Fishing rocky reservoirs with no weeds.

[dodgeguy]

I put my rowboat on Sodom reservoir in the NYC reservoir system this year.you have to be permitted by NYC and leave your boat locked there. The previous reservoir I fished had tons of weeds and  cover. The new one is rocks with NO weeds.it is steep in most areas with some points and shallower areas .finding fish is not easy but I haven't gotten skunked yet.most fish were caught on wacky rig senkos or t rig worms in 5 to 15 feet of water.I am not used to this type of fishing and need serious suggestions.has largies smallies big white perch and walleye mostly.

[grampa1114]

Hmm....I know this isn't your first Rodeo and it looks like a fun challenge to attempt. Just rocks means lots of shadow areas to hide. Probably some Algae on the rocks as well. Could lead to a decent Crayfish population and a good opportunity to bounce jigs. I find the Spanky with a weighted wacky hook also does a nice job in watermelon red flake and bluegill colors. With your experience, it won't take long to figure them out. Best of luck ...Grampa1114

 

[dodgeguy]

Water color was green stained. Water temps were 78 to 82 degrees.

[flyingmonkie]

When I look for Sodom reservoir, all I get is "East Branch Reservoir".  Is this it? https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4010718,-73.5807284,1980m/data=!3m1!1e3

If so, it looks awesome!  I see lots of shallow underwater structure (rocks, I assume) on satellite.  Also, it looks like there are shorelines lined with laydowns.  Being an okie, I start shallow... I'd be flipping every bit of laydown wood I could find.  Sticks = money in rocky lakes.  Second move would be to main lake points and around the islands.  This type of year, I'd be deep cranking, dragging a football jig, or a c-rig.  Anytime i came across underwater structure like rock piles or boulders, I'd work them over... especially on the shady side.

 

 

[scaleface]

I fish the same lures in rock that I do in mud .

 

  As far as crawfish having a preference for rock , that is not so . There are many species of crawfish  . You seine a mud ditch here and you will fill up with crawfish . They love mud , live in mud and make mud tunnels . I've heard them called mud bugs never rock bugs . 

[Holden.C]

Try a shaky head worm, and just flip some crawls as well as working jigs and cranks

[lo n slo]

i'm liking the looks of those two bigger islands and i see a couple of nice looking main lake points too. i'm a t rig man myself so i would be trying to find the sweet spots near that structure. i'm assuming you are sans electronics in your row boat? i really like pockets on an island even if i have to back way off and fish the offshore "edges", which is usually the case this time of year for me. good luck man. that place looks awesome!

[Red Bear]

id start around that bridge and hit all them points and pockets on both sides going down that channel with the small island leading into the bigger part of the lake with the two big islands and fish around them as well...

[WRB]

I fish deep structured lakes with clear water and sparse aquatic vegetation most of the time.

There Is always some cover, the system isn't sterile especially with off color water. Wood becomes important and depth is critical during the summer or warm water period. 

First things first, check for a thermocline to determine maximum depth to fish. Next use your sonar to survey potential locations and determine what depth the life zone is...where you see bait fish or larger marks.

Now you need to select lures that are effective at the depth you plan to fish. If the lake has a Shad population the brush shore line or anywhere brush is located the Shad hide there during the night and move out as the sun rises, the bass are near thier prey source. There are crawdads in your lake but maybe nocturnal during the warm water period, so low light may be needed to effectively fish craw imitation lures like jigs.

Finesse is your friend during bright sunny days, drop shot, slip shot, Underspins, soft jerk baits, small poppers and small jigs.

Night fishing with larger lures like wake baits, jigs and T-rigged worms or craws is your highest percentage for bigger bass.

Tom

[dodgeguy]

11 hours ago, lo n slo said:

i'm liking the looks of those two bigger islands and i see a couple of nice looking main lake points too. i'm a t rig man myself so i would be trying to find the sweet spots near that structure. i'm assuming you are sans electronics in your row boat? i really like pockets on an island even if i have to back way off and fish the offshore "edges", which is usually the case this time of year for me. good luck man. that place looks awesome!

I have a depth finder and just got it set up right to mark fish.those islands have both produced fish as have some of the laydowns.success has been scattered so far but the fish I've caught have been quality. Going again tomorrow to try the shakey head and some craw lures. I'll let you guys know what happens.

[WRB]

If the lake posted is where you are fishing in a row boat, you are limited to how far you can row.

Too far north for Shad as forage bait fish, the bass are more than likely dermasel or shore relating fish. Lots of wood laydowns everywhere. 

Do you own a portable sonar unit? Is there a topo map available to study underwater structure and depth? Are elecrtic trolling motors allowed?

I would think the inlet area where the stream enters and the dam areas would be your best places to start.

Tom

[Ted Kaufman]

I'm from Westchester, NY, originally. And while I know of Sodom, I never fished it. But since moving to SC, I've fished a number or lakes with no weeds. 

 

I like a number of recommendations you've already had regarding baits and locations. A shaky head and dropshot are tough to beat. If the bite is really slow, don't hesitate to go smaller with 4" worms on both. Green pumpkin, motor oil, old purple and black would be my top choices. 

