NJ Hawgs

[Scott]

For those of you who think you need to travel to somewhere more "Southern" to hook up with big ol' bass, there are plenty right here in NJ.

Don't be fooled, there are not as many big fish here as there is down yonder, and they are not easy to catch. But, sometimes people get lucky. For example: http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/reports/107333.htm

However, my big fish theory is proving true for me so far: "Big fish don't get to be big by being smart; they get big by being greedy."

For reference, the small bass in my livewell is 15". The other two were 21.5" and 21.25". Twins, I think and both around 6 pounds. All fish were released so they can get bigger... I had a bigger one on, and lost it. That one may have gone 8 pounds... Ah, the one that got away!!!

My goal, nay, mission is to catch the next state record LMB.

I know where they are, I know what they like to eat, and I've got a pretty good idea how to get 'im.

I've hooked into bunches of pigs so far (like in the pic) but not the "big 'un" I'm after.

It's important to have a goal in life...

**Disclaimer** While these particular fish were not caught on a fly per se .. ah, but that would be giving a secret away...

 

[Empty Creel]

Great post! I think that theory of yours has some merit. Good luck on your mission.

 

[Fly Ty R]

For a better shot at the next state record LMB, you should travel south . Down here there is a longer growing season than up north, and ice-over in the winter isn't a normal thing (though it has been for the past few years), so our fish tend to run bigger. I catch most of my hawg bass in the cold months, sometimes wading through the ice to get them (especially recently). I know of several lakes (& rivers) down here that should and do hold bass over 11lb. We also get some monster pickerel too, but that's another post . Good luck on your quest and I wish you all the best!

 

[Scott]

Ah well I didn't say where I caught those fish, now did I?

I will say it was in NJ...

 

[Black Ghost]

Nice bass

are you getting them on flys ? What type of flys do you mainly fish for them and what size fly rod an line type ?

I have been targetting bass lately myself needed a change from trout, salmon, and steelhead.

Have you tried the Gartside Gurglers yet for bass ?

Don't worry I am not in NJ anymore but the western GLs so I will not be seen in any of your hot spots

 

[Scott]

The basis of my bass philosophy is this:

1. 90% of all bass caught are within 3' of the bottom.

2. Bass usually prefer to take a bait (fly, lure, whatever) that is suspended off the bottom - even if only one end is suspended - over one sitting flat on it.

3. It can be as important to "match the hatch" with bass as it is with trout.

4. Big baits do catch bigger fish, but there is a time & place for finesse.

Thus, when using a fly rod, I use a sinking tip line. Using a loop connection, I attach a weighted tip section to the end of the line. Use a level (non-tapered) leader. I use 10-15# flurocarbon line. Keep the leader short, about 4-6' tops.

If fishing deeper than 2-3 feet, I use an additional weight, about 18" up from the fly. I like to use a bullet sinker and "peg" it to the line by tying an overhand knot in a rubber band around the line, and trimming the ends. This holds the sinker in place without damaging the line.

What this setup does is essentially create a Carolina rig using fly gear.

For flies, some excellent patterns to use are ones that you can buy from Orvis, like the worm fly and crayfish jig. It is no secret that one of the most productive big-fish baits ever is the "Jig N' Pig".

The patterns I use at the moment I would prefer to keep to myself...

I will say that those of you who have seen my other posts regarding flies on this site know that I like to create "Hybrids", selecting prominent features from several differnt styles to create new ones...

The "baits" I'm using for bass on the fly are hybrids, but not like you might think...

I will also add that the gear I'm using at the moment is also hybrid, in that I'm using conventional casting rods & reels, not fly gear.

My experience as a "trout geek" has help considerably in helping me catch bass when others aren't.

 

[Fly Ty R]

Hmmmm, did you take a little drive down my way...?????

I agree with you completely about big bass being deep. I only catch small bass on topwater. My biggest on top was about 3lb. They are fun, especially on the fly, but not record breakers for sure! I really don't fly fish too much for LMB, though when I do I use only a couple of patterns. No secrets here, as there are all well known fly types . First is an unweighted zonker-type, like a plastic worm. Second is a fluffy marabou or rabbit strip deep clouser-esque jig, like jig-n-pig. Third is a topwater deer hair popper or slider. That's about it. No need to get fancy shmancy . On special occasions, like when the bass are jumping after dragonflies, I'll cast a hopper or big drake dry fly right to where they jumped. Usually they come right back up and slam it. Though I could probably use anything and they'd hit it.

With the spinning rod I use a big black & purple jig with a black worm or craw trailer 70% of time (as most of our ponds down here are tannin stained), mostly in the winter. 20% I will use a spinnerbait of some sort with a worm trailer, fished deep like a jig, and the other 10% I use assorted weighted (Texas or Carolina rigged) & unweighted plastic worms, topwater poppers and plugs, and Panther Martin spinners during the other parts of the year (though for the past few years I really haven't LMB or freshwater fished outside of late fall/winter at all).

 

[Black Ghost]

Thanks for the general tips fellows actually I am a hard core steelhead, trout, and salmon fly guy for the last 24 years and virtually ignored the large and small mouth fishing around me, and theres lots of it.

So I have been getting into the bass fly fishing this year:

Mainly use floating line but will loop to loop a sink tip in deep areas. Heres what I have been using:

1. Zonker type leech flys cone heads and non weighted in various colors to imitate leeches and worms

2. Gartside Gurglers & Bombers - surface flys

3. Streamer bait fish patterns to imitate local forage fish.

Its been a nice change from all of the cold water river wading for the andramous species. Don't have to carry as much stuff either.

There is some really good river smallmouth fishing out here in addition to the lakes with large mouths for the most part. Heck Lake Michigan has some huge smallmouth in them which are underfished but they are very hard to locate as you can imagine in a body of water almost 400 miles long and 80-90 miles wide most of its length.



BG

 

[Scott]

Smallies like to go deep, too - probably too deep in the summer for fly gear. I met a fella earlier this summer who said he caught a fat smallie vertical jigging with a spoon in over 60' of water - 3' off the bottom!

He said he marked a small school of big fish with his sonar, and thought hey were lakers until he looked at 'em with an underwater camera. Ah, technology...

 

[Black Ghost]

Yep and in Lake Michigan there is a whole lot of inside sea to go too. I fish them in the rivers here though but we know there are big ones in Lake Michigan that no one is touching.



BG

 

[Fly Ty R]

Biggest smallie I've ever seen in person was caught in Lake Ontario about 10 years ago. The guy came in from an offshore charter with a few 20lb+ salmon and this monster smallie. I asked him what size it was and he said it was about 7lbs on his scale. I doubt I'll ever see one that big again.