Rockaway was Rockin' 10/12

[antgogz]

After I finished up my lawn on Saturday I decided to take a walk back in the woods behind my house. Fished for an hour and had a blast. Water was crystal clear with bait every where. First cast I hooked a 2.5 smallie that gave up a great fight. Hooked 2 pike on a spinnerbait, 1 on a slash bait, and another on a perch colored Rat L Trap (first time I hooked a pike on one). All pike were on the smaller side about 25". Then last I caught a small LMB on the same lure. So 4 pike, 1 smb, and 1 lmb total. One thing that made me a little weary was that a couple of landscapers nearby saw me reeling in fish and they literally watched me fish for about 25 min. I hope they do not go back there and fish this spot out because as well all know all it takes is one fish keeper to clean a place out. Looking to get out this week or next week for some big LMB up in Jefferson. Im hoping the feed is on with colder temps around the corner.

[thmyorke1]

Gotta keep a low profile but it'll probably stay fine, there's already people keeping all around the area and the fishing is good throughout the river.

Looking at colder temps AND rain. Things are gonna FLIP!

[Chrisper4694]

nice, that second fish looks like a hybrid pickerel/pike btw, pretty cool catch. It's def not a pure strain pike, i can see the black line down it's eye. That's only seen in pickerel and their hybrids as far as i know.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

nice, that second fish looks like a hybrid pickerel/pike btw, pretty cool catch. It's def not a pure strain pike, i can see the black line down it's eye. That's only seen in pickerel and their hybrids as far as i know.

Agree,nice observation

[antgogz]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

nice, that second fish looks like a hybrid pickerel/pike btw, pretty cool catch. It's def not a pure strain pike, i can see the black line down it's eye. That's only seen in pickerel and their hybrids as far as i know.

Wow, Chrisper I didn't even think about that but your right. Even the dorsal fins are light in color like a pickerel. Where do you think a hybrid pike came from?

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by antgogz

Wow, Chrisper I didn't even think about that but your right. Even the dorsal fins are light in color like a pickerel. Where do you think a hybrid pike came from?

I think they're not stocked, that's the real deal, all natural. Probably a male pike that fertilized pickerel eggs? Or the other way around, I was thinking pike eggs were unsuccessful in that watershed, but chain pickerel eggs fertilized by pike would.

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

I think they're not stocked, that's the real deal, all natural. Probably a male pike that fertilized pickerel eggs? Or the other way around, I was thinking pike eggs were unsuccessful in that watershed, but chain pickerel eggs fertilized by pike would.

they are not stocked by the state and i don't even know where a private entity would acquire them so most likely just a natural hybrid. pike and pickerel are close enough genetically to cross breed successfully in certain situations just like muskie and pike (tiger muskie)

[FASTEDDIE29]

Good looking fish and solid action brother! Great to see your still out there crackin’ em! Yea man!

[NJSquatch]

that hybrid is a really cool catch