Freshwater Questions & Answers
To send Charles your freshwater questions and topics click
here,
then check back in a few days for the answer to your question.
QUESTION
ANSWER
I am 22 years old and had been fishing mostly salt water with
my dad from a boat. When he passed away a few years ago I didn't
get to go fishing. Recently,I just started to pick it up again and
I got into fly fishing a few years ago and loved it more than regular
rod and bait or spinning lures for freshwater. As I live near Twin
Ponds and the Massapequa Res I would like to know a little about
these lakes and the best time to catch fish bass,trout pickerel
i.e.: whats the best bait, and so on . Also, are these lakes fished
out by people who do not practice Catch & Release? I know they stock
the lakes but i still believe in not keeping fresh water fish for
they will be bigger for the next season that I am there. I have
a daughter who is 9 months old and I can't wait till she gets bigger
so I can take her with me . I hope she will have the fun that I
had with my dad .
--A reader from Levitown
The two bodies of water
that you mentioned hold a good supply of largemouth bass and other
catchable species. I suggest that as the weather gets cooler, you
increase the size of the lure offered. As winter approaches, most
species will feed well and bass, pickerel and sunnies should be easy
to catch on a number of baits both artifical and live. A crawfish
imitation or a 6 inch worm would work well fished from 7am to around
12 noon. Color selection is critical and I would lean towards pumkinseed
and watermelon shades for both presentations. I have also discovered
that during the fall period, bass in particular like a red or blue
flake within the color of the lure. The afternoon bite is more a black
jig and pig bite or a grey/white crankbait. Both areas you mentioned
are stocked by the DEC but only with trout, unless they are planning
to place a certain species into a lake for "over population" by another
species i.e. perch, sunnies, etc etc. Catch and Release is a very
important part of fishing on Long Island. The trout, if caught within
a few weeks of release, are edible. However strict guidelines are
in place for eating these fish and you should check with your local
DEC officers for information. Call (516) 444-0280 for information
and stocking schedules. Good luck with your daughter. Fishing with
the kids is one of the best things we parents and grandparents can
do. The memories (as you know) last a lifetime. Tight Lines!
I started using the Gitzit tube this year, and have had some
success with it. I love the tube, and probably use it too much.
I just bought the ones in the store, which include the lead jigs.
I fish them internally, and have never seen a bait which will hold
up on the rocks, ect, as well. My questions to you are: What would
be the advantage of Texas or Carolina rigging them? Seems to me,
it would tear the face of the tube, and be much more prone to moving
all over the hook. However, I am eager to learn, and am open to
suggestions. My other question is, I find myself stoping at the
bait shop on the way to the lake. I get a dozen worms, leaches,
or minnows, and lately (since fishing is tough) have found myself
tipping the tube with a piece of leach, or worm, or a live minnow.
I catch a few fish that way, and am not sure I am catching them
because of the tube, or the bait attached. I have been over fish,
caught one or two, bait, comes off. I try a few presentations with
just the tube, nothing, add another piece of bait, and often, pick
up another. Wondered what your thoughts were on that, and if you
practice that. Personally, I would love to never use live bait again,
but I find I catch more fish when I do.
--Larry from Pennsylvania
Hi Larry! tubes or "gitzits"
are a fantastic lure all year round, however, as the season begins
to turn to fall it can be a deadly bait. Your questuion concerning
Texas and Carolina rigging is simple. They will not tear up if you
use the type with the thicker heads. I believe Strike King make a
heavy headed tubes for just such presentations. Part two is very simple.
If you attach anything "living" onto a plastic bait your hook-up ratio
increases by 500 percent! As a professional angler, I would never
use live bait. It would defeat the objectives set by the orgaizations
I fish with and would not help me in my quest for bass under the rules
of tournament fishing. Tight Lines!
Nice column! Did you ever fish Artist Lake in Middle Island?
I've caught some great bass there, some in the 6 lb-7lb range. My
other question is, do you have any advice or info on Patchogue Lake?
Also, am I correct in saying that there are some small rivers in
that vicinity?
--Matt from Long Island
Hi Matt, Yes I have fished
Artist Lake. Nice water, but the weeds can be a problem from the shoreline.
