Atlantics

[NJSquatch]

Such cool colorations on them. Nice job!

[go_fish]

Did you go fishing today, Monday, through the heavy rains? If so you have to be tough. Smile. Nice fish!!!

[Mikey topaz]

Nice work Dakota

Originally Posted by Mikey topaz

Nice work Dakota

Thanks Mikey, challenge is figuring out the pattern. Have had some good days and skunks over the last few weeks. Few weeks ago fish were jumping all over the place but wouldn't take or follow a lure. Thought the fish might be feeding on insects which were feeding on the dying vegetation in the lake. Came back the next day with a seven weight and basically nymph fished stones and scuds and landed seven using a strike indicator fished right along the weed line. All I can assume is they weren't keying on herring yet and we're feeding on midges or small insects in the dying vegetation. Very cool way to catch them.

Originally Posted by go_fish

Did you go fishing today, Monday, through the heavy rains? If so you have to be tough. Smile. Nice fish!!!

Yes and no. All fish were caught Monday while it was raining but before the real heavy stuff moved through. Truthfully from shore, I'd rather fish in a torrential downpour than bright bluebird day as the bait and predators go deep and harder to reach from the shoreline. As the sun comes up, bait and fish will move deeper, you'll see less surface action so you have to adjust your presentation accordingly. My experience with Atlantics is they're very line shy. They follow your presentation but the difference between them committing at times can be the difference between 2lb. fluoro top shot and 6lb.

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by go_fish

Did you go fishing today, Monday, through the heavy rains? If so you have to be tough. Smile. Nice fish!!!

I caught 11 white perch and a black crappie Monday evening in Carnegie Lake. Four other fishermen were there in the gale with lightning and thunder. Saw a spun out car off Route 295 on my way home at night in the torrential downpour.

[Hookmanski]

Awesome report! I've tried for these guys from shore 3 times. Always had follows right to the bank but never hooked up. Guess I'll have to try again!

Originally Posted by Hookmanski

Awesome report! I've tried for these guys from shore 3 times. Always had follows right to the bank but never hooked up. Guess I'll have to try again!

Hook Atlantics follow a lot. Two things I've done to improve the chances of a strike in those situations. First wear polarized glasses so you have a longer lead time seeing them following. When you see them, slow the retrieve and twitch the lure. Many times that gets them to strike. Same concept almost as causing a reaction strike. If they follow to your feet and still haven't committed, don't reel your lure out of the water. Stop it and let it dangle a foot below the water line. Same thing just twitch it and I've had them hit it when it's not even moving almost like you're jigging it through the ice. I use a 10 to 11 ft G Loomis that allows me to keep the lure a fair distance from the shoreline just for that reason. You'd be amazed how many followers will stop, watch the lure bouncing in the water and actually whack it. Again make sure you're going with at maximum 6 lb fluoro, on lighter days drop down to 4 lb or even 2 lb. It makes all the difference in the world.

When you're fishing from the shore you're typically catching fish chasing herring high in the water column. Different scenario than if your fishing from a kayak or boat and fishing deeper holes of the lake so line test is more of a factor fishing from the shore than it is from a boat.

Originally Posted by NJSquatch

Such cool colorations on them. Nice job!

Duane agreed they're a beautiful fish and for their size they're pretty scrappy. Bigger ones will test your tackle.