PB Largemouth(s) from Union County puddle

[logs22]

With some difficulty secured all of one hour to fish Sat. and after catching respectable but average bass all week in the Rahway river i chose to spend my precious hour at a Union County pond that i thought had yet to show its full potential. Hooked the trusty 5" black/blue tip senko and worked my favorite spots. Within 3 casts hooked a fish that i knew immediately would be a new personal best. Three casts later landed a fish that would also have been a personal best if not for the one i caught five minutes earlier. Caught two more respectable size bass and then packed it in and went home a happy man. Hope everyone else fared well this holiday weekend!

[Chrisper4694]

Congrats

[Andrushkin33]

Congratulations to PB

Nice catching all around.

Andre

[FASTEDDIE29]

Congrats on the PB man! There's some real quality LM in our area. Keep up the good catching!

[logs22]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

Congrats on the PB man! There's some real quality LM in our area. Keep up the good catching!

I just hope this 'puddle' remains somewhat anonymous. I know it has never been mentioned on this message board but I am sure some of the Union County guys know about it. Even someone scouring google maps would have a hard time finding this place yet it is beyond easy to access.

I am not exaggerating when I say on average you can pull a bass out at least every 3rd cast if you are in the right spot(s) (and I have found about 4 of these but sure there are more). About half will be dinks (I define as nothing worthy of a photo) and the other half range from picture worthy but maybe not njfishing.com post-worthy to "holy shit I can't believe I just caught that here." Fish don't seem to be picky about color either, but only Senkos and rapalas (traditional and fire tiger) have produced for me.

[logs22]

Originally Posted by Andrushkin33

Congratulations to PB

Nice catching all around.

Andre

Any estimate as to weight on the bigger/fatter fish? Hard to tell by picture because I have selfies with much much smaller fish that look almost as big in the picture. My guess is 15-17" and anywhere from 3-4 lbs. I wish I had at least measured or pictured against a point of comparison but I wasn't thinking clearly.

Thoughts?

[AndyS]

Healthy looking fish !!!

[thomaskgrosvenor]

Not looking to pick your brain about fishing holes. But seeing your success has motivated me not to give up on Union County fishing opportunities. However, my question is this: Amidst your success with the bass in the Union County area have you had any run-ins with pickerel going after your lures? Just wondering because I like to fish a senko on light line but if there are pickerel about it's better if I use a light steel leader. thanks.

[logs22]

Originally Posted by thomaskgrosvenor

Not looking to pick your brain about fishing holes. But seeing your success has motivated me not to give up on Union County fishing opportunities. However, my question is this: Amidst your success with the bass in the Union County area have you had any run-ins with pickerel going after your lures? Just wondering because I like to fish a senko on light line but if there are pickerel about it's better if I use a light steel leader. thanks.

I have never had any pickerel encounters (to my knowledge). I fish senkos on 8 lb mono and haven't had any trouble with my line getting cut (which I guess is how I would know if I had a run-in with a pickerel). The only other species I have caught inadvertently while bass fishing in Union County (not counting blue gills) are catfish.

[Suntzu]

Since surprise lack was drained there are no Union County waters that hold size able numbers of pickerel
In UC it's mostly a LMB, crappie, sunny game outside trout season (of course carp and cats are everywhere)