Black and blue jig (three-quarter ounce) with a plastic trailer account
for most of my big fish out there. Patchogue Lake is similar and I
have fished it the same way as Artist. It has been a while, but I
remember fishing a green 6-inch Power worm with a lot of success there
also. As for surrounding rivers, I know of a few small streams that
feed into the ocean on the south shore. I have caught white perch
and a few sea trout but the freshwater fishing is slim unless you
can get back into the woods, Access is restricted or private so check
with the local authorities before attempting to fish it. Tight Lines!
My question is i e-mailed you before about Peacock bass and
i have now found out where my friend fishes. The location is at
West Point Lake GA. Do you have any tips on choosing the lures for
catching these fish?
--Kevin from North Carolina
Hi Kevin! Lures for these
fish need to be large! SPRO and Rapala make some very large plugs/crankbaits
that would be excellent for the Peacock bass. I also like the use
heavy spinnerbaits which I have to make myself. You can make them
with components from several companies. My favorite is Stamina Components.
You can contact them for a free catalog on (800) 546-8922 and tell
them I sent you! You will also need a wire leader similar to those
used for pike fishing. I like the 30lb test with the plastic coating
which you can also buy from Stamina. Your leader should be at least
24 inches long. Your main line should not be less that 20lb test.
Tight Lines!
I want to know how you got so great at fishing? I am 12 and
I am from Pennsylvania. I just wanted to know if you could tell
me where the best fishing locations are in Delaware County. Also,
if you have the time, could you take me fishing? Your biggest fan!
--Shawn from Pennsylvania
Hi Shawn, Thank you for
the kind words. I am not "great" I just work hard, study maps, fish
alone for many hours and hope that I can catch a few more fish than
my competitors when I fish in tournaments. It can be lonely sometimes!
But honestly, I am just like everyone else, with good and bad days
on the water. I do not have that much experience in PA but I can tell
you that the Delaware River is a great area for smallmouth bass. Fishing
with tubes or "gitzits" is a great way to catch them. You will need
10lb line on a spinning outfit and some quarter ounce jig heads. The
gitzit or tube should be watermelon or green pumpkinseed in color
and not larger than 4 inches. Cast into the water "up stream" and
let the current drift your bait towards you. Look for areas where
the water pools or slows down behind rocks. These are the best places
for smallmouth bass. Keep in touch. You never know Shawn, if I am
in your neighborhood, I may call you to come fish with me! Tight Lines!
I'm glad I stumbled onto your website. It's been very helpful
to me. I am kind of new to freshwater fishing but far from what
I would call ignorant or naive to the methods of catching fish.
From the very start I've been obsessed with bass fishing. I guess
I'm sort of a junky. I live in Queens but make trips to visit my
girlfriend out on the island. Both of us enjoy fishing. We stumbled
upon Massapequa Lake or reservoir. I'm not exactly sure what the
correct name of it is. All I know is that it's a large body of water
that runs adjacent to Merrick Blvd. The first couple of times I
was there I struck out miserably. Not even a bite. But a couple
of weeks back I found a spot off a trail in the woods. The minute
I came upon it my adrenaline started pumping. It was a small inlet...there
were all types of cover off the shallows. I tried all types of artificial
bait. plastic worms etc... You name it. No luck at all. I got incredible
bites with live minnows though. Every time I went there I hit the
jackpot around 6:45 pm. And it still never fails. I have caught
quite a few decent size largemouth's. I'd like to try for carp too
because in that same spot I see them pop up everywhere. Nowhere
else on the lake have I seen this or have gotten such great results.
I'm growing very disheartened though about using artificial baits.
To me it seems there's nothing bass like more then to smell and
see a live fish in its path. Yet I still reach in to my tacklebox
to try something new. But I know when I hook that minnow through
the lips its a guarantee. at least at that spot. An avid fisherman/bait
storeowner recently told me artificial bait don't catch fish they
catch fisherman....kind of ironic considering the guy's store is
lined with them wall to wall. hahaha. So how do you feel about the
subject and if you have a rig you recommend that with patience can
catch the big bass I hunt id appreciate it.
--Tom from Queens
Hi Tom! Well that's a
great e-mail. I will try to deal with all the issues you raised. Your
newly discovered location is Massapequa Reservoir. The inlet is an
OK spot, but the run off by the road is one of the better locations.
