Northeast Fishing. Fresh Water Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, River Fishing, Lake Fishing, Pond Fishing, Ocean Fishing. NY Fishing, NJ Fishing, CT Fishing, PA Fishing, MA Fishing, MA Fishing, VT Fishing
Summer is one of the most exciting times for smallmouth bass fishing on the streams and small rivers in New York State. Rocky rivers with babbling small waterfalls and bubbling rapids make for excellent summer fishing.
If you've ever fished a New York river or stream that is entirely calm, you probably haven't had much luck. Now, put yourself 20-50 feet before or after a ripping current and you'll have the time of your life. Smallmouth bass need crave oxygen, as do their dinners. Small bait fish consistently get caught in the rip of streams and get shot out into deeper water where smallmouth should be awaiting the easy meal. Throw on a spinner and cast WITH the moving water. This should cause your spinner to flutter and look far more realistic.
Here's one of my favorite combos:
Another great method is to bait up with crawfish that you find hiding under rocks nearby. Throw these near rocks that are above the waterline and just let them fall. If there's a smallmouth anywhere within 10feet, it should immediate attack knowing the familiar sound.
If you're casting into any open waters with a lure, use something with a shine! Sunny days provide perfect smallmouth fishing. These fish constantly have their eyes looking at the top of the water and above to spot falling bugs. Cast into shallows on the edge of a shelf. If you hit the right spot, you'll literally see the bass swimming towards your lure from the shallows and jump at it before it hits the water!
The hudson river is loaded with all sorts of species. One of my favorite fish to target in the creeks/tributaries of the hudson river is Black Crappie. The tribs of the hudson hold some monster crappie if you're willing to hunt them down!
If there's one thing that's always bugged me, it's not being able to learn (online) how to fish a specific body of water for a specific species. Hopefully this acts as a nice intro to it. Glad to answer questions in comments.
Because the waters of the hudson river are incredibly murky at almost any time it's important to keep this in mind. Choose your jigs carefully! You should always fish with an arsenal of lures at your side.
The importance here is color and size.
Two simple rules: Dark day, dark color, bright day bright color. Big jig = big fish.
Pick up some of your favorite jigs, jig heads, and plastics. Here are a few of mine:
My absolute favorite jig is a pink or yellow 1/8oz jig head with a chartreuse 2" gulp minnow bait.
You should pick these up from Cabelas.com
Find structure! You'll be fishing yourself to sleep if you continue fishing the main body of the river or creeks. Any object that protrudes above the water in 10'+ of water will hold fish.
The Hudson has tides! 6 hour tides with a slack tide to separate.
When to fish?
Fish the first two hours of the outgoing and last two hours of the incoming. The majority of baits are getting washed through the tribs during these times. I haven't found that time of day makes any difference at all, but I generally fish first and last light.
How to fish?
Find that structure! Cast a jig into it, letting it sink 50% down. Without reeling, slightly pull your rod up cause the jig to move up and towards you. Then let it sink freely for a 1-2-3-4 count. This will give your jig the flutter/pause motion. Bites will happen on the flutter drop so when you pull your rod back on each pull, be ready to pull back just a bit further should you need to!
This Summer (2012) there has been an overwhelming number of sharks along the beaches of New Jersey. To most, this is scary stuff! But to me, this means an adrenaline rush for fishing.
In 2009 I set out for my first shark fishing experience and have been hooked ever since. To share the proof of how exciting sharks are, here's a video captured this summer!
Shark Fishing 101
Time to hit the water: August, September
Time of day: Dark'thirty (anytime between 9PM and 5am)
1. Get your equipment ready! You'll need a heavy action surf fishing rod (9 to 11ft) heavy action with a solid very strong reel (preferably bait runners) that can hold ALOT of line. Try to gauge up to 40lb test. Purchase a wire striper rig with a 7/0 hook and a handful of 4 to 6oz pyramid weights. You'll want a nice pair of VERY long pliers, a knife, and a handful of small glow-sticks (yes, glow sticks). Also, don't forget your sand spikes (rod holders - - these can be 2 - 3" wide 4 foot long PVC pipes that are slant-cut at the bottom).
2. Fresh Bait! Bunker is the bait of choice, pick up a good 5 or 6. Here is my favorite place to pick up bait down the Jersey Shore: http://www.grumpystackle.com/
3. Hit the beaches after dark, bring some chairs, a flash light or even head lanterns.
4. Slam those sand spikes down at least 18 inches. You shouldn't be able to pull them down by hand. If you can, so can the shark!
5. Tape the glow sticks to the top of your pole. Get it now?
6. Chunk the bait into thirds, bait up, set your drag pretty loose (the first hit will absolutely take your setup if you're drag is too tight).
7. Cast as far as you can with the weight and bait rigged up.
8. Wait and watch those glow sticks!
Sharking has been so good the past year or two due to the seals coming back so strong and the waters being so warm. Here's a video to get you amped up!
Disclaimer: This is dangerous! Be careful and be sure to speak with the bait shops for proper advice on catching, releasing sharks. I don't advise anyone do this type of activity unless you're experienced and take all proper precautions and safety measures into thought.
Recently I purchased a Future Beach kayak but realized it wasn't outfitted for fishing.
Here's what I did to turn my leisure activity kayak into a fishing machine! Finished Fishing Kayak:
1. Purchase and mount a Rod Holder -
Gander Mountain has a good number of rod holders. I would reccomend a plastic fishing rod holder with a slanted flush mountain. You might need to cut it down to fit in the kayak.
Here's a link to Gander's Rod Holders - Gander Mountain Rod Holders
I suggest mounting this into the kayak on either the left or right side just behind where you sit. Be sure the mount the fishing rod holder in a position that points the pole behind you!
2. Purchase A Cable Strap
Home Depot sells Cable Straps for electrical jobs. These actual make a great rod-positioner for your rod holder. This will keep the reed in one place so it doesn't rotate around in the rod holder while you're kayaking.
You'll need to drill out the areas where the nails are to accept screws. This will be screwed into the rod holder once it is mounted. Here's the product that would work perfectly
3. Purchase a bathroom tub handle.
Silly, but I mounted this to the side of my kayak to act as both a carrying handle, paddle holder, and even a place to tie a rope to docks! It's come in handy more than you could imagine.
Here's one, but you should consider a stainless steel version-
