Had on a big ???? today.....

[Countryjoe07]

Went fishing at a small pond nearby to try catching some fish in this heat wave.  I was using a silver size 11 original floating rapala.  I had on something really BIG probably a good 2 foot long fish.  It wasn't fightin like a bass and it just tried swimming straight into cover.  I was able to steer it away from the really nasty stuff and was playing it for a good couple minutes (I had a small spinning reel with 8lb test on it).  However, there was a good 4 feet of weeds in front of me so trying to get the fish through all that I lost it.  I should have just walked in a couple feet for it and I would have had it.  I was only able to catch glimpses of the fish from about 10-15 feet away.  

After fishing some other spots I was approaching the previous spot where I had this fish on and saw 3-4 pretty good sized fish swimming in the open.  So I assume what I had on was one of those guys.  They looked kind of like logs.  Too big to be a bass around these areas.  Plus they were swimming around in the open, as I saw them in other areas of the pond too.  

This year was the first year I've fished this pond in a few years.  I only thought there were bass, pickerel, sunnies.  Any ideas what kind of fish this might be?  

BTW, this pond used to be awesome for fishing, lots of action lots of bass, crappie, pickerel.  But then they built a housing development around it and a gravel path around the pond and it's dirtier than I ever remember it being and the fishing has slowed considerably.   >          

[Countryjoe07]

I'm in Northern New Jersey if that helps any with what kind of species it might be.

[Grey Wolf]

Could be carp.

[RobbyZ5001]

Any reason why you don't think it was a pickerel?

[Countryjoe07]

Could be carp.

I thought it might be a carp.  It's probably the most logical thing but on a Rapala???  Unless I foul hooked it....plus I don't ever remember seeing carp in this particular pond in previous years.  

[Countryjoe07]

Any reason why you don't think it was a pickerel?

It fought similar to a pickerel.  But I just kind of assumed it was one of those floating log fish that I saw, which didn't really look or behave like pickerel.  3-4 fish just swimming around in the open like that?  I tried throwing rapalas and spinner baits past them but they were indifferent.  I would think a pickerel would at least follow the lures and show some interest.  

I'm thinking I caught a pickerel, and then just saw carp swimming around.  It would have been one big pickerel.  Landing the thing without a net would have been tough.  If those log like fish were pickerel that would explain the decline in good bass fishing from a few years prior.....

I'm going to bring a baitcaster with heavier line next time I fish there.        

[Countryjoe07]

I think it might have been a carp.  I just read some posts where people caught them on rattle traps and topwaters....so catching one on a rapala isn't out of the picture.  

[Pike_Master]

Id say Pickeral,pike or carp.I actually saw a pic maybe 1 week ago on a different site where the carp actually took his crankbait and he got it in

[thetr20one]

I would also think snagged carp.

[bassnleo]

I'd say carp also.....I've seen one caught on a popper, I've caught one on a jig so anything is possible. Like already mentioned, it also could have been foul hooked.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Got a carp on a Trick Stick last year.  Never thought I would see a 4/0 EWG hook in a carp's mouth...

[Mobydick]

Could musky have got in there by any chance?????

[macmaster761]

i would say foul hooked carp, u said it moved slowly towards cover, if it were a pike or pickerel of that size a serious fight would have happened, and it probably would have broken ur line a hell of a lot quicker... those things jerk really hard and would break ur 8 lb test in an instant...

[SenkoBasser]

I've caught plenty of large pickerel and I'd say only 10% of them got away by chewing my line. It could have been a pickerel. When they get that large the fight slows (not that they still don't fight like hell) down and they tend to move towards cover or deeps. Just my opinion. If there isn't supposed to be carp there, then there probably isn't. I dunno.

[jvox]

I'm thinking that it was a pickerel. Especially if you said that it fought like a pickerel. A carp probably wouldve put up a fight that wouldve made you KNOW it was a carp..Either way, go back to that pond dude. And, I'm also from Jersey. I'm always looking for good spots if you care to share!!

jvox

[macmaster761]

yea dude, go back there with some 20lb test and maybe even saltwater gear and catch that mother!

[Countryjoe07]

I'm thinking that it was a pickerel. Especially if you said that it fought like a pickerel. A carp probably wouldve put up a fight that wouldve made you KNOW it was a carp..Either way, go back to that pond dude. And, I'm also from Jersey. I'm always looking for good spots if you care to share!!

jvox

This particular pond is in bergen county in a residential area called the ramapo river reserve in oakland.  Just go over the bridge, over the river and you'll see the pond.  Looks like your in old bridge might be quite a ride for you.  This pond used to be really really good before the housing development went up.  Now I find it a bit tougher to catch fish.    

[Countryjoe07]

Could musky have got in there by any chance?????

highly unlikely...but you never know!

[Mobydick]

We thought the same with them here. We found a 24 inch musky several miles up a crick that empties into the river. We also have pirahnas in our river, i think it's the tourists, ............maybe the feds are tryin to kill us off, who knows......