A half-ounce black and blue jig with a plastic trailer will catch
you plenty of bass. Livebait fishing is something I do not do. As
a professional bass fisherman I am not allowed to fish with anything
that was, or is alive. The only exceptions on the pro circuit are
pork trailers. Plastics work well if you are willing to learn how
to fish them. So many people buy them and expect them to do all the
work! Well the fact is, they remain a piece of plastic until YOU put
life into it through the rod and line. That's where the true test
of a fisherman begins. I give many classes on Long Island at no charge.
These courses are run by the DEC and you should sign up and come down
to one. Call (631) 444-0280 for information. I would be pleased to
teach you all I can about the art of plastic lure retrieval. Fly fishing
is the purest form of this great sport, but plastics, wood, metal
and rubber come a very close second in the skill arena, when it comes
to making a fish believe its real! The best rig I can recommend to
you would be a weightless 4-inch worm in Massapequa. Flip the worm
near the edges and let it fall, then pick up the rod tip about two
feet and let it drop down again!. Watch the line twitch or "swim away"
and set the hook! Now that's bass fishing! Tight Lines!
My question is that when I am at my grandma's, I sometimes fish
for catfish Only one guy seems to be able to catch catfish in the
pond, and he was using live worms! I've tried everything do you
have any tips for what i should use?
--Kevin from North Carolina
Hi Kevin, Try chicken
livers. I have used this bait very successfully here in the New York
area as catfish can smell blood from a very long distance. You need
a half ounce weight on the line which can slide up and down freely
above the hook with a swivel tied on the line to stop the weight from
hitting the hook. Now add a length of line (about 2 feet) and a size
4/0 bait hook. Best way to hook the livers is when they are frozen.
Then as they "defrost" in the water, the catfish will come and eat
them. If they fall off the hook, hold them on with a small rubber
band. The catfish will pick up the bait and run with it, so be ready
to set the hook! Tight Lines!
When I go over to my grandmothers I fish for catfish but there
are also brim and bass but they dont want to bite! Do you have any
suggestions on the bait and or any tips?
--Kevin
Hi Kevin, I suggest that
you try small baits like a four inch worm in green or pumpkinseed,
fished with no weight. If you still can't catch them, try waxworms
from the local pet store, fished under a small bobber on a size 10
hook! Tight Lines!
To read more answers to your questions, Click
Here.
Return to The Freshwater Angler or
Main Page.
To send Charles your freshwater questions and topics click here,
then check back in a few days for the answer to your question.
QUESTION |
ANSWER |
|
I am 22 years old and had been fishing mostly salt water with
my dad from a boat. When he passed away a few years ago I didn't
get to go fishing. Recently,I just started to pick it up again and
I got into fly fishing a few years ago and loved it more than regular
rod and bait or spinning lures for freshwater. As I live near Twin
Ponds and the Massapequa Res I would like to know a little about
these lakes and the best time to catch fish bass,trout pickerel
i.e.: whats the best bait, and so on . Also, are these lakes fished
out by people who do not practice Catch & Release? I know they stock
the lakes but i still believe in not keeping fresh water fish for
they will be bigger for the next season that I am there. I have
a daughter who is 9 months old and I can't wait till she gets bigger
so I can take her with me . I hope she will have the fun that I
had with my dad . |
The two bodies of water that you mentioned hold a good supply of largemouth bass and other catchable species. I suggest that as the weather gets cooler, you increase the size of the lure offered. As winter approaches, most species will feed well and bass, pickerel and sunnies should be easy to catch on a number of baits both artifical and live. A crawfish imitation or a 6 inch worm would work well fished from 7am to around 12 noon. Color selection is critical and I would lean towards pumkinseed and watermelon shades for both presentations. I have also discovered that during the fall period, bass in particular like a red or blue flake within the color of the lure. The afternoon bite is more a black jig and pig bite or a grey/white crankbait. Both areas you mentioned are stocked by the DEC but only with trout, unless they are planning to place a certain species into a lake for "over population" by another species i.e. perch, sunnies, etc etc. Catch and Release is a very important part of fishing on Long Island. The trout, if caught within a few weeks of release, are edible. However strict guidelines are in place for eating these fish and you should check with your local DEC officers for information. Call (516) 444-0280 for information and stocking schedules. Good luck with your daughter. Fishing with the kids is one of the best things we parents and grandparents can do. The memories (as you know) last a lifetime. Tight Lines! |
|
I started using the Gitzit tube this year, and have had some
success with it. I love the tube, and probably use it too much.
