Had a couple hours to hit the lower J. during my travels in capital region yesterday. . .
WEATHER: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s.
WATER: 5.5' at the Newport Gauge with mild turbidity; 52 degrees F., confirmed by thermometer. Typical conditions for April.
Surprisingly heavy angling pressure - I expected less on a Friday during trout season. Nevertheless, the decent weather really has everybody out. The Susky also had a lot of boat anglers out as well.
HATCHES?FORAGE: Some sporadic caddis with no fish activity on them (bass this time of year have little interest in hatches). There were some large swarms of shiner minnows, roughly 2" in length in some areas right against the shoreline; didn't see any fish chasing them.
I was fishing from shore at my favorite milk run cold weather spots. Got a 14" on the first cast and that first section was on fire with multiple hook-ups and misses; biggest was a fat 18.5 inch. Most fish were on current breaks (typical) or somewhat out in the current. All were caught on a black over orange weighted streamer. The subsequent spots I hit didn't produce and the gear guys in boats at those sections also had no action, although one group of guys I talked to at the boat ramp had a stellar day.
Overall, it was a mixed bag but it felt great to lean into some big smallies.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s.
WATER: 5.5' at the Newport Gauge with mild turbidity; 52 degrees F., confirmed by thermometer. Typical conditions for April.
Surprisingly heavy angling pressure - I expected less on a Friday during trout season. Nevertheless, the decent weather really has everybody out. The Susky also had a lot of boat anglers out as well.
HATCHES?FORAGE: Some sporadic caddis with no fish activity on them (bass this time of year have little interest in hatches). There were some large swarms of shiner minnows, roughly 2" in length in some areas right against the shoreline; didn't see any fish chasing them.
I was fishing from shore at my favorite milk run cold weather spots. Got a 14" on the first cast and that first section was on fire with multiple hook-ups and misses; biggest was a fat 18.5 inch. Most fish were on current breaks (typical) or somewhat out in the current. All were caught on a black over orange weighted streamer. The subsequent spots I hit didn't produce and the gear guys in boats at those sections also had no action, although one group of guys I talked to at the boat ramp had a stellar day.
Overall, it was a mixed bag but it felt great to lean into some big smallies.
