very good because the Smallies go deep- to avoid the bright light.  What makes the sun even easier to penetrate the water is no wind.  That's what was on the menu (weather-wise) for Sunday.

I launched from the State Ramp at 0830.  The skies were clear, no wind, temps in the mid 40s.  It actually felt warmer since the sun was bright and there was no wind.  Water temp was a solid 50F.  I haven't been up to the Pack to fish for the majority of the month of October..therefore, I didn't know how the fishing was.  I stopped in Paupack Sport Shop on Sunday and they (Mark) said they were catchin' em (Smallies) on the typical cranks, spinners and spoons.  So, that's what I had tied on to my lines/rods: crankbaits and small spinnerbaits- for the most part.  I started at the Dam end of the Lake and worked the shoreline hard..with an assortment of baits and colors..not to mention sizes...nothin', not even a sniff.  Then, I moved down to the mid-section of the Lake and worked the shoreline out to 15 ft. of water- NOTHIN'.  Can you believe that?  I worked the deeper points too- and NOTHIN'.  The air temps rose to the mid 50s by 1000..then, it started to cloud over and the wind started picking up.  I knew fishing could only get better..so I stayed out another 1 1/2 hrs..and NOTHIN'.  I wasn't marking much on my fishfinder either.  I slowed the retrieve on my crankin', maybe I was working the baits too fast.  That didn't help..again..NOTHIN'.  At around noonish, I had enough so I pulled chocks (flying term I learned from the military) and headed home.  By the time I got home, the air temp was up to 60F and the sun peaked through once again.  To tell you I was frustrated (at zeroing out) was an understatement.  This is the first trip I caught NOTHIN'...a complete goose egg..ZERO..NO FISH!  I was so pissed I called my friend Billy Albright up (Full-time guide on the Lake) and asked- What's up Billy?  Bill agreed, fishing this Fall has been some of the toughest in recent history.  Why?  I have no idea.  Normally, in the Fall (at the Pack) you'd catch BIG FISH using the same lures I was throwing yesterday..and I mean you'd catch 10-12 brutes per day.

Well, kudos to the Smallies for being stealthy and staying off the hook.  They really kicked my ass this Fall.  I guess that makes up for the fantastic Spring and Summer I had.  I may not have caught BIG fish this Spring/Summer but the quantities were always there 5-10 Smallies per day averaging 2 lb.  I hate to say it but I think that's it for Smallie Fishing for me this year..at least out of the big boat.  I may take the kayak out and fish in the Cove when I'm up for Thanksgiving..weather permitting of course.

Until next report..Fish ON!  Rob