Farrington Lake pickerel

[Andrushkin33]

Another night at Farrington Lake:

So as I have noticed everyone seems to have love/ hate relationship with the Lake. Been fishing on and off there since 95 looking like everyone else for those monster pikes that everyone seems to be talking about but no one seems to be able to pull them out. Fished yesterday from 7pm till 930pm from shore around St Johns (which not St Johns anymore) area. Water dropped a lot from the start of the summer and by a lot I do mean a lot. Submerged old bridge (or what remains) is completely visible now and lost something when fish took the bait and darted into that pile on.

Caught couple of crappies, sunny, catfish and this little beauty of a pickerel. Length 25 inches with a weight of 3.5 lbs.

http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah123/Andrusha_Gil/DSC09651_zps947bba3a.jpg

Was using nightcrawlers and it took of with it when I was jigging the worm a bit.

Everything but the pickerel was released. Even though I do practice catch and release I was in the mood for some pickerel steaks and it didn't disappoint.

My first post here so no longer lurking around.

Yours truly,

Andre

"Bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work"

[phil]

I took the yak to farrington last sunday morning but only got a couple hours in since my son was sick and my wife called me home much earlier than expected:(

caught one measly largemouth on a spinnerbait. lately its been much more hate than love at that lake for me:mad:

[AndyS]

Welcome to the site Andre !! Keep the pics and reports coming in, we love it !!

[Skunk City]

Welcome to the site! That's a nice sized Pickerel!

If you are trying to find Pike, you can't go wrong with a big shiner/chub/sunnie on a slip bobber. I caught the same Pike twice in 15 minutes last summer on a big live Creek Chub, they just can't resist.

[Andrushkin33]

Thanks Andy.

Will be hitting up lakes around Delaware river this weekend so more reports and pics will be coming up.

Phil,

To be honest never had luck there in a morning. Don't know why just never happened to me. Most of the times I wish from shore though I have not been on that lake in a boat in ages. Last time I was there all we did is pull under the Riva bridge and mess with peoples lines ....ahhh youth and memories.

Did pretty well there throughout the summer now a bit disappointed no trout will be stocked in October but what can you do.

Andre

"Bad day of fishing is still better than good day at work"

[Andrushkin33]

Welcome to the site! That's a nice sized Pickerel!

If you are trying to find Pike, you can't go wrong with a big shiner/chub/sunnie on a slip bobber. I caught the same Pike twice in 15 minutes last summer on a big live Creek Chub, they just can't resist.

Thank you

I know but I was too lazy to drive to Effingers for shiners considering its the only spot around to get them. Could of used a sunny I got but decided against and let him go.

But ill get that pike its not going to elude me for long. Just a bit of patience on my part is required ...

Tight lines.

"Bad day of fishing is stil better than good day at work"

[saxmatt]

Welcome to the site. Farrington is the slowest pike lake I've ever fished. I've put in a few hundred hours there and I've only caught 3 or 4, but I did get a really nice one. Try big baits 8-16", good luck!

[buzzbaiter]

Let the pickerel go, eat the other stuff!

[Rybazłapać]

Nice pickerel. I've fished there a lot myself in the last two years since it's the closest lake to me. I've caught some nice bass and a couple nice pickerel the but have yet to pull in the pike I've been looking for out of that lake. The water is very low. Lower than I've seen it in the two years I've been going there.

[Andrushkin33]

Welcome to the site. Farrington is the slowest pike lake I've ever fished. I've put in a few hundred hours there and I've only caught 3 or 4, but I did get a really nice one. Try big baits 8-16", good luck!

Thank you Matt.

I know big bait would work better but for some reasons me and boats do not mix. And I would have a better luck getting that pike with trolling but I pretty much stay around the shore lines.

"Bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work"

[Andrushkin33]

Let the pickerel go, eat the other stuff!

Buzz,

Honestly I would of if it was not that fat or crappies would be much bigger than the ones I pulled out.

"Bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work"

[Andrushkin33]

Nice pickerel. I've fished there a lot myself in the last two years since it's the closest lake to me. I've caught some nice bass and a couple nice pickerel the but have yet to pull in the pike I've been looking for out of that lake. The water is very low. Lower than I've seen it in the two years I've been going there.

Yeah, much lower than it was in spring and beginning of the summer Honestly I was surprised on how low it got. I usually do not go there in the summer instead hitting of the lakes in Delaware river region so last time before this I was there in early june.