I just bought the ones in the store, which include the lead jigs.
I fish them internally, and have never seen a bait which will hold
up on the rocks, ect, as well. My questions to you are: What would
be the advantage of Texas or Carolina rigging them? Seems to me,
it would tear the face of the tube, and be much more prone to moving
all over the hook. However, I am eager to learn, and am open to
suggestions. My other question is, I find myself stoping at the
bait shop on the way to the lake. I get a dozen worms, leaches,
or minnows, and lately (since fishing is tough) have found myself
tipping the tube with a piece of leach, or worm, or a live minnow.
I catch a few fish that way, and am not sure I am catching them
because of the tube, or the bait attached. I have been over fish,
caught one or two, bait, comes off. I try a few presentations with
just the tube, nothing, add another piece of bait, and often, pick
up another. Wondered what your thoughts were on that, and if you
practice that. Personally, I would love to never use live bait again,
but I find I catch more fish when I do. |
Hi Larry! tubes or "gitzits" are a fantastic lure all year round, however, as the season begins to turn to fall it can be a deadly bait. Your questuion concerning Texas and Carolina rigging is simple. They will not tear up if you use the type with the thicker heads. I believe Strike King make a heavy headed tubes for just such presentations. Part two is very simple. If you attach anything "living" onto a plastic bait your hook-up ratio increases by 500 percent! As a professional angler, I would never use live bait. It would defeat the objectives set by the orgaizations I fish with and would not help me in my quest for bass under the rules of tournament fishing. Tight Lines! |
|
Nice column! Did you ever fish Artist Lake in Middle Island?
I've caught some great bass there, some in the 6 lb-7lb range. My
other question is, do you have any advice or info on Patchogue Lake?
Also, am I correct in saying that there are some small rivers in
that vicinity? |
Hi Matt, Yes I have fished Artist Lake. Nice water, but the weeds can be a problem from the shoreline. Black and blue jig (three-quarter ounce) with a plastic trailer account for most of my big fish out there. Patchogue Lake is similar and I have fished it the same way as Artist. It has been a while, but I remember fishing a green 6-inch Power worm with a lot of success there also. As for surrounding rivers, I know of a few small streams that feed into the ocean on the south shore. I have caught white perch and a few sea trout but the freshwater fishing is slim unless you can get back into the woods, Access is restricted or private so check with the local authorities before attempting to fish it. Tight Lines! |
|
My question is i e-mailed you before about Peacock bass and
i have now found out where my friend fishes. The location is at
West Point Lake GA. Do you have any tips on choosing the lures for
catching these fish? |
Hi Kevin! Lures for these fish need to be large! SPRO and Rapala make some very large plugs/crankbaits that would be excellent for the Peacock bass. I also like the use heavy spinnerbaits which I have to make myself. You can make them with components from several companies. My favorite is Stamina Components. You can contact them for a free catalog on (800) 546-8922 and tell them I sent you! You will also need a wire leader similar to those used for pike fishing. I like the 30lb test with the plastic coating which you can also buy from Stamina. Your leader should be at least 24 inches long. Your main line should not be less that 20lb test. Tight Lines! |
|
I want to know how you got so great at fishing? I am 12 and
I am from Pennsylvania. I just wanted to know if you could tell
me where the best fishing locations are in Delaware County. Also,
if you have the time, could you take me fishing? Your biggest fan!
|
Hi Shawn, Thank you for the kind words. I am not "great" I just work hard, study maps, fish alone for many hours and hope that I can catch a few more fish than my competitors when I fish in tournaments. It can be lonely sometimes! But honestly, I am just like everyone else, with good and bad days on the water. I do not have that much experience in PA but I can tell you that the Delaware River is a great area for smallmouth bass. Fishing with tubes or "gitzits" is a great way to catch them. You will need 10lb line on a spinning outfit and some quarter ounce jig heads. The gitzit or tube should be watermelon or green pumpkinseed in color and not larger than 4 inches. Cast into the water "up stream" and let the current drift your bait towards you. Look for areas where the water pools or slows down behind rocks. These are the best places for smallmouth bass. Keep in touch. You never know Shawn, if I am in your neighborhood, I may call you to come fish with me! Tight Lines! |
|
I'm glad I stumbled onto your website. It's been very helpful
to me. I am kind of new to freshwater fishing but far from what
I would call ignorant or naive to the methods of catching fish.
