Open Water Closing Bell

[NJSquatch]

With old man winter at our door step I have been trying to get as much open water fishing in as possible.

Did my Ferris Bueller impression and hit up a new lake with Chrisper. We were unloading the boat in the pitch black with air temps in the mid 20's. Slow morning with icy guides. Pulled up on Jimmy's spot just as the sun started to peak out of the clouds and it was non stop action from 10-1:30. All fish came in about a 200 yard area.

I started off with my NJ PB Smallmouth taping out at 19". She was skiny but loooong.


Chrisper had 3 tank smallmouth to just over 20". See his post for pics.

I followed up with a silvery 22" Walleye


Made a slight jog and had a steady pick of crappie off a deep drop. Even got one on the hot new crappie lure that doesn't have hooks! silly creatures


Worked our way down a ledge bank and had fish on consecutive casts. Including this chunky 20" Largemouth


And my PB Crappie at 13.75"


Definitely one of the best days I have had fishing in NJ. Around 50 fish in the boat with trophies mixed in.

12/2 - Plan was to fish the home water with my walleye challenged buddy Dave. Got a last second call from Chrisper that his planned trip was aborted due to a sinking boat. Met up at the marina and headed out to the walleye grounds. Have been targeting the eyeballs for the past 4 weekends with not much to show. Something is off. I think all that liver has poisoned the lake.

Chrisper started the day off with a decent 16" SMB


Hit a couple of spots with not even a sniff. Made our way to a spot that usually produces. I started things off with a dink small mouth and then this nice 22" Walleye.


Chrisper then finally got his hands on a fall walleye.

I couldn't make out the mumbling made to the fish but I think is was a voodoo chant of some sort.

Just as it was getting dark and cold Chrisper got one more pocket sized eyeball


Nice couple of days to close out the open water season. Now I need to get my boat out of the water before the super cold hits the end of this week!

[ScowardNJ]

Thats the late fall mixed bag you want right there. nice!

[FishOnKV]

Sounds like a great trip to wrap up the boating season. Congrats on the PBs! Great looking fish all around.

[Rich196]

Way to go guy's... No matter where you guy's go, you always catch fish, you def. know what the hell your doing out there, and it always shows. I love the first pic. face mask on, not much of a smile (cause it's freezing) then the next pic, you see you shed some layers, and the smiles begin...LOL GREAT job guy's

[Hookmanski]

Talk about a banner day! Way to go fellas, awesome catches!

[thmyorke1]

Chripser's walleye-repellent is wearing off

That's a ton of nice fish. Sounds like a blast! Did that crappie get a Dropshot weight stuck in his mouth?

[JDTuna]

Phenominal couple of days, guys! Lots and lots of quality fish! Congrats on the pb's!

[Chrisper4694]

it's not walleye repellant....it's 'big walleye' repellant! I've caught 15-18inch walleyes all over the place this fall and not one over that size range for months!!!

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

it's not walleye repellant....it's 'big walleye' repellant! I've caught 15-18inch walleyes all over the place this fall and not one over that size range for months!!!

I feel you. I had a long smallie streak like that this summer. You gotta imagine how nice it'll be to catch a big one now!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Awesome mixed bag Squatch! Some serious tank Smallies jumpin' into the net these days! This is why we don't winterize our boats here in NJ! There's always something to catch! Great fish and pics as always you MANIACS!!!!