Some flood stage Pike on self caught live bait!

[Skunk City]

Well we all know the river has been high as hell lately, over flood stage according to the Two Bridges USGS gauge. Been having some luck on some normally overlooked areas off the main river though. Using mostly big bright plugs, but played around with some self caught Creek Chubs that were originally caught to feed my roommates beast tank (Peacock Bass, Tiger Shovelnose, Northern Pike, Smallie, etc). These things are Pike candy! Brought 7 down to the river the other night and picked up 6 fish on them. No beasts, but steady action in tough conditions with a bonus catfish. Nice sunset picture from the river last night.

[njfisherman1975]

Nice fish rob!!!

[basspilot]

Nice fish rob. My question is what creek did you find creek chubs in around here? I've seen a lot of fatheads and even golden shiners but never creek chubs.

[GetANet]

Some nice fish, sometimes gotta change it up to catch'em nice job!!!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Nothing better than catching your own bait and catching fish. Great job Skunk!!! That first Pike looks thick.

[The Birdman]

Daym nice pike.

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by basspilot

Nice fish rob. My question is what creek did you find creek chubs in around here? I've seen a lot of fatheads and even golden shiners but never creek chubs.

We've found them and tons of Dace and sometimes White Suckers. Couple guys in waders, a few hand nets, a bucket, and the balls look like a weirdo to the old ladies walking their Cocker Spaniels on the path next to you lol. Find a park with a stream running through it and look near the foot bridges that cross them.

[MikeNJ]

Nice catches Rob!

[Gatto1227]

Awesome

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

Couple guys in waders, a few hand nets, a bucket, and the balls look like a weirdo to the old ladies walking their Cocker Spaniels on the path next to you lol.

LOL - speaking of weirdo, you should see the look of consternation and fear on my neighbors' faces when I wander around the parking lot of my building picking up earthworms after a heavy rain storm. The Chinese family on the second floor runs when they see me coming.

But it's totally worth it. No better bait for panfish than those small worms.

Back when I had some free time, I used to catch my own shiners in the creek with tiny size 12 hooks tipped with a miniscule piece of shrimp. It was like trout fishing on a micro scale.

Great pike. Keep it up!