From the very start I've been obsessed with bass fishing. I guess
I'm sort of a junky. I live in Queens but make trips to visit my
girlfriend out on the island. Both of us enjoy fishing. We stumbled
upon Massapequa Lake or reservoir. I'm not exactly sure what the
correct name of it is. All I know is that it's a large body of water
that runs adjacent to Merrick Blvd. The first couple of times I
was there I struck out miserably. Not even a bite. But a couple
of weeks back I found a spot off a trail in the woods. The minute
I came upon it my adrenaline started pumping. It was a small inlet...there
were all types of cover off the shallows. I tried all types of artificial
bait. plastic worms etc... You name it. No luck at all. I got incredible
bites with live minnows though. Every time I went there I hit the
jackpot around 6:45 pm. And it still never fails. I have caught
quite a few decent size largemouth's. I'd like to try for carp too
because in that same spot I see them pop up everywhere. Nowhere
else on the lake have I seen this or have gotten such great results.
I'm growing very disheartened though about using artificial baits.
To me it seems there's nothing bass like more then to smell and
see a live fish in its path. Yet I still reach in to my tacklebox
to try something new. But I know when I hook that minnow through
the lips its a guarantee. at least at that spot. An avid fisherman/bait
storeowner recently told me artificial bait don't catch fish they
catch fisherman....kind of ironic considering the guy's store is
lined with them wall to wall. hahaha. So how do you feel about the
subject and if you have a rig you recommend that with patience can
catch the big bass I hunt id appreciate it. |
Hi Tom! Well that's a great e-mail. I will try to deal with all the issues you raised. Your newly discovered location is Massapequa Reservoir. The inlet is an OK spot, but the run off by the road is one of the better locations. A half-ounce black and blue jig with a plastic trailer will catch you plenty of bass. Livebait fishing is something I do not do. As a professional bass fisherman I am not allowed to fish with anything that was, or is alive. The only exceptions on the pro circuit are pork trailers. Plastics work well if you are willing to learn how to fish them. So many people buy them and expect them to do all the work! Well the fact is, they remain a piece of plastic until YOU put life into it through the rod and line. That's where the true test of a fisherman begins. I give many classes on Long Island at no charge. These courses are run by the DEC and you should sign up and come down to one. Call (631) 444-0280 for information. I would be pleased to teach you all I can about the art of plastic lure retrieval. Fly fishing is the purest form of this great sport, but plastics, wood, metal and rubber come a very close second in the skill arena, when it comes to making a fish believe its real! The best rig I can recommend to you would be a weightless 4-inch worm in Massapequa. Flip the worm near the edges and let it fall, then pick up the rod tip about two feet and let it drop down again!. Watch the line twitch or "swim away" and set the hook! Now that's bass fishing! Tight Lines! |
|
My question is that when I am at my grandma's, I sometimes fish
for catfish Only one guy seems to be able to catch catfish in the
pond, and he was using live worms! I've tried everything do you
have any tips for what i should use? |
Hi Kevin, Try chicken livers. I have used this bait very successfully here in the New York area as catfish can smell blood from a very long distance. You need a half ounce weight on the line which can slide up and down freely above the hook with a swivel tied on the line to stop the weight from hitting the hook. Now add a length of line (about 2 feet) and a size 4/0 bait hook. Best way to hook the livers is when they are frozen. Then as they "defrost" in the water, the catfish will come and eat them. If they fall off the hook, hold them on with a small rubber band. The catfish will pick up the bait and run with it, so be ready to set the hook! Tight Lines! |
|
When I go over to my grandmothers I fish for catfish but there
are also brim and bass but they dont want to bite! Do you have any
suggestions on the bait and or any tips? |
Hi Kevin, I suggest that you try small baits like a four inch worm in green or pumpkinseed, fished with no weight. If you still can't catch them, try waxworms from the local pet store, fished under a small bobber on a size 10 hook! Tight Lines! |
To read more answers to your questions, Click Here.