christmas lakers

[jrock]

Picked up some jenson cripple herring spoons yesterday and brought em out to the valley today. We had the standard binsky's with us also but they were hittin the jensons good today. I love the binsky's but one advantage the jenson has is its heavier and easier to keep on the bottom when fishing deep. Anyway fish were all over today got 5 decent ones and dropped a few all anywhere from 50 fow to 95 fow. Anyone else here ever use the johnson cripple herring and have any luck with them?

[AndyS]

Nice haul on da lakers !

[Mark B.]

Xmas eve wading RVR’s eastern shore, C (Yo Zuri) & R’ed: 17” brown & two

15” browns. Had another on but lost it.

No lakers,.............though this is the time of year I usually catch some.

[jrock]

hey Mark I have been meaning to hit the east shore from shore. I did well last march there throwing stick baits from shore. Would be nice to hit a laker from shore. what area on the east shore do you hit if you dont mind me asking? the middle, up by the north tower, or more towards the south end?

[Mark B.]

hey Mark I have been meaning to hit the east shore from shore. I did well last march there throwing stick baits from shore. Would be nice to hit a laker from shore. what area on the east shore do you hit if you dont mind me asking? the middle, up by the north tower, or more towards the south end?

I fish more towards the south end. And I do the best, the windier the better from the NW, right in my face.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Nice catch buddy!!! I have a few of those crippled herring in a box somewhere. Lakers love em no doubt. Good stuff!!!

[Mikeps326]

You guys think its going to be too windy to go out on Saturday morning around 7?

[jrock]

Thanks mark, I usually fish more towards the north end I'll give the south end a shot next time. Hey mike def. Watch the wind cause not only does it make jigging hard if its to windy it also can set off the wind lights wich will not allow you on the reservoir at all.

[Skunk City]

Good stuff JRock. Do these Lakers usually suspend or do they hang near the bottom?

[jrock]

They usually are hugging the bottom although there have been occasions that I have caught them higher in the water column, but for the most part yea they are on the bottom. This time of year they are spread out as far as depth is concerned though. I know you enjoy doin the jigging thing skunk after tearin up greenwood this fall. I don't know if you ever jigged for lake trout but its a good time and you can catch a lot of fish them things are crazy active in the cold water.

[Skunk City]

They usually are hugging the bottom although there have been occasions that I have caught them higher in the water column, but for the most part yea they are on the bottom. This time of year they are spread out as far as depth is concerned though. I know you enjoy doin the jigging thing skunk after tearin up greenwood this fall. I don't know if you ever jigged for lake trout but its a good time and you can catch a lot of fish them things are crazy active in the cold water.

You are right about enjoying jigging. They are a cool looking fish, one of the better looking fish in NJ. I'd love to give it a shot with someone that knows the Valley. Can't be that much different than jigging for anything else. Hmm...

[ChaosStarter]

Picked up some jenson cripple herring spoons yesterday and brought em out to the valley today. We had the standard binsky's with us also but they were hittin the jensons good today. I love the binsky's but one advantage the jenson has is its heavier and easier to keep on the bottom when fishing deep. Anyway fish were all over today got 5 decent ones and dropped a few all anywhere from 50 fow to 95 fow. Anyone else here ever use the johnson cripple herring and have any luck with them?


You need the 3/4oz Binsky! :D

[cmoran719]

this makes me so jealous. Went out jigging for lakers today with two others: we used gold and silver binskys, crippled herring, kastmasters, and a rip n rap and caught NOTHING. We marked fish, we covered lots of ground, did everything right based on the reports I've been seeing. Guess today just wasn't a good day

[jrock]

Don't be to hard on yourself cmoran it happens to the best of us, you weren't exactly dealing with the best conditions. Next time the bite is slow try working rubber jigs along the rocks in 50-75 fow along the north and south towers. Sometimes even lake trout want a slower less eratic motion.

[jimmythegreek]

good job jrock, way to hammer the lakers, especially in december, nicely done bro......

another good technique for finicky bottom huggers is live bait on a fishfinder rig straight down to the bottom. Use a strike guard or open bail w ur finger on the line, and let them take the line for a 5-10 seconds and then set the hook lightly. even the most finicky fish cant resist a shiner/herring doing its death dance and putting off those vibes

[FASTEDDIE29]

Its prime time for Lakers now through January. If anyones headed to the Valley, let me know. Ive had great success there!!!

TIGHT LINEZ!!!:)

[Mark B.]

this makes me so jealous. Went out jigging for lakers today with two others: we used gold and silver binskys, crippled herring, kastmasters, and a rip n rap and caught NOTHING. We marked fish, we covered lots of ground, did everything right based on the reports I've been seeing. Guess today just wasn't a good day

I, too, got skunked yesterday, wading / casting from the eastern shore.

I wasn't expecting much, as the winds were not good (blowing SW).

Just needed to get outside.

When it next blows NW,...........I'll go.

[GetANet]

Nice Job on the Lakers!!! They do deserve some respect !!! I fish for them mostly all winter but lately been doing the Holiday thing and that's getting old already so hopefully be on the Valley soooon!!!!! I had some excellent days up there for lakers in the middle of winter, since i've hit the big 50 i'd rather fish out of my boat. Bones don't move too well to be running up and down the stream banks like some of you kids on the site! So that fills the void just right!!! I like to do the shiner on bottom deal but won't hesitate to jig if i see em' stacked up!!! And they will def hit spoons too if you like to troll!

[bulletbob]

Bring your plain old chrome AVA 007 or 17 bluefish jigs up there for lakers and drop them down.. You can thank me later.. They will catch as many lakers as any lure you can use, they are cheap, rugged, and are always close to bottom, even when you are drifting fast in a ferocious wind.... Guys up here in NY can't get them , but the guys in the know[like me] grab them whenever we can...

Another great lake trout lure is a 1 oz wheel weight off of a car tire painted white, a small hole drilled at each end, one for the line, one for the split ring and hook,,, Don't laugh, its a killer on lakers, and I caught my PB 11 lb.brown trout on one... I dress it up a bit with eyes and gills done with red and black permanent marker... Give it a shot just for laughs, and again, you can thank me later... bob