MassBass

Thanks for the film, Mr. A-jay. Good point he had about imitating a dying shad (or other small silver baitfish), that is struggling from a cold snap. I think I could figure out a good retrieve pattern with the bait, but that 'less is more' philosophy would probably be a good place to start.

Instead of writing a long and winding essay about my near skunked bank expedition to the NH lakes region in November, I will just note some bullet points that would help me. * I believe blade baits are not in my arsenal because I used to think they were just a dumbed down lipless rattle bait. Now, I am an avid rattle bait angler, but why is the blade bait different, and why would it be more effective in water temps where the rattle bait bites are very few and far between? * Is the concept of fishing the blade bait similar to a rattle bait? As in cover water, power fish, and trigger reaction bites? * Are there any situations where you would fish a blade bait from the bank? What if you were up on a cliff over a steep rocky main lake bluff? * Now I know there are not many ice fisherman on the board, but do you jig the blade bait through the ice with consistent success for any specie? * What are good brands, must haves, and high-end brands? 1/4 ounce is good all around or do you often go to some other weight? * The things cast?

Great catches, any details on lure/presentations?

Not easy after the late october/November rains. After that, when water that is usually colored turns clear, you can almost forget about it. Factor in clear blue skies and little wind, luck and offerings to the spirits will be called for. This is a bank fishing perspective.

I like pickerel to. Most bass anglers I know hate the d**n things, but then those same anglers would get all excited about the chance to catch a pike. Why would that spot hold so many pickerel? It looks like a large pond, lake?

in-lines...

Where did you catch that? Pond, backwater?

Yes you can easily see the pattern difference between the chain pickerel and the northern pike, this is the easiest way to differentiate them I have found; fishing water where both are present, I always make sure to get a positive id even on little guys.

With all this chat about Chauncy, I should note that I won a tournament there. Never been there before, but my bud and I showed up and won the thing. Never been back. Winning bait was a black/chart. balsa crankbait. It was early summer but the weeds were still rising through the water column. Kicker came near that trail where the wind was blowing in on some rock structure. I could not get over that old mental hospital that overlooks the lake. Think of the confined souls that once gazed longingly upon Chauncey.

I can confirm they are in major rivers! The lake pike is a different beast though, in MA it seems kind of like unicorn hunting.

I would take it as a sign of a good spawn.

I also don't think you should get too hung up on casting angle. Forage like helgramites and bugs naturally kind of drift down current, but prey fish in the river can swim up, down, or across. A cast straight across current can be very productive. Disoriented or fleeing baitfish will flee any way they can, whether that is up current or down. River herring swim up current when they migrate. The answer really is try different casting angles when you can.

Hey, made some medium size spinners. The gold blade one is designed for a wake/bulge presentation.

Current is the key. If that river is fast or slow, tactics will differ. For example, in a slow shallow river, finding a narrow stretch with current and depth is great. There is only so much you can learn from text, I recommend you cover as much water as you can with a search bait, for example one day go as far upriver as possible, and back; the next day go far downriver, and back. You will find different current and cover situations and even different main river features. Hopefully you get some bites to then you can start really reading the water.

I got out saturday and the fall bite had begun. The air was hot yet crisp, and the blue sky yielded a light yet forceful wind. What I found was there was small bait hidden in the decaying weeds. The yellow perch were fearsome. I came to a kind of secluded spot near a rowing club and saw a bass swim off from the weeds. I ended up catching her along with three others, not giant but they would keep for sure. Came to another spot and the perch were prolific, may have caught a dozen or more. Had a bass go after a hooked perch as well. Its of note no white perch only yellow. Maybe the white perch are more in the brackish areas. Also I was able to get bites because I made a color change from bright white to black/gold, the water was clearer than usually and all the white was too much.

I read another inspiring report to, I am plotting to head to the surf later in the month! South of Cape Anne??

That looks quite epic, Mr. Aquarium; especially from the surf. This is the fall migration I reckon? South of the Canal?

Hey man I won't hold a gun to your head to go out and grind. Make the most of school/college and the fall bites will be there in future years to.

Hey guys, here are some images of my better bass, mid-late summer. All local river fish. You can see the lures, that is the only bait that consistently gets me bites. The old hunch back was the biggest at 18"; from a canoe.

9" Slug-go should be mentioned as well

What region do you fish? Near the Winthrop lakes ?

Most pickerel that are caught are caught as by-catch by bass anglers. The small/medium pickerel might not break you off because they are just teeth, no weight. A 4lb pickerel will be far more likely to snip you off because you have weight + teeth. If you are going out there to target pickerel (which few do) you should use some kind of leader material like if you were targeting the larger Esox. However targeting big pickerel in open water is fickle business. Pike and Musky lures will get their attention, but they will usually only bite very realistic presentations. I have considered that in very clear water, they may shy from a heavy wire leader.

It is fast and furious. There are big yachts, big party boats, infinite inexperienced kayakers, and rowing teams training for speed. If you want to just sit and jig- you will quite literally get run over!

I would recommend floating jerkbaits fished erratically around weeds for the pickerel. In the summer season they are very aggressive and have a strong reaction to an erratic minnow bait. Big pickerel can be difficult in the summer however, if you want a trophy you must ice fish.

Finesse is consistent, power fishing wins tournaments.