Fox Sports

November 27, 2008 - Salt

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers! For the dedicated angler the salt is still producing fish. Over the past week we've made a few trips to the NJ coast, and have found fish each time. The action is not full-on-blitz conditions, but rather a put-in-your-time type of fishery right now. Maybe if we get some NE winds, then maybe all hell with break loose. One there there is no shortage of is bait - - sand eels currently stretch along the entire north and central NJ beach front unlike anything we've in years. One item of note though is the lack of peanut bunker. Maybe they are staying off the beach in deeper/warmer water, but everyone we've spoken too has been looking, and as of yet, come up empty on the peanut bunker search/front. We hope to hit it a few more times before the fat lady starts to belt it out!

Surprise snow down here in SE PA on Friday. Winterwonderland'ish. Maybe this is a pre-cursor of things to come this winter...we shall see.

We are looking to hit the salt over the weekend, so be sure to check back for a report!

Stepped out for a little bit on a SE PA wild trout water. Water is very clear and low all over the state, which means tough fishing. Combo these non-fisherman-friendly conditions, with spawning trout, and you can forget about it. At one point I witnessed a handful of frisky males charging at each other, trying to become the king of the redd. Suffice it to say, the water was full of sex. So instead of fishing, I snapped some snapped some pics. Pasted below are just a couple. On the left is a pic of an active bed. You can just make out the shape of a trout at the top end. Pic'ed to the right is a big-time colored up female (about a 16" trout). The white spot must be a heron scare. These birds appear to now be in full-on over-populated mode. They are everywhere and coming to a stream near you!

Now is the time to be careful when wading your favorite wild trout water here in PA. For most of PA the spawn in most of PA is on, or already may have passed but down here in SE PA the spawn usually takes place mid-to-late November. So in other words, it is go-time! However, it is surely far from a set-your-watch type of activity.

Tell tale sign of activity is a very bright colored gravel depression, and a residual bright gravel build-up immediately downstream from the depression. If you are lucky enough, you might even see a female on the redd, and the pesky males hanging near-by. To the right is a pic of a redd taken a few years ago on Valley Creek. If you look closely enough, you can see the female at the top end of the bed. Tread lightly!

It was not for the faint of heart - - the winds were howling out of the north/northeast, and the waves were big and pushy…sliding you across the rock. But if you trusted your feet and your korkers - - you had all the fish you ever wanted right at your feet.

Although our preferred method of getting into fall blitz bass is via the fly rod...there are those days when it is just not in the cards. This last outing was one of them. This is why you bring one spin rod along for the ride.

As a recap - - we hit the beach shortly after sun-up and were immediately greeted by a solid north wind. Thought the truck door was going to blow-off when opening it! This was not the warm/windless pre-dawn SE PA weather we left. We knew the wind was supposed to pick-up, and turn NE, but this was a little much. Throwing fly was not happening. So we went to plan b - spin - and began to work the beachfront with rubber shads. In no time we were into schoolie bass. The key was to work the wash, and walk with the current while working the lure. This allowed for a tight line and a better presentation.

After this action died we began to work the rocks. And boy did it payoff. About two-hours into the outgoing tide, the jetty exploded with fish. Actually the fish were probably there and feeding extremely well at high tide, we just could not get out to them. Too rough, so we had to wait for the tide to drop. The rough water though, made for extremely fishy-looking water. Lots of suds, and lots of pull. This is obviously why the bass were feeding so well. It was crazy, but well worth it. Can't wait for more.