2015 Season - Kickoff
Took a trip up to my favorite fishing spot in the world to kick off my 2015 spring/summer season. A private 100+ acre lake in Sullivan County, NY. A mecca for largemouth, perch, chain pickerel and other panfish. This is my zen spot for largemouth. There is also a bald eagle's nest at the far corner of the lake. I've seen eagles every time I've been up there, except this time.
This was one of the first really sunny and warm days of the spring, so the water was still a little cold for the bucketmouths. My boy Ned and I only caught some pickerel. We were fishing with everything from live worms to weedless spinners to crankbaits to top popper frogs. Nothing was hitting except for a couple of chain pickerel.
Normally I consider any day that I do not land a largemouth a bust, but given the beautiful chain pickerel I hit... I'd say it was a great day. I've never caught such a big pike like this one (see pic). It was a solid 12 inches. The chain pattern was flawless. It put up a fun little fight although he only hit my rapala crankbait no more than 15 feet from the boat as I casted close to shore underneath some overhanging shrubbery.
Time well spent with one of my best friends, some sunshine and being 2 hours away from the madness of New York City = a great day to start off my 2015 season.
Can't wait till the water heats up and the lilly pads start blooming because that's when the largemouths start hitting on this lake like you wouldn't believe.
-AP