Hey everyone,

looking to catch some smb and pike out of the passaic, i will launch my kayak and explore some sections of it. I will for sure try a ned rig, maybe a paddle tail. I also want to try catching pike with some perch, as someone has told me that once had actually eaten his as he was reeling it in. 

Use a wire leader for the pike. ?

 

Rigging an underspin on the paddletail will up your odds of pike in my opinion, and could help with the smallmouth too. I usually want some sort of flash when fishing for pike. 

7 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Rigging an underspin on the paddletail will up your odds of pike in my opinion, and could help with the smallmouth too. I usually want some sort of flash when fishing for pike. 

I actually do have some underspins, i will for sure throw that. 

 

7 hours ago, Further North said:

Use a wire leader for the pike. ?

 

Do you think that this will deter fish from biting? Either smb or pike?

2 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

I actually do have some underspins, i will for sure throw that. 

 

Do you think that this will deter fish from biting? Either smb or pike?

the Passaic is dirty enough that they won’t see it. 

6 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

Do you think that this will deter fish from biting? Either smb or pike?

No, I catch 100s a year of both with leaders.

 

I've even started using light (13#) wire on my bass fly poppers, got tired of losing them.

 

...the option is to donate lures to the pike.

3 hours ago, Further North said:

No, I catch 100s a year of both with leaders.

 

I've even started using light (13#) wire on my bass fly poppers, got tired of losing them.

 

...the option is to donate lures to the pike.

Thats true i guess, i just dont want to lose chances at bass, but ill try it out. What leader should i get? Size and everything i guess

does it change the way the lure presents itself? 

6 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

Thats true i guess, i just dont want to lose chances at bass, but ill try it out. What leader should i get? Size and everything i guess

does it change the way the lure presents itself? 

I use tieable leader and tie it into the main line directly (Rio is a good choice, as is AFW Surflon, there are others - you'll be pleased with how supple the leader is).

If I'm using braid (all my gear rods) I the leader - around 12" - 18" - into the main line with an FG knot.  This avoids having a swivel at the top of leader that bangs into your tip guide all the time.

 

If I'm using mono (all my fly rods), I use an Alberto knot, same length leader.  This works for fluorocarbon as well.

At the business end, depending on what we're talking about, I either tie direct to the hook (things like swim baits and poppers, etc.), a clip (I use nothing but Mustad Fastach), or a swivel clip (again, Mustad Fastach).  All are tied in with a Perfection Loop, which helps retain the lure/fly action.

There's a couple exceptions, for me:  I don't bother with a steel leader on inexpensive things like Senko's or Ned Rigs, and I use single strand nickel titanium leaders (Knot-2-Kinky) on some lures: In-line spinners, spoons, safety-pin style spinners...anything that relies on a tight line pulling it through the water.  You have to get used to the idea that the knots are going to look terrible - like they won't hold - but they will.  I have one that's well over a season old.

I've also been experimenting with the single strand on some of fly rods, and I like it there as well...it's stiffer that the multi-strand and helps "turn over" the flies.

As to your last question:  If the leaders do impact lure/bait/fly action, the fish I'm catching don't seem to care...

Others may disagree, and that's OK; it's not a competition.

Are you planning for the spring? A spinnerbait is a great lure for both smallies and pike. Good for covering water and finding spots. I would save the live bait fishing for when you get familiar with spots you find, so you don't waste time soaking bait in an unproven area.  

On 12/15/2022 at 11:02 PM, Gregorym38 said:

Hey everyone,

looking to catch some smb and pike out of the passaic, i will launch my kayak and explore some sections of it. I will for sure try a ned rig, maybe a paddle tail. I also want to try catching pike with some perch, as someone has told me that once had actually eaten his as he was reeling it in. 

I don’t know what size perch you are looking at using but they do make quick strike rigs. As far as fish being leader shy don’t think into it to much.  Blade baits are far from natural looking. So are hooks, jig heads, lips, etc. I am not saying it can’t make a difference but from what I have seen is most times a steel leader does not. 