Also anyone knows if there is a carp in that lake. I heard about it but I never seen anyone getting one.

[saxmatt]

There are carp in there but not many of them. Kind of like trying to catch a pike out of there.

[phil]

Thank you

I know but I was too lazy to drive to Effingers for shiners considering its the only spot around to get them. Could of used a sunny I got but decided against and let him go.

But ill get that pike its not going to elude me for long. Just a bit of patience on my part is required ...

Tight lines.

"Bad day of fishing is stil better than good day at work"

Not sure where you are coming from but you can get shiners at Fred's on rte36 in sayreville and there's a place in old bridge near molders that I'm pretty sure you can get them also. Effingers in bb is a loong drive from farrington

[Andrushkin33]

Not sure where you are coming from but you can get shiners at Fred's on rte36 in sayreville and there's a place in old bridge near molders that I'm pretty sure you can get them also. Effingers in bb is a loong drive from farrington

Coming from Linden but I remember Freds from back n days. I have a spot in Elizabeth but it is hit or miss not always stock them.

On a plus size Effingers has some crawfish, at least last time I was there.

Thanks for the update

Andre

[Andrushkin33]

There are carp in there but not many of them. Kind of like trying to catch a pike out of there.

LoL,

Figured. I guess ill stick to a little honey spot by Spruce Run for those babbies.

Here is a pic of the last two I pulled out:

http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah123/Andrusha_Gil/IMG_6590_zps67d3c400.jpg

[saxmatt]

Do you eat them?

[Andrushkin33]

Do you eat them?

Those two were smoked and enjoyed with a nice cold one. The other 5 were put back. Managed to pull 7 of them in about 45 minutes. Best fishing I had.

Andre

[justin1982]

Is carp good eating? I've always been told it's horrible but every fisherman I know from another country loves it, one guy told me we are the only country in the world that doesn't eat it.

[UglyStick]

Carp Recipe...


Place the Carp (seasoned with butter and garlic) on a cedar plank.

Cook the cedar plank Carp on your BBQ for about 40 minutes on low heat so it gets a nice smokey flavor.

Once the Carp is cooked, throw it away and eat the plank.

[Andrushkin33]

Carp Recipe...


Place the Carp (seasoned with butter and garlic) on a cedar plank.

Cook the cedar plank Carp on your BBQ for about 40 minutes on low heat so it gets a nice smokey flavor.

Once the Carp is cooked, throw it away and eat the plank.


LOL,

I knew someone will come up with that recipe.

To be honest it depends on the size of the carp and where it has been caught. Anything over 2-3 lbs I do not like to grill them just the taste is not the same. Around that range they are very tasty. My suggestion is to smoke them when they get bigger and they are great with a cold one. Salt them for a day and put them on a smoker for about 5-6 hrs.

Andre

[NJD Bassman]

If your looking for shiners near Farrington, The Sayerville Sportsman sells them. They are closed wed & sun...As far as the lake its down a lot. I have seen it worse though couple yrs ago:
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a544/erik_anderson1/20131101_132407_zps3bd70859.jpg (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/erik_anderson1/media/20131101_132407_zps3bd70859.jpg.html)
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a544/erik_anderson1/20131101_132419_zpsa9262741.jpg (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/erik_anderson1/media/20131101_132419_zpsa9262741.jpg.html)

[Andrushkin33]

If your looking for shiners near Farrington, The Sayerville Sportsman sells them. They are closed wed & sun...As far as the lake its down a lot. I have seen it worse though couple yrs ago:
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a544/erik_anderson1/20131101_132407_zps3bd70859.jpg (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/erik_anderson1/media/20131101_132407_zps3bd70859.jpg.html)
http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a544/erik_anderson1/20131101_132419_zpsa9262741.jpg (http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/erik_anderson1/media/20131101_132419_zpsa9262741.jpg.html)

Thanks for heads up.

Holy cow. Now that's taking low to a whole different level.

Not as low right now but still. Should up tonight there again chasing that pike.

Andre

[Denlon]

Thank you

.... I was too lazy to drive to Effingers for shiners considering its the only spot around to get them.

Try Fisherman Fred's on Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton.
It's not that far.

http://www.fishermanfreds.com/

Denny

[Andrushkin33]

Try Fisherman Fred's on Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton.
It's not that far.

http://www.fishermanfreds.com/

Denny

Thanks for heads up Danny but that's a bit out of the way. Unless I am going to Mercer.

Andre