9/23/13 Fishing Report - Not Exciting

[Mikew36]

Hey Guys,

Headed up to Swartswood with my buddy and got on the water around 6am. Wind was very light and we launched by the campsites at the NE side of the lake. We started at the edges and worked the lilies. Had live bait in the water and used every lure in the box to no avail.

Then we tried a big drop off in the same area. Dropped herring real deep and threw swim baits towards the shallow area of the drop. Still nothing. After about 3-4 hours the wind picked up and we were defeated so we packed up.

This has been the case for all our trips for the last month or so...SKUNKED. So to redeem ourselves we picked up some more minnows and headed to a small pond we knew of where fishing is always good. We yanked 30 or so LMB out of the water in 2-3 hours with the largest weighing about 3.5LBs.

It's always nice to catch fish but we are getting a little bored of the small fish. Any tips on catching some fish on the bigger bodies of water?

[iceehot6766]

Big Baits means Big Fish!!!....At least you made up for it and finished the day off on a good note.....Thumbs up for your perserverence!!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Good catch buddy. I'm sure that wind was horrible yesterday. North west winds suck on Swartswood. Just keep at em and things will slowly start to pan out. Remember fall is here and the fish will be moving deeper and deeper. Good luck!!!

[Mikew36]

Thanks guys,

I know Fall means BIG pike and I live 2 minutes from the Passaic and know of a few very secluded spots.

I was thinking about getting a big perch pattern jointed and/or swim bait. Is this a good way to get a good size pike right now? I know the swim bait would be better to fish deeper so I may go with that.


Thanks!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Get yourself a couple Mepps inline spinners size 5, couple of spinnerbaits, a few Rapala Husky Jerks in fire tiger, black and silver. Throw in a few Dare devils, red and white and the yellow with red dots. These items will catch you PIKE, GUARANTEED!!!!

[iceehot6766]

Get yourself a couple Mepps inline spinners size 5, couple of spinnerbaits, a few Rapala Husky Jerks in fire tiger, black and silver. Throw in a few Dare devils, red and white and the yellow with red dots. These items will catch you PIKE, GUARANTEED!!!!

X2.....Gee I guess now every sporting good store is gonna get wiped out real fast of these baits.....Glad I stocked up last few weeks...Good luck!!

[GetANet]

TOO FUNNY MITCH!!!! I used to say if the reports said guys were catching them on pieces of dog crap in three feet of water YOU KNOW there's gonna be 90% of the boats out fishing DC in 3FT!!!!!!!!!!!

I been frustrated too but just gotta stay with it and change up to fishing fall patterns. I love the way i've been catching them and that's the hardest thing to do, changing from something that's BEEN working real good!

[iceehot6766]

TOO FUNNY MITCH!!!! I used to say if the reports said guys were catching them on pieces of dog crap in three feet of water YOU KNOW there's gonna be 90% of the boats out fishing DC in 3FT!!!!!!!!!!!

I been frustrated too but just gotta stay with it and change up to fishing fall patterns. I love the way i've been catching them and that's the hardest thing to do, changing from something that's BEEN working real good!

What you said is funny as hell...what I said we all know I wasn't kidding and it's true.....I know how I am, when something works good I go out and grab everything I can get in the local 60 mile radius..I stock up like a squirrel......I'm just saying... I'm not unique and I am sure you all do the same thing.......LOL......

[basspilot]

Well id agree about what you posted about pike but honestly I've caught them on almost everything. The only thing I haven't seen a pike take in this area is dead bait. I know in other parts of the country they fish dead baits but there is far to much life in the passaic for that tactic to work (atleast from what I've seen anyway). When in doubt drown some XL shiners and throw the big baits on another pole and I'm sure you'll have better success. As far as bass fishing is concerned they are very tempermental. I brake out the bag of tricks sometimes to get them and be veryyyyy patient in cold water but they'll still eat. Swartswood bass fishing isn't easy though so don't get discouraged. Best advice I can give there is bring a fishfinder, search for ledges, and be patient.

[Mikew36]

Thanks everyone, you are all extremely helpful !!

I will definitely post up when I catch my monster !!

[iceehot6766]

Told you I ain't kidding....LOL....This is just one box of new unopened stuff..can't see from the picture but this box is deep!!!.......Fishing addiction!!...Gotta love it!!!

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k538/iceehot66/1270644_437389303049475_592444858_o.jpg (http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/iceehot66/media/1270644_437389303049475_592444858_o.jpg.html)

[Mikew36]

Haha that's awesome Iceee

Hey FastEddie, because the weather is cold should presentation be slower? Or should I just vary it every cast?

Thanks !!

[jimmythegreek]

Mike the water temps are only down a few degrees from summer highs, but this signals fish to put the feedbag on and fatten up for the long winter ahead. My biggest question is what are u fishing from boat wise? remember that 90% of the fish are in 10% of the lake, so if ur just fishing blind on a spot that looks fishy, u can throw the arsenal and not get a nibble all day. When I go to a new body of water blindly, I first study the lake map of topography and spend just as much time searching w my electronics as I do fishing, sometimes more searching. I see no point to just randomly tossing lures at empty water. Otherwise u can try to troll making several passes at different depths or drifting live bait at several depths and see what the fish want. On these bigger body of waters the fish get HEAVY pressure from anglers, if ur not presenting it perfectly chances are u wont get bit. Those small ponds u can go catch 30 bass out of are like that because nobody fishes them. Swartswood for instance has HUGE amounts of natural herring, the fish are fat and not hungry like other waters, u need to hit em in the nose or get a reaction strike to really catch them well there. Find a good spot, and stay in that area and work it real hard. As far as big swartswood goes, I wouldnt use anything other than a jig or herring til theres ice up there, u need to be within 5 feet of the bottom at all times to pull fish right now, Im not talking about LMB, I mean SM, perch, eyeballs, etc. jig jig jig and jig some more

[Mikew36]

Thanks Jimmy !!

This is why I love this forum.