Seeking the bigger bass/pickerel

[Gregorym38]

Hey, i found this secluded lake in northern nj and it is filled with bass and pickerel, but they are all 2 pounds or less. I know there are giants in there somewhere, how do i target them? Last time i webt i used a 4 inch keitech and a white with a silver vlade spinnerbait, with a white trailer, that is what caught the most fish. I want to look for just the bigger ones, how do i do it

1 minute ago, Gregorym38 said:

Hey, i found this secluded lake in northern nj and it is filled with bass and pickerel, but they are all 2 pounds or less. I know there are giants in there somewhere, how do i target them? Last time i webt i used a 4 inch keitech and a white with a silver vlade spinnerbait, with a white trailer, that is what caught the most fish. I want to look for just the bigger ones, how do i do it

 

I had access to it 3 years ago and this was my first time ever fishing, so instead of holding the fish i took the picture of it in the bucket. Its a big bucket, i think he was big but i might be wrong. 

[PhishLI]

Anyone who's ever boxed has heard one version or another of the same concept from their trainer: Don't go looking for the knockout, let it come.

 

Now you could simply throw big baits with the idea that doing so will exclude smaller fish and attract big fish, and sometimes this is true, but this is a tough way to do it in the northeast. You'll need a strong will because you're going to blank a lot. If you think that you have that type of fortitude, then go for it, but understand going in that you're far more likely to catch big fish on typical compact baits. They'll eat those far more frequently.

 

Your best bet is to find fish, and when you do, even if they're a bunch of 2s, keep fishing. They're there for a reason, and a big is likely to be nearby for the same reason. There are simply less of them, so they're harder to connect with. Patience, weedhopper. patience.

 

I'd also advise that you keep the number of places you go to down to only a few, then learn them completely. Over time you will find that there are bigger fish zones where you can concentrate on depending on the season. You can only come to know this by putting in the time and thinking about what happened when it happens.

 

Good Luck

[cheezyridr]

i'm one who tends to throw big-"ish" baits.  phishli is pretty spot on with his statement about it not being the be-all/end-all.

for me, i find that the time of year, location, and the moon phase seem to have this relationship i don't entirely understand.  in the places i fish regularly, it seems that certain places consistently hold big fish, at certain times of the year. they don't seem to be there all the time. i have noticed some places i seem to have better success on the new moon,  and some seem better on the full moon. i imagine if i was smart enough to keep a log, i might learn something.  however, i'm pretty lazy, and sometimes i just go fishing so i can throw a lure and reel it back in. 

[Gregorym38]

4 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Anyone who's ever boxed has heard one version or another of the same concept from their trainer: Don't go looking for the knockout, let it come.

 

Now you could simply throw big baits with the idea that doing so will exclude smaller fish and attract big fish, and sometimes this is true, but this is a tough way to do it in the northeast. You'll need a strong will because you're going to blank a lot. If you think that you have that type of fortitude, then go for it, but understand going in that you're far more likely to catch big fish on typical compact baits. They'll eat those far more frequently.

 

Your best bet is to find fish, and when you do, even if they're a bunch of 2s, keep fishing. They're there for a reason, and a big is likely to be nearby for the same reason. There are simply less of them, so they're harder to connect with. Patience, weedhopper. patience.

 

I'd also advise that you keep the number of places you go to down to only a few, then learn them completely. Over time you will find that there are bigger fish zones where you can concentrate on depending on the season. You can only come to know this by putting in the time and thinking about what happened when it happens.

 

Good Luck

Yeah i thought so, but i figured if you upgrade it upgrades your chances but i will just keep on trying, one of tjem has to bite eventually

[WRB]

Pickerel are attracted to shinny lures and bright colors adult size bass tend to avoid them.

It ‘s cold in NJ by now and the bass tend to go deeper looking for warmer water near the bottom. The bass will patrol the shallower edges hunting prey.

Your choices are using bottom contact soft plastics Texas rigged using a 3/16 oz bullet weight with a dark color creature  or plastic worm. Zoom brush hog jr and 7 1/2” Power worm ribbon tail should work.

Surface lure use a all black 3/8 oz buzz bait.

Tom

[1984isNOW]

The more 2 pounders there are in a smaller body of water the smaller the average size of bass will be. There could absolutely be a rogue monster, but private pond owners will monitor size/ population and often cull the 1.5/2 pounders. Keeps the ecosystem balanced to favor a lengthier/speedier growth for the other bass.

