Pompton/Passaic Piking 11/16 + 11/17

[Skunk City]

Got out in the kayak for some afternoon fishing on Friday and Saturday. Decided to stay local and target the Pompton and Passaic Rivers. Started off slow rolling a few different color spinnerbaits and got absolutely no love whatsoever (pretty surprising). Swapped lures a few times until I found what they wanted (big Husky Jerks). Ended up with 4 Pike on Friday and 3 on Saturday with a few more hookups that didn't make it to the boat. No beasts, but all healthy chunky fish between 20"-26" with one close to 30". Had one fish, which would have been the biggest, take a darting last minute swipe at my lure boatside but no hookup. Water temps were about 45 degrees. None of the fish were caught in my usual summer spots.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/20121117_151554.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/GOPR0330.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/GOPR0338.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/GOPR0331.jpg

[SkillfulAngler908]

Nice job skunk, the passaic has been tough lately. Me and gatto went a week or so ago and got 2 within the first 5 minutes then nothing for the rest of the day. Were the fish in deeper water then normal?

[tycomps]

When's the pike bite in the passaic usually go to (year round)? What are the changing strategies for the colder water (slower presentation of larger lures)? Where in the water are the fish located (on or off structure/depth)?

[Skunk City]

Nice job skunk, the passaic has been tough lately. Me and gatto went a week or so ago and got 2 within the first 5 minutes then nothing for the rest of the day. Were the fish in deeper water then normal?

Most of them were caught in 4ft-6ft. on the edges of where emerging weedbeds USED to be in the warmer months. Weird pattern, but I suppose there were still some green weeds mixed in with the dying brown, or they just preferred the cover, dead or alive.

[Skunk City]

When's the pike bite in the passaic usually go to (year round)? What are the changing strategies for the colder water (slower presentation of larger lures)? Where in the water are the fish located (on or off structure/depth)?

Starting the first week of January this year, I've caught Pike in every month so far. We had one Christmas Eve last year, then another New Years Eve too. Granted we did have a weak winter, but its pretty cool regardless. I know a lot of guys stick with the spinnerbait in the cooler months, but I haven't had a fish on one since mid-October. For me, its been shiners and jerk baits. Very slow steady retrieve with the jerk baits, with a few twitches and pauses mixed in.

[Fishon1982]

Great job skunk keep killing it there is no better feeling

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great job Skunk. No SKUNK for you buddy!!!

[Skunk City]

Thanks guys. Few more pictures up.

[NorthJerzyG]

Damn, the one in that second pic looks chunky!! NICE WORK!!

[msgdan]

Great job Skunk !!! I tried a couple "can't miss summer spots" for an hour each, this week and last week and came up empty. The water looks great, low and clear and I thought for sure I would get something, but skunked both trips. I do have another "can't miss" spot, but it's a bit of a paddle and I need 3 hours for the trip. maybe next week!

Great job again!!!

Danny V

[Skunk City]

Great job Skunk !!! I tried a couple "can't miss summer spots" for an hour each, this week and last week and came up empty. The water looks great, low and clear and I thought for sure I would get something, but skunked both trips. I do have another "can't miss" spot, but it's a bit of a paddle and I need 3 hours for the trip. maybe next week!

Great job again!!!

Danny V

Been doing a lot of "thinking outside the box" spot-wise. Got creative and thats when I started catching and drowned that pesky skunk. Picked one up off some rocks maybe 4ft of water, close to shore. Guessing he was trying to warm up. Didnt spot any shallow though surprisingly.

[buzzbaiter]

cold water offers different challenges for all species but they can be caught. fish r cold blooded so they take on the temp of their surroundings. if that water is 45F, then those fish are too which renders them fairly weak and inactive. they still have to feed though but since their metabolism has been slowed, they don't need to feed as much - perhaps a meal every few days or even less. when do they feed? in cold weather its just before dark when water temps are just peaking(in fact most waters are at their warmest just after the sun sets). a river may not waiver much in terms of temp as compared to say a small pond (which can shoot up 3-5F on a warm day) so there you need to fish areas that receive the most sun. shaded areas are a no-no. if it feels cold to you, its the same for them. areas that have high, preferably dark/vegetated banks that absorb the sun are also good spots since that warmth will transfer to the water as well at least locally. in cold, clear water fish are still skitterish so any (submerged)cover is a plus. most weedbeds are gone so that leaves deadfalls, snags, bends and dropoffs. Super storm Sandy knocked down many trees along the banks of rivers(mostly maples) thus creating new cover. most importantly fish will be out of the current and lying where they will use the least amount of energy to keep water flowing over their gills. in rivers, finding fish is easy since they will almost all be in the deepest pools thru winter. with most rivers so low, deep pools are few and far between so you can just concentrate on them and skip 85-90% of the river. lastly lure choice: think big. they aren't going to move for a small meal and waste precious energy doing so. large spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and of course live shiners would be your best choices.

keep in mind most of this info is based on years of bass/pickerel fishing cold waters and not pike. this will be my first pike fall/winter/spring so all i can do is apply what i have learned from other fish and go from there. i know with river smallies in the big "D" and other large rivers, the bass congregate in the deepest pools and rarely feed. you can drop a helgrammite on their nose and they won't budge. you just never know but water temps are the key and any rise in them - even subtle 2-3F ones - can make a huge difference.

basically its fish late, deep, big and slow :D

and be happy to get anything. any fish caught this time of year (other than trout) is an accomplishment so be proud of it.

[tycomps]

basically its fish late, deep, big and slow :D



great advice and easy to remember, thanks :)

[buzzbaiter]

Just took a walk along the river over here near work in Fairfield. Dipped a thermometer in - 45F. No signs of life - not even carp which I saw all summer long finning around in there. No minnows or sunnies either River is low and clear. Its actually quite nice out there for a late November day.