 

But my experiences on similar northern waters is bass love crayfish anytime they can get them. I can't tell you how many times bass in my livewell have regurgitated enough crayfish to clog my livewells. So I'd always have a rubber legged jig tied on. And if you prefer size to numbers, as I do, that'd be my first choice. Another bait I've had great success with is swinghead jig with something like an Gambler Ugly Otter. I use a heavy one, typically 3/4oz, and I fish it fast in summer. Let it hit the bottom and immediately crank it 3-5 turns, then stop. Repeat throughout the cast. Each time that heavy bait hit the bottom, it puffs up silt like a crawfish does when they kick. Very effective big bass technique. 

 

 

[dodgeguy]

Caught 4 Dink's.nothing on shakey heads or jig or plastic craw.water temp 82 and stained.level down 5 feet so laydowns limited.fish suspended 5 to 10 feet down .fished boulders and caught my 4 fish off boulders 2 on power worms and 2 senko fish. Nothing big.fished from 5 am to 1 pm.tough day. No trolling motors allowed on reservoir.

[Bpett2552]

I would work a crank on those rocks. Bounce it off of the boulders to trigger strikes. you can crawl the crank through a laydown as well, just feel for the branches and let it float up.

[dodgeguy]

3 hours ago, Bpett2552 said:

I would work a crank on those rocks. Bounce it off of the boulders to trigger strikes. you can crawl the crank through a laydown as well, just feel for the branches and let it float up.

Did the crankbait thing.? maybe this lake is just slow right now.I haven't gotten skunked I'm just wishing it was better.

[WRB]

Never heard of a lake that allowed the use of a boat that doesn't allow the use of electric trolling motor....that is a first!

Tom

[dodgeguy]

58 minutes ago, WRB said:

Never heard of a lake that allowed the use of a boat that doesn't allow the use of electric trolling motor....that is a first!                  NYC reservoir rules.they are afraid people will dump batteries in water.

[iceintheveins]

14 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

15 hours ago, WRB said:

Never heard of a lake that allowed the use of a boat that doesn't allow the use of electric trolling motor....that is a first!                  NYC reservoir rules.they are afraid people will dump batteries in water.

Water utility managers in liberal states can be really stupid in the restrictions. A few are even closed altogether, all without any scientific basis.

To get to your fishing question, I would bounce jigs and creature baits along the rocks, and bump and grind cranks. Spinnerbaits if it's windy and topwater early.

[Last_Cast]

I fish at ashokan.

I use the ned rig, little cleo, a crankbait, and a few others I cant recall ATM.

All work flawlessly there for trout and smallies.

No weeds, all rocks. Worth it.

Oh and I dont use a boat. You'll def have better luck than me.

[Gundog]

On 7/9/2016 at 3:43 AM, iceintheveins said:

Water utility managers in liberal states can be really stupid in the restrictions. A few are even closed altogether, all without any scientific basis.

 

Just found out this week there is a lake in Montgomery county here in PA that has a rule that if you want to use a boat on the lake it must be quarantined at the lake for 10 days before you can put it on the water. Its a lake run by a water company and they say its so they can stop invasive aquatic species but it just sounds stupid to me. I didn't check on it but I'm somewhat sure they charge a fee to quarantine the boats. 

[WRB]

On July 8, 2016 at 10:39 AM, dodgeguy said:

On July 8, 2016 at 9:39 AM, WRB said:

Never heard of a lake that allowed the use of a boat that doesn't allow the use of electric trolling motor....that is a first!                  NYC reservoir rules.they are afraid people will dump batteries in water.

Sounds like a kayak is in your future.

I grew up rowing fishing boats as a dock boy....never will do that again! After biulding a light weight duck boat in my teens that used oars rowing was a lot easier. Today's kayaks are the answer to bass fishing small lakes that don't allow gasoline engines. Worrying about boaters polluting water with batteries is over the top, unless discarding batteries is a problem in NY. California promotes the use of electric powered everything, including boats, I thought only MA was more liberal then CA.

I would use a Yamamoto 4" twin tail Hula Grub on his wire guard 3/8 oz black football or Berkley 4" Chigger on the same jig.

Good luck.

Tom

[iceintheveins]

5 hours ago, Gundog said:

Just found out this week there is a lake in Montgomery county here in PA that has a rule that if you want to use a boat on the lake it must be quarantined at the lake for 10 days before you can put it on the water. Its a lake run by a water company and they say its so they can stop invasive aquatic species but it just sounds stupid to me. I didn't check on it but I'm somewhat sure they charge a fee to quarantine the boats. 

Yeah, there is no basis for a quarantine. "Invasive species" is another reason we are losing access to our waters.

[dodgeguy]

NYC makes you keep your boat there.it has to be steam cleaned before you can put it on s reservoir.

[dodgeguy]

Update time.fished Friday night from 6 to 10.caught a 12 inch largemouth and a 11 inch white perch. Started using a half oz shad colored rattling rapala and got hit burning it over a rocky point.produced a 4-5 smallie that put up an awesome fight.no picture cause I lost my phone the day before.I went home happy.I'm still learning this reservoir and at least I haven't been skunked .?

[grampa1114]

Good job DG....sounds like a sweet Smallie.....just bring the big tackle box and rummage around until you find stuff that works. I just moved from Ma to SC and have the same situation....I'll figure it out too....Keep Chuckin' and Keep Learnin'..Grampa