SmallieKing7

Currently in Steel City NROTC as a Marine Option, also a student in college studying a biology on the pre-med path for after my time in service

Hello everyone. In about a week, I am travelling up to West Point to see my twin brother after he is finished his summer training at the Military Academy. While we are up there, he asked if I could take him fishing while he has some free time off. Local ponds/lakes contain LMB, pike, pickerel, sunfish, perch, and bullheads. He seemed interested in targeting pike and pickerel as well as the usual bass, and is expecting me to help him unwind and catch some fish, but I have no idea how to fish for either species. Any advice for what lures to use, cover/structure to target, and time of day to go fishing? Will 20 lb mono/braid with a steel leader suffice, or will I need to upgrade? Thank you.

Was fishing for bluegill, but I'll take this as well

Zman Finesse TRD in coppertreuse- by far the most reliable bait for me

Never seem to have any luck on a Whopper Plopper or Buzz bait.

The trip will be specifically for fishing, however we are not looking to target any specific fish, we just want to experience catching a variety of species and have fun. What other lakes are you suggesting? I'm always open to new ideas!

Makes sense. Thanks for the info!

Has anyone had experience fishing the Finger Lakes in New York State? A couple of friends and I are trying to put together a trip together to Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes region in late May 2021. I've already scoured the internet pretty heavily looking for fishing reports, especially in late spring. Found a couple sites, but most were extremely outdated. I was wondering if anyone has been to any of the Finger Lakes, or Canandaigua specifically, and if they'd be willing to offer any advice for fishing in the area? We will be targeting everything: Bass mainly, but also pike, perch, and salmon if we can find a boat suitable for trolling. Please let me know if I'm missing anything in this post.

For the smaller ones (1/16 and 1/32) I love to put a Berkley Gulp minnow on, or a Trout Magnet to target mainly giant panfish and smaller bass.

This is incredible, thank you! I am watching the videos at this moment, and will definitely check out that River Keeper website (you're right, I have never heard of him before). Would you mind PM'ing me this "tumble" technique you're talking about? I could definitely use the advice for river fishing.

I've been having the same exact problem. The public parks that I fish have just been hammered, so I've had to downsize significantly: Ned Rigs and Rooster Tails have been the only thing working all year

This absolutely helps, thank you so much! I'll definitely have to start scouting some rivers virtually, then make a trip. I actually have some of these tubes already, but I might have to pick up some more. I'll also be on the lookout for one of those bait casters, but I'm a little tight on cash right now (saving most of it for college). I always do an "in-water" release whenever I catch fish, but I'll be extra careful! I know BR has one of these fishing logs, but I can't find it, does anyone know where it is? I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for that, thank you!

Honestly, I just love catching smallmouth (and largemouth don't get me wrong), doesn't matter what size they are to me. These streams you fish at look a lot like those near me. Now that I can compare your spots to mine, I think I'll be able to find a spot. Thank you.

I'm in Columbia, although most of the time I'm over in York fishing the Susky. There's lots of trout streams near there so I think those would be the best?

Hey BR, this is my first post, so if I'm breaking any unspoken rules, please let me know. Anyway, I've started to get interested in finding secluded creeks to fish for smallmouth. I fish on the lower Susquehanna River, but most of the time, its either flooded, in a drought, swarmed by mayflies, or the smallie population is destroyed by huge channel catfish. From BR, I've caught more fish this summer than any other, but they've mainly been 12" or less using a ZMan TRD. I'm trying to find good creeks nearby which could hold smallmouth, but I just don't know where to start and what to look for in a good smallmouth creek. There are a lot of creeks near me that are stocked with trout, so I'm trying to start there, but I don't know whether that'll affect there being smallmouth or not. Please help.