Lake Hopatcong fishing - Lake noob.

[jimmythegreek]

pickeral point is a great spot, one of my best on the lake. There is a deep drop off from 15-18 ft down to 25+ about 50 feet off the shoreline. The trick to LH is to learn the lake and its timing for fish. I used to hate the lake never caught anything when I was younger, now I have a 2nd boat to leave in the water lol. Right now there is no action over 10-15 FOW especially the day time. I saw my first baitball and fish on it the other day in 22 FOW 19 ft down. Everything is shallow and on shallow flats, and most fish hide during the day unless your gonna fish under docks and structure for bass/pickeral. Dont bother fishing this time of year in the daytime, start at 10 earliest and fish til 1 or 2. Get yourself a F18 in any color, firetiger and sliver are my best and fish it painfully slow w a fan casting pattern. Soon topwater poppers/plugs will work too. There are spots to fish from that are public, and if you guys r on the lake make friends w neighbors or other people u know and fish from their docks/marinas too. My boat is in the water and I havent bothered to fish daytime or early AMs

[Jenger]

Hm.. so I went out to a few stores just now looking for the F18 and/or the Storm Thunderstick with no luck?

Can I find these anywhere except online? Are the must haves?

I have a rapala F-9, I am assuming its similar to the F18?

Also have a husky jerk and a CD-5. Any good?? Thanks

[Jenger]

Hey what would a good size hook be to use fishing late night using herring? I have been using #6, would like to know if those are sufficient?

[jimmythegreek]

dicks sporting goods has them, laurie at dows has them, ramsey has them, and yes its a must have, the ones u listed dont do the same thing or act the same, they have their place but not here at all. I like a gamakatsu octopus in 4 or a needlepoint in 4, size 2 when the herring are bigger later in the season, and always hook thru the nostrils. If your after eyeballs the bait is hit or miss, the lures kill it

[Jenger]

Well we just got back in after getting completely skunked..

We went out on the row boat, up and down the shore lines of pickerel point. At about 11:30 we heard our first rise. I was hoping it would be followed by a bunch more, but nothing. Then we heard another, then another but no bites

Not consistent rises, but definitely something chomping away. One of the rises was right near my bait (herring) and nothing.

We were also using some lures. I got some thunderstick Jr's from dow's (no normal thundersticks) and no f18's at dow's, ramseys, walmart, sports aurthority, etc. I also picked up a f11 rainbow at dows along with the thunder stick jr's.

We were out about 70' max from shore, again going up and down the shore line. Nothing.

I really want to catch a nice walleye, hybrid, musky, something large. I guess patience is key..

There is no way we can row over by brady's bridge from pickerel point. Are there any other decent spots NEAR pickerel point? If someone could PM me if they dont want to share publicly.

[bunker dunker]

Go Back Up Alittle Futher Into River Stix.fish Just Outside The Lights
Of The Boat Houses.throw Your Herring Into The Lighted Area.just Make Sure You Keep The Boat Out Of The Light As The Shadow Will Spoke Them.

[Jenger]

Welp, we rowed out almost to johnny's marina, fished that back to pickerel pt, nothing but a small mouth. We used lures today, and some nightcrawlers. Im using these thunderstick jrs with absolutely no luck...

My one buddy is pissed, he hasn't caught a fish yet. Doesn't wanna go out on the boat anymore. I know the lake is a tough one to fish, but sureley we should catch something eventually.

Trolling motor worth it or not?