Another New Pond and First Open Water Fish

This is the pond Brenden's been fishing. The other one he hasn't tried yet. 

I couldn't stay into dusk last evening, because my wife came with Sadie the black Labrador, who is almost 13 and has severe arthritis. I decided to keep morale up by being with them as Sadie struggled back to the car. I guess I fished about 20 minutes, not long enough to really get a handle on the fishing, but long enough to take the Beetle Spin harness off and just fish the jig, lose that to a snag, and then tie on another jig and stupidly yank the tail off one of my 8-inch blue Chompers. I have six-inch green ones. Blue Chompers aren't on the market anymore, last I checked, and I managed to get three packs off ebay, though I might not be able to find any now. 

I did spot a nice 13-incher pretty quick. It didn't care for the Beetle Spin so I switched to a jig, the water dropping off quickly. The little one I did catch rushed that jig as I retrieved it for the next cast, and that next cast meant it got whalloped by the bass instantly. 

I like the place. Bigger than I expected, too. A lot of wood in the water, always a good sign, although not so much wood as Mount Hope Pond where I used to fish. Water color is well balanced. Does not have the off-color tinge the pond I fished the other day has.

Temperature was 72 when I arrived.

 

Laurie's Report

 Laurie Murphy:

Open water season has started out on a good note for yellow perch & crappie.  The 2 snowstorms have wreaked a little havoc, but the nicer temps should get things back on track. Aaron Graybill of Lake Hopatcong Guide Service has reported water temps of 39 on the main lake and up to 47 in the shallower sections of water. The perch bite should remain hot for the next couple of weeks and the crappie should continue good into May.  Also caught in the shallow water were some Largemouth Bass, pickerel & white perch.  The water level is still down about 15 or so inches, but continues to rise with the dam closed. Aaron ’s guide service is available full time now with multiple boats available to book. (856) 577-0653 We are open early 7 days at 6:30 AM with bait & tackle and boat rentals will be available sometime early April. Call (973) 663-3826 for more info. Have a great week !

Tried a Pond New to Me for Bass

 

Got news of action here in Clinton, but I've left it to the youthful talent to show me up once more. Brenden caught 10 or 12 largemouths that warm day just before it turned cold, on a little jig and Z-Man plastic. One or two them 16 inches, he told me. I got over there early in the afternoon when it was 64 degrees, and very soon felt it would be a late bite. I saw no evidence of any fish, as I worked my way around to the back where there's a flat.

I was throwing an old favorite, the Johnson Beetle Spin, my "Beat Spinner" as I play with the name, which is basically a spinnerbait, but you can detach the spinner arm and just fish the jig, if you want. All 1/8th ounce of it casts pretty well on my St. Croix, the reel loaded with 6-pound mono. 

Something little did whack it, because I saw it carried to the side, though I didn't see the fish! I continued further around the pond, fishing the side that had got the most sun, and as I say, it was shallow and that muddy bottom was warming. I saw three large carp wallowing in that warmth like pigs. A pleasant thing to see. 

Saw no bass. No sunnies. No crappies. And Brennan had also caught a 13-inch crappie.  

Later on, I was at Round Valley shooting photos, and after I left, I got 70 degrees. Maybe it will hit 80 on Friday, and if so, that will be some evening to fish.