NEW JERSEY Weekend Esox Hatrick, anyone ever done it? Is it Impossible? - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

catfishonthelake · #1 08-02-2011, 01:30 PM

I'm going to attempt (and most likely fail) at something that seems kind of impossible, catching all 3 species of Esox in NJ in 3 consecutive days. I'm not including red-fin pickerel. I'm going to pike fishing on the Passaic on Friday, musky fishing at a lesser-known (but not private) lake all-day for musky on Saturday and if by some miracle accomplish those two, go pickerel fishing on Sunday. This seems impossible, but I was curious if anyone has ever done, or even come close to accomplishing this feat in 3 Days in NEW JERSEY.

dboyd101 · #2 08-02-2011, 02:14 PM

Never done it, doesn't seem impossible though it does seem very very difficult!

I wish you luck!!!

bunker dunker · #3 08-02-2011, 02:27 PM

passaic......pike,as long as any pike counts should be ok with alittle work
lake hopatcong......... pickerel-no problem,musky should be ok but ya gotta fish hard.

catfishonthelake · #4 08-02-2011, 02:40 PM

Yes, any pike counts. It's gotta be, since I have to go after work and can't put a whole day in. If I have to count a 9-incher, oh well. Musky will be tough, but I think I'm going to fish from 6am until after dark. I hope I get rewarded. If I get that far, I have a few holes where a pickerel is a sure bet, hell, I may even buy live bait for the pickerel if I make it that far. I haven't had too much luck with the musky on Hopatcong yet. I had my buddy lose one at the boat next to Sister Island in Byram and I had one chew the line off after he attacked the biggest herring I've seen in my life off the Yacht Club. I've spent a few hours on that lake and I see where guys like Dante and Webguy do their trolling, but that lake can be crazy on weekends so I'm going to try a smaller body of water that although it probably doesn't have great numbers of big fish, has lots of smaller ones. BTW, I've never caught a musky in open water, only through the ice. It would be my first, but I haven't targeted just musky that often. Even given that fact, I still think I can swing it.

catfishonthelake · #5 08-02-2011, 02:42 PM

...and thanks for the feedback and good luck guys. I will fish HARD. You have my word. If this doesn't work out, it will not be for lack of effort.

skippy · #6 08-02-2011, 03:33 PM

Cat, I would go to Echo Lake to try for the Musky. Good Luck and let us all know how you do.

Skunk City · #7 08-02-2011, 03:48 PM

Good luck and DEFINETLY report back with results, techniques, etc. The article in this months The Fisherman magazine on Musky got me thinking and planning

Also, great article on your blog in there! I was sitting on the beach reading it Sunday! My girlfriend liked the part about "not losing your job or fiance" lol.

AndyS · #8 08-02-2011, 06:13 PM

Impossible ?

catfishonthelake · #9 08-02-2011, 06:21 PM

Ha ha!!! Thanks guys (not Andy

). I'll keep you posted. Hopefully I make it through Friday. I'll definitely let you know if, and what, the fish hit.

FASTEDDIE29 · #10 08-02-2011, 06:51 PM

GO FOR IT, Pickeral- EASY! Pike- EASY! MUSKY, now every angler knows they can be a big pain in the ASS!!! Go to the Passaic, catch a PIKE. From there go to the Passaic where the great swamp is, lots o pickeral in that stretch. Then you got the rest of the day to troll n chuck for the elusive MUSKY. Hell I think it can be done in one day if you knock the 2 off early!!!!