How Would You Attack This Lake

[long island basser]

This is blydenburgh lake, it is 100 acres in size.

[F14A-B]

6' maybe be 100% deeper than 3', both are shallow water. This "lake" may not be deep enough to sustain bass or baitfish during winter if frozen unless water is running through or there is spring water. This is a tiny hypothetical body of water.

Tom

I understand your Mathematica, but, what would we ( most ) fisherman refer to 6' of the deepest or deepest most shallow part of a pond or small lake? The shallow deep, or the deeper shallow ?

[Paul Roberts]

The depth, regardless of the number, is certainly relevant. If it doesn't winterkill -and it may not, esp now that we know it's on LI (Sorry fishking, but I wasn't the one who exposed it)- than that "deep water" most likely defines the winter habitat for those bass. I fish some ponds that are of similar depth -even similar layout- and if you hit it early enough you are going to have some dull days if you ignore this fact.

 

Here's a seasonally appropriate trip report that highlights two ponds, one is all of 5ft in a deep slot, and the other 8ft:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/115075-boom-spring-or-is-it/?hl=%2Bpaul+%2Broberts#entry1261169

[fishking247]

LI basser is correct. It's in LI and fish do in fact survive the winter. This winter was the worst I've ever seen on LI. We had solid on ice on ponds from December until mid march. My guess is over 12" of ice because I have friends who have ice fished similar size and depth lakes on LI this winter and reported upwards of 18-24" of ice

[Paul Roberts]

The critical factors for winterkill will be two things:

-nutrient load in the form of heavy vegetation (that dies and decomposes) or agric/suburban runoff. 

-snow on the ice for extended periods. Ice itself can let enough light through to maintain photosynthesis beneath. But block that light with heavy snow and oxygen will get used up.

[fishking247]

I have been to the lake this spring and have not seen any signs of a fish kill

[Paul Roberts]

Often have to get there right at ice-out bc dead fish sink fast. A couple days late and you might miss seeing it. If you have a shallow pond you suspect might kill bc of a heavy snow, get there at ice-out. It's a hassle, but I can think of worse things on my to-do list.

[fishking247]

This is A "big" pond for LI and has never had a kill before. Most ponds around here are 15-20 acres How did fish kill even come up in this topic lol

[Paul Roberts]

This is A "big" pond for LI and has never had a kill before. Most ponds around here are 15-20 acres How did fish kill even come up in this topic lol

Because it's only 6 feet deep! In most of NYS, and across the north, a pond only 6 feet deep is at risk of winterkill. That would be my first question when looking at such a pond. I've experienced catastrophic kills in waters up to 40acres in size. We didn't know at the outset just how big your pond was, or where it was located in the state.

[WRB]

Asking for advice results in better feedback when regional location is known and some scale of size. How would you fish this 100 acre NE lake? The sketch indicates it is only 6' deep and we now know it freezes over with up to 24" of ice, makes this a very marginal LMB bass lake, unless there is deeper water or springs.

We could only guess at the size, the sketch is well done but without any scale. 100 acres gives the bass more room to find places to survive. To put a scale to this lake; this small lake about 1/2 mile long x 1/8 mile wide?

I would still fish the same areas stated earlier, the points that intersect deepest water with slip shot rig reaper, 5" worm and jerk bait like LC Pointer.

If you can use a boat, then fish the entire lake.

Tom

[Weld's Largemouth]

Ice out, water is still in the 30's. where would you start and what would you throw?

Heyee i know that lake

[MIbassin]

Asking for advice results in better feedback when regional location is known and some scale of size. How would you fish this 100 acre NE lake? The sketch indicates it is only 6' deep and we now know it freezes over with up to 24" of ice, makes this a very marginal LMB bass lake, unless there is deeper water or springs.

We could only guess at the size, the sketch is well done but without any scale. 100 acres gives the bass more room to find places to survive. To put a scale to this lake; this small lake about 1/2 mile long x 1/8 mile wide?

I would still fish the same areas stated earlier, the points that intersect deepest water with slip shot rig reaper, 5" worm and jerk bait like LC Pointer.

If you can use a boat, then fish the entire lake.

Tom

Although it seems like a marginal bass lake, it produces 8 and 9 pounders. I have fished it many times over the summers and love it. Is it the best conditions for LMB? No, but it sure does hold some mighty fine fish.

[Catt]

100 acres!

The bass would glad to see me leave

[WRB]

100 acres that is only 6' deep at the deepest, the rest average about 3' and it produces 9 lb NLMB, plus open to the public.

Half this lake would freeze solid with 24" of ice. The only explanation is the lake is much deeper and someone is planting prey fish. Why wouldn't every bass sngler on Long Island fish this lake, 9 lb LMB are rare in NY.

Tom

[Weld's Largemouth]

100 acres that is only 6' deep at the deepest, the rest average about 3' and it produces 9 lb NLMB, plus open to the public.

Half this lake would freeze solid with 24" of ice. The only explanation is the lake is much deeper and someone is planting prey fish. Why wouldn't every bass sngler on Long Island fish this lake, 9 lb LMB are rare in NY.

Tom

Many anglers fish here, its one of the most popular lakes on the island. It has indeed produced some very nice fish, including that 9lber. It could be due to the wide range of food: bluegill, pumpkinseed, pickerel, perch, shiners and trout that allowed the growth of such a fish.

[Paul Roberts]

Keep in mind that Long Island is not as cold as "upstate" NY, it's climate being tempered by the ocean and the Gulf Stream in particular. Those small coastal lakes and ponds give up northern bass in sizes that are not seen further inland, including that 15+lb LM from Massachusetts -still, I believe, the largest pure northern LMB on record. Mainebasser1984 knows a thing or two about this I'm guessing.

 

LI basser is correct. It's in LI and fish do in fact survive the winter. This winter was the worst I've ever seen on LI. We had solid on ice on ponds from December until mid march. My guess is over 12" of ice because I have friends who have ice fished similar size and depth lakes on LI this winter and reported upwards of 18-24" of ice

This winter was particularly severe there according to fishking247. Ice depths are not certain. DEC describes max lake depth as 8ft. Shoreline is ecologically intact, surrounded by forest and wetland. At 100 acres, that's a decent volume. If there were any winterkill there it would most likely not be catastrophic.

 

...
Half this lake would freeze solid with 24" of ice.

...

True, which highlights the very reason winter habitat is so critical to bass. Be there or be square.

 

So... back to the OP -fishing advice- I stick with my original post.

[Zach Nute]

how would one fish this part of a pa lake?

PM me.. I've actually fished that lake before around this time and caught some really big ones.!!