Open Water in New England

[BWS OutDoors]

July 13 2008

I woke to a very strong wind that was on the face of the slowly approaching front and time to head for the lake in search of fish. There are three lakes fairly close to my house that I fish regularly with these rising gas prices keeping me near home. One had a tournament going on and was not going to go there, the other gets very busy early in the morning with water skiers and also I have a tough time there in the summer as opposed to spring and fall. So I went to the third lake which is a small body of water that usually only a couple of boats out there at a time. Continue here: http://backwoodssportsman.blogspot.com/

[BWS OutDoors]

July 17 2008

The fishing during my lunches, this weeks fishing trips have not been much to talk about as I am having problems finding a bass no matter where I have been trying. The lake that I frequent during lunch, I have not had the same success as last year and not quite sure what is going on there. The weeds are growing and not having a problem finding those and fishing them. The only major difference that I am seeing so far is that the water levels are 2-3 feet higher than they were last season and this is the only thing that I can think of contributing to the tough bites but maybe the forage isn’t there as well, don’t know.

I needed to get some bites so I put the bass gear down and went over to my ice fishing pond in search of panfish. Made my long walk around a good portion of the lake and armed with my ultralite with an orange/yellow T.H.E. Jig, wasn’t long and a few small sunfish were being caught. The size definitely wasn’t there and kept casting around trying to find better sizes until I hooked some wood and ended up breaking the line. Tied on a blue/yellow T.H.E. Jig and the bites started picking up better than the previous color. Was getting long into my time to be there and started walking back and stopped at one other spot that I never catch fish at. Casted over towards the overhanging branches and bang, the first nice sunfish came in. Casted back again, bite after bite and then it started dying down. After a number of sunfish and better sized ones at that, I figured I better get going as the action was going away. Just before leaving the water’s edge I was going to make a cast at one more spot until I seen a big black snake lying right next to the water and then that concluded my fishing for the day. All in all once changing the colors, the bites came in and actually a spot turned on that usually hasn’t produced.

[allingeneral]

Sounds like a good lunch break to me!

[BWS OutDoors]

July 19-26 2008

Summer time brings along with it family vacationing and we were fortunate to embark on our trip heading south. With camper hooked up and pointed in the southerly direction, Virginia was the destination and opportunities were waiting ahead of us. We were fortunate to be able to camp on the Chesapeake Bay and look out at the water from our camper. There was a totally different type of fishing going on there and one that I had found fascinating to sit and watch and learn the how’s and what’s to do to get some of these saltwater creatures.

The rest of the trip:
http://backwoodssportsman.blogspot.com/ ... -2008.html

[BWS OutDoors]

August 31 2008

The Labor Day holiday weekend found us camping at our favorite place in New Hampshire. Unfortunately when we do go camping the boat has to stay home as I am unable to tow both a camper and a boat. So I decided to bring along the kayak and also my underwater camera and I wanted to take a look around some of my favorite spots and see what was down there. By taking this opportunity to try this, with no fishing going on, forced me to do something that I have wanted to do in quite some time. Went out to the first spot which is a point that has rocks on the end of it and there was definitely baitfish activity there but didn’t see any bass cruising around. The water clarity on this lake was allowing me to get to around 25 feet deep before it would get to murky to make anything out. Moved over to a ridge that is lined with rocks but after scouring the bottom for a while there no activity was found. Then moved to my best spot and right away this area was teaming with life with baitfish all over the place as well as bass but these bass were 6 inch or less. Moved to a deep underwater point and didn’t see any fish activity but did see some trees as well and stumps that lined the bottom in this area. Moved once again to a spot that I frequent quite a bit and once again I had seen plenty of baitfish as well and a nice smallmouth and largemouth bass swimming in the area. Started noticing a pattern forming as to fish location and the only areas that I had seen any activity whatsoever there had to be weeds around because any rock or barren bottom areas were void of life. Figured that I better start heading back in so I decided to stop at the mouth of the arm that we were camping on. As soon as I lowered the camera down, life was everywhere and so were the bass. As I floated this area a school of nice smallmouth bass swam by and I was rotating the camera to see them again as I wanted to see how many there were in this school. As the camera was rotating, I caught the tail end of the school but following them were three very nice largemouth bass and this had made my whole experience with my camera so worth its weight in gold. I haven’t used my camera much at all as I will start using it in the boat, but my wanting to fish always takes over and the camera gets put away. But by going out on this day and not bringing a fishing rod along, forced me to do something that I had wanted to do for a long time and I feel now that anytime that I go camping, there is a new pastime to explore on the waters that we camp. I felt I had an understanding of what was going on down below the waters surface, but until you actually see it with your eyes, this opens up a whole new world and also educates you in the relationship of what these fish do in our lakes and ponds. I know that I am looking forward to many more trips out with my camera as well taking it along on the ice this winter. Now I just need to start recording what I am seeing and this will allow me to put videos and stories together to educate other anglers as to what fish are doing with the habitat that they live in as many fishers don’t get to see this and it really is something to watch.

BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com

[BWS OutDoors]

September 10 2008

Finally back on the water and really didn’t know what to expect for a bite as the previous day a major front had passed through and dropped the temps by 20 degrees. Weather was bluebird skies with a good breeze from the NW and temps were in the mid 60’s with water temps down to around 67 degrees. I wasn’t sure if the fall pattern had started yet but with the cold front that had gone through, decided to fish deep in the weeds.

Continue reading report here:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com

[BWS OutDoors]

September 14 2008

The fall weather has taken over and here in New England and we have also been feeling some of the effects of the hurricanes that are crossing this country. The rains have been falling and winds have been blowing, but at least the temps are very mild.

Read the rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

BackWoods Sportsman OutDoors
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com

[BWS OutDoors]

October 2 2008

The fall winds have started blowing and the leaves are beginning to change with the nights cooling with winter coming soon. It has been a while since wetting a line and was getting to be too much that I went to a local lake during lunch to catch a fish once again. Decided to try for some panfish and went to the lake that I ice fish frequently.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

[BWS OutDoors]

October 5 2008

Fall is definitely in the air here in New England as I had started my day on the lake in 41 degree air temps. Luckily there wasn’t any wind and the lake was like glass with steam rising off of the waters surface. Water temps are hovering right around 56 degrees in this particular lake as the color of the water is fairly murky with about 2 feet of visibility and the is allowing it to retain some heat from the rays of the sun.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8BZZt0nXFE

[BWS OutDoors]

October 8 2008

I have been very fortunate to have lakes close by to my place of employment and this allows me to get away during my lunch time to clear my head and be able to think things out. Today was another beautiful day here in New England with temps around 70 and the sun shining as well as little to no wind to contend with. Decided to got to my favorite panfish lake and see if their activity has picked up at all.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

[BWS OutDoors]

October 9 2008

Another beautiful day here in New England and why not spend a little time seeing what the fish are doing once again. Decided to head back to the same lake as the previous day and noticed that the wind was a bit stronger today with temps around 73 with a nice fall day. I have four places along this lake that I usually target and go to the furthest one first and then work my way back towards the truck. Was fishing once again with T.H.E. Jig in the blue/chartreuse color pattern and once arriving at the first location, with the wind blowing in there wasn’t any action happening there.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

[BWS OutDoors]

October 12 2008

I am going to have to start this report out by saying that half way to the lake I realized that I had forgotten my camera at home and any angler knows what happens when you leave your camera at home.

With that said, this morning was one of those beautiful fall New England mornings with air temps at 45 degrees, no wind at all and clear sky’s for as far as you could see. There were a couple of trailers in the lot already and this time of year is great as the lake is void of boat traffic and as each week passes, it gets to be less all the time. The lake is still high for this time of year and never got over to the dam area to see if they are letting the water out yet.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

[BWS OutDoors]

October 15 2008

With the upcoming cold front heading in our direction, figured I better get out there and give it a try as things may be a little different after the front passes. This was another beautiful fall day with air temps in the low 60’s and a light breeze blowing into the shoreline that I planned on fishing. Started at my usual last location and the sunfish were in the feeding mood and size was definitely there. Was fishing T.H.E. Jig under a float about 14 inches and fished mainly near any wood that was in the water.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KsZdiqNUsk

[BWS OutDoors]

October 27 2008

What a stressful week this has been and getting to the water and doing some fall fishing was desperately needed to clear out my head. Decided that since there was no wind what so ever, I wanted to go to the reservoir that I frequent quite often, that I fish from the shore throughout the season to see how I do out on the lake. This body of water is loaded with smallmouth bass and they were the target that I wanted to catch.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the trip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTzPE67plNk

[BWS OutDoors]

November 3 2008

Since things are slowing way down for me lately, I decided that I needed some water time to clear my head once again. Took the boat over to my favorite bass lake and of course my intermittent motor fuel pump issue showed up again and was unable to get the motor started. Went back home and loaded the kayak and equipment into the truck and headed off to my local crappie pond. This is a little early yet for kayak fishing and me but since I did not have a choice why not.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Cx2aENBgs