[Mark G]

Got out on the Croton with Ronnie the Bass Stalker again, this time on my boat up on the Hunterbrook section. The conditions were tough, with air temps ranging from the mid 30's to the mid 50's with a stiff wind that seemed to change direction every time we did. The fishing, however, was better than it has been in a while. The fish were moving into a more traditional fall pattern, and we managed abouth 10- bass with a few pickerel in the mex.

I had a rough day with breakoffs, losing 5 fish to breakoffs, some on hooksets, some during the fight. My most productive bait was the micromunch jig, 1/8oz flipped into weed pockets. Unfortunately for me, I had 4 breakoffs on my 8 lb XL. The fish were all over the little jigs, hitting willingly and often. Too bad my line wasn't up to the test, costing me 4 jigs before the day was done. I also picked up a couple of senko fish, including my best, a 3lb. 13oz big mouth off an inner weed edge:

My best fish, a 3lb. 13oz. largie with a huge mouth and a stubby body!

Ronnie fared much better, landing 8 bass and 2 pickerel, many on a white spinnerbait fished over the weeds. He also had a nice flurry tight to a rip rappy shoreline with a t-rigged tube. He also picked up a nice buzzbait bass over a large weedbed. One tackle issue he had, which hopefully will make it over to the tackle and tactics section, was Ronnie's difficulty t-rigging a snoozer tube. Anyone t-rig Snoozers, either the 2.75 or 3.5 inch with an internal weight? If so, what weight and what hook?

Anyway, Ronnie's best fish, a 3lb. 9oz largemouth, came off a shoreline lined with riprap. He got it on a t-rigged tube:

Ronnie's best fish, the second to last of the day

The little jig (1/16th or 1/8thoz) has been a great weapon for me, ever since Joe P showed some tips on Whaley. Not to pander to the sponsor, but Craig's MicroMunch jigs have been treating me right, enticing a lot of bites this fall. I only wish I has tried this more during the summer. And I also wish I could fish light line in weed beds without losing so many fish. Perhaps some PowerPro is in order. Anyway, the fishing was certainly more exciting than it has been in a while. Looks like the Croton has finished turning over and the fall bite is on. We worked hard for our fish today, braving the cold and high winds, but it was worth it!

Mark

 

[Mark G]

I'm thinking low 50's, but the fishin' buddy needed new batteries, so I didn't evfen break it out. Huge, when are you coming up to Westchester for some Reservoir bassin?

Mark

 

[Mark G]

Thaks for the responses guys. Yeah, a braid setup is in order. Doesn anyone think there are any negative aspects of using barid when pitching/flipping? I know braids are great, but I also have heard that they are not a panacea for all applications. Perhaps they are in this case, but I just don't know enough to be sure. I do know that I got frustrated with the breakoffs. The ones I broke off while fishting the fish I can live with. I'm sure with time and experience I'll adjust. But the ones on the hookset are harder to deal with. Perhaps there were just a lot of pickerel around. Getting sawed off setting the hook into a pickerel is just part of the experience. It happens. Maybe not with the regularity it happened yesterday, but it does happen. We did boat a couple picks, so there were definitely out and about. Perhaps I just had an unfortunate amount of pickerel bites.

The last breakoff came on a hookset using 14lb. Silverthread. I can't imagine it was anything other than a pickerel. Ronnie and I almost rigged up a wire leader, but it was late enough that I just said the hell with it.

Oh well, I have a spair spool or two I can rig up with braid for the next time I want to pitch some jigs. Perhaps I'll pickup a proper pitching stick this offseason as well...

Mark