Riqiv Posted June 13, 2021 Posted June 13, 2021 I used to fish with my dad and Seneca Lake and in Holly near my home town of Rochester near the Erie Canal for bass in a quarry. For the last few years I’ve been in a couple friends boats in Kensico Reservoir fishing trout and sometimes in the Long Island Sound for blackfish. The thing is, I wanted to fish on my own steam, without a car, with a bike and a pannier. After about a year and a half of purchasing the wrong lures and fishing the wrong spots I started to figure it out. I take the Metro North train from NYC up to Golden’s Bridge or Valhalla and have been catching smallies and largemouth. I try to fish in the spots that are away from the boats and the people. I sometimes wear cleats that strap to my fishing boots in a couple of the spots I fish that are 45° inclines and I’ve actually slid down and broken a rod. Happily, I have it down to a science now, but wanted to expand my territory. I also want to learn how to navigate the boat in the Long Island Sound and use a fishfinder. I just purchased a portable fishfinder and had to find a place to learn how to use it. So Wampus Pond is a half hour bike ride from Mount Kisco train station and I thought it would be the perfect place to study and learn. They have jon boats there and plenty of fallen trees, weeds and lily pads. So I caught a small fish by a fallen tree trunk (what kind of fish is that fellas?) with live worm and an octopus hook. Seeing I brought the fishfinder I took a few things out of my pannier, and unfortunately that included my drop shot weights. I wouldn’t let that stop me so I took out a wingnut and used that as a weight. It turned out to be exactly 1/8 of an ounce, which is what I needed. So I did a little pitching in the holes in the mats with that set up and caught a nice bass. It’s all catch and release, but I really don’t mind. The fish I do catch in other places I fillet and eat. Next week I’ll probably go to FDR State Park with some friends. I did almost catch a trout from the Kensico shore but I was fishing off of a landlocked rock and my line broke. So I bought a collapsible net for next time. Anyway, that’s my story and I often come here to seek information on bass fishing. So I thought it was about time I introduced myself. Great forum and thank you for all the help! 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted June 13, 2021 Super User Posted June 13, 2021 Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ Nice introduction/report A-Jay Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted June 13, 2021 Super User Posted June 13, 2021 Hello and welcome to the forum. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 14, 2021 Global Moderator Posted June 14, 2021 Welcome! Quote
Riqiv Posted June 14, 2021 Author Posted June 14, 2021 A friend of mine says the smaller fish in the picture it looks like a pregnant crappie. Quote
YoTone Posted June 14, 2021 Posted June 14, 2021 Welcome dude. My in laws live by Kensico reservoir and ive made some attempts at it from the bank but never caught anything. Theres a small lake called silver lake near there that ive caught some quality bass. 1 Quote
Riqiv Posted June 15, 2021 Author Posted June 15, 2021 18 hours ago, YoTone said: Welcome dude. My in laws live by Kensico reservoir and ive made some attempts at it from the bank but never caught anything. Theres a small lake called silver lake near there that ive caught some quality bass. Bank fishing in the big (lake like) reservoirs is difficult. I don’t see very many bent rods. Riding around on a bike to find the right spot and having a boat on a ressie are very different animals. In Kensico I caught an undersized smallie and the trout that I almost caught was after bass season when it was cooler. There are many parts of the Muscoot reservoir that look like a slim river that if you could find the right spot (I fish a shaded cove in the afternoon and towards dusk a weedy area 5 minutes away), I’ve had success taking home fish to eat. I can’t tell you how many different spots I’ve tried, sometimes with frogs or lures but I’ve had the most long luck with a wacky worm and a Gamakatsu 2/0 octopus hook. I’ve also learned not to jerk the hook out of the fish’s mouth when using an octopus hook, it kind of sets itself. I do quite a bit of casting and will speed up my retrieval near shore because of weeds (not a lot of dead sticking unless I’m eating lunch). I also know where I can get hung up on a fallen tree. I’ve also had luck with the Z-man crawZ on a 2/0 round type 1/8 ounce Ultra Head weighted hook, because they float. I don’t use them a lot because they melt together when it’s hot. Not much luck with a Texas rig or weedless hooks. In Wampus Pond I was pitching a dropshot into the holes in the mats (they’re not really mats, more like weeds and lily pads). Mike "Ike" Iaconelli has great videos showing that sort of fishing with a spinning rod instead of a baitcaster. I also realize if I go to Minnesota in someone’s boat, they will tell me how to rig my line and what bait to use. It will be completely different than what I found works for me here. I’ve only got a couple of spots that work for bass after a year and a half and that’s why I’m going to FDR State Park to do some catch and release this Saturday. It’s a lot of fun not to have to rely on someone’s car and boat and come and leave when I want, even though I appreciate the people who bring me out on the ressies (for trout) or the Sound (for blackfish). I plan to expand my areas this year by going on a paddle kayak for flounder in North Shore Long Island and South Shore Long Island (Sily Lily w/friends to rent a boat) and learning how to use a fishfinder so I can take friends out and set my waypoints. Listen to me, I’m talking like a fisherman ? Quote
Riqiv Posted June 15, 2021 Author Posted June 15, 2021 19 hours ago, YoTone said: Welcome dude. My in laws live by Kensico reservoir and ive made some attempts at it from the bank but never caught anything. Theres a small lake called silver lake near there that ive caught some quality bass. Ohhh, and thanks for the tip on Silver Lake! I’ll try that out within the next couple weeks. Quote
Riqiv Posted June 15, 2021 Author Posted June 15, 2021 22 hours ago, YoTone said: Welcome dude. My in laws live by Kensico reservoir and ive made some attempts at it from the bank but never caught anything. Theres a small lake called silver lake near there that ive caught some quality bass. YoTone, if you get this message, let me know what kind of rig you’re using on Silver Lake and what size and type of hook. Thanks! Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted July 2, 2021 BassResource.com Administrator Posted July 2, 2021 Welcome Home! We're glad you're here. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.