 

But hey, I'd be happy to catch a bunch of two pounders at this point in my life haha. I'm gonna start the trophy hunt next year.

[PhishLI]

14 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

Yeah i thought so, but i figured if you upgrade it upgrades your chances

Pickerel will eat anything a bass will. Sometimes it's hard to keep them off bass baits. I have a box full of Dark Sleepers in Dark Shad(brown) with missing tails to prove it. My top ten pickerel, all between 26"-29", have for the most part come on small 3.5"-4.5" nondescript paddletail swimmers with no added flash beyond their eyes. A few had no eyes. One came on a GP Zoom Fluke Stick worm and another on a Black/ Blue ribbon tail worm.

 

Big pickerel are more than happy to eat small baits, and often.

 

4" Zman Diesel Minnow.

[Bass Rutten]

Don’t overlook the classics, spoons and spinners are proven baits for toothy critters. In my water for some reason I catch near as many pike as bass on chatterbaits.

[TriStateBassin106]

Mind me asking the lake? I live in Passaic County and probably fish it or know it. I fish most lakes/ponds in the Bergen/Passaic/Sussex. Also glad to see another Jersey guy on Here. 

[Gregorym38]

20 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

Mind me asking the lake? I live in Passaic County and probably fish it or know it. I fish most lakes/ponds in the Bergen/Passaic/Sussex. Also glad to see another Jersey guy on Here. 

Oh yeah i think i was talking to you on fishbrain a little while back lol. Yeah the lake is in west milford, but its private so you have to know the owners to fish it. Loaded with dinks, 2lbers, so i think there are some bigger fish out there. I think im going to catch a small bluegill and live line it, just see what happens while i work a keitech

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Without going to bigger baits there are a few things you can do.  

Be quiet, mind your footfalls.

Concentrate on the bank, isolated cover and hard bottom.

Dont just walk right up to the edge of the water and start fishing.  Ease your way in untill you are about 5 or 6 feet from the water then take a couple casts where you plan to stand.

Fish in before or just as poor weather moves in.

Make sure to fish wind blown corners.  It may be uncomfortable in the winter, but its where the fish will likely be.

Make sure to fish the moon. Fish 3 days before full or new and 3 days after, especially when there is a frontal change or drop in pressure. 

Lastly, just keep at it and don't get discouraged.  Eventually you will run into that fish you were looking for, just make sure to tie good knots and check your line for nicks and abrasion regularly.  

[Gregorym38]

9 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Without going to bigger baits there are a few things you can do.  

Be quiet, mind your footfalls.

Concentrate on the bank, isolated cover and hard bottom.

Dont just walk right up to the edge of the water and start fishing.  Ease your way in untill you are about 5 or 6 feet from the water then take a couple casts where you plan to stand.

Fish in before or just as poor weather moves in.

Make sure to fish wind blown corners.  It may be uncomfortable in the winter, but its where the fish will likely be.

Make sure to fish the moon. Fish 3 days before full or new and 3 days after, especially when there is a frontal change or drop in pressure. 

Lastly, just keep at it and don't get discouraged.  Eventually you will run into that fish you were looking for, just make sure to tie good knots and check your line for nicks and abrasion regularly.  

Great advice. I have not done this that much, but i will for sure. Also, i have heard that downsizing a keitech from 4” to 2.8” will get more bites, and elephants do eat peanuts. Could that help as well? What would you throw if it were you?

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Downsizing will catch you more fish for sure.  Using a lighter head especially from now until March, slowing down the retrieve will help greatly as well.  Make sure you stop that bait and let it fall, if there's a fish following it most of the time he'll grab it.  

When the water is really cold the bass get lethargic and dont need to eat nearly as much.  While you can catch bigger fish on small baits all year, I feel like late fall to late winter is a time when small baits have the highest chances of producing a big fish.

If I were fishing that pond I would start with a 3' easy shiner or rockvibe shad on a 1/16 darter or ball head.  That will tell me right away what kind of fish are in there.  You can throw a ned rig too, but I can cover more water with a small swimbait in a shorter amount of time.  

I like to throw smaller JBs as well.  My go to is a Rozante 77 or a MB 110 Jr if I have a little more depth.  

A shallow shad rap is a good bait to use as well.  If you add enough weight to slow that float down or even get it to suspend it becomes more effective.  

Finesse/smaller jigs work well.  They tend to get a bigger bite, but they are pain to fish in small ponds because you have to clean them off constantly.

A tube is a good alternative to a jig if there is too much snot grass around.