7 hours ago, MassBass said:

Are you planning for the spring? A spinnerbait is a great lure for both smallies and pike. Good for covering water and finding spots. I would save the live bait fishing for when you get familiar with spots you find, so you don't waste time soaking bait in an unproven area.  

Yeah i do plan on hitting it in the spring, but its winter now. I go to college so i am only really home on breaks. 

 

4 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

I don’t know what size perch you are looking at using but they do make quick strike rigs. As far as fish being leader shy don’t think into it to much.  Blade baits are far from natural looking. So are hooks, jig heads, lips, etc. I am not saying it can’t make a difference but from what I have seen is most times a steel leader does not. 

The perch would probably be whatever i can catch on a small pheobe or kastmaster 

@Gregorym38 ahh gotcha I didn’t know if you were planning on anything specific. I’d just circle hook them through the back then. The big thing people do with ice fishing is use hotdogs on quick strike rigs as well. I don’t know if anyone does it in open water.

On 12/18/2022 at 4:41 AM, Darnold335 said:

@Gregorym38 ahh gotcha I didn’t know if you were planning on anything specific. I’d just circle hook them through the back then. The big thing people do with ice fishing is use hotdogs on quick strike rigs as well. I don’t know if anyone does it in open water.

Gotcha. Do you know when it all starts freezing over? I want to launch my kayak next week sometime near the piece meadow

10 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Gotcha. Do you know when it all starts freezing over? I want to launch my kayak next week sometime near the piece meadow

I do not know. you can’t really put a date on it. Sometimes it will never freeze other times by Jan it’s frozen. Moving water freezes last. I don’t think anything as frozen over yet though. I mainly fish the susky just have dabbled in some NJ fishing. 

7 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

Gotcha. Do you know when it all starts freezing over? I want to launch my kayak next week sometime near the piece meadow

 

I don't think the passaic will freeze in most places.  It will be very cold though.  You'll want a drysuit this time of year on moving water in case you dump, and always wear a PFD.  Last I checked, all of the streams around were about 38-42 and the lakes were almost there.  

8 hours ago, Gregorym38 said:

Gotcha. Do you know when it all starts freezing over? I want to launch my kayak next week sometime near the piece meadow

we have an answer now. It will freeze this weekend. 
 

 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

we have an answer now. It will freeze this weekend. 
 

 

d**n!! I am at college but planned to fish it when i get home, maybe 12/21-12/23, then anytime after christmas until jan 15. I probably wouldnt launch the kayak much, but know a few spots that i want to try shoreline fishing. People have been telling me that they are biting on the jerkbait, and i ordered a few. Very excited to see how that turns out, but if its frozen i probably cant fish it. Anyone know a good spot to fish in the winter? 

Ponds and lakes have been getting skim ice overnight. With this weekends weather they are going to ice up solid I expect.  If it stays that cold for another 2 or 3 days there will be 2” of ice and that won’t go anywhere before you go back to school. You might get lucky and get a day on the river before it’s locked up but this would be cold enough to do it. It’s that time of year for us northerners to clean out the tackle bags, strip line off reels, and inventory baits. 

22 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I don't think the passaic will freeze in most places.  It will be very cold though.  You'll want a drysuit this time of year on moving water in case you dump, and always wear a PFD.  Last I checked, all of the streams around were about 38-42 and the lakes were almost there.  

I was going to mention that kayaking a river in water that is almost ice is very dangerous, chance you will die if you flip. 

12 hours ago, MassBass said:

I was going to mention that kayaking a river in water that is almost ice is very dangerous, chance you will die if you flip. 

Yeah for sure, i would probably just stick to the shore during the cold. Think there will be any good days to fish?? I also want to hit round valley reservoir

On 12/21/2022 at 12:13 AM, Gregorym38 said:

Yeah for sure, i would probably just stick to the shore during the cold. Think there will be any good days to fish?? I also want to hit round valley reservoir

you may want to watch the reports or ask someone on the fb group about the Valley when you’re ready to go. It takes a lot to freeze but It’s not going to be above freezing the whole next week and we are starting at 3 degrees Saturday. I suspect there will be enough ice at the shoreline to stop fishing.