So, here is the report:
In chronological order of event:
1. Meet with the PickerelAddict at around 9:00 a.m. at the (aptly named) Denny's in Northfield, NJ. Prior to meeting I picked up a NJ fishing license for an outrageous fee. PA was waiting in the lot when i arrived and he looked lean, mean and very hungry. After watching him polish off breakfast for three (he eats a lot), we headed out.
2. 1st spot was a series of small lakes that were trout approved. I have no idea why they would put trout in this little ponds, no flowing water and clearly swampy. Also, they were marked "no fishing" until April 17, 2009 the 1st day of NJ trout. Of course we made a few casts before scurring away.
3. Next spot the PickerelAddict promised fish - i struck 1st with a decent pickerel on a rat-L-trap and the mighty Pickerel Addict braced himself against the howling wind and cold while casting around the dam area. I poked around a little bit and after about an hour switched over to a float and jig for crappie. Had a few hits and then moved to an area with an overhanging tree - found lots of fish there. For the next hour I had a fish on almost every cast - landing about 6 bass and the same number of pickerel. Nothing big, but good action.
The PickerelAddict had technical difficulties and snagged up his rig a few times before losing it. He missed a few fish as well.
4. We moved to a new spot on the same lake (after a coffee stop) and PickerelAddict landed two big pickerel. I landed a few, lost a popper and almost fell in.
Oh yeah, PickerelAddict also snagged some old fishing line and reeled in a Rappala deep diving shad rap. (The water here was maybe 4 feet deep - who the heck was throwing that deserved to loose it)
5. Finished up a an old quarry pond (Kettle type pond for your NE guys) where I managed 3 small bass. The water was a bluegreen and teh bass were almost white - crazy stuff.
At the last spot (it was fricking cold) there was an older man with a fat ass black lab. He saw us getting out and asked if we minded that his fat old dog was not ona leash. We said no problem. he then let the dog swim in the pond and walked it all over the place. Every time the dog came anywhere near us this guy would yell "the dog is behind you" like it was ready to bite us. The dog was just slowwwly walking around so i never figured out what the big concern was.
I had a blast exploring South Jersey with the Pickerel Addict
And, it is snowing here today!
