Fly Fishing Start

So really this sunny was not caught in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. It was caught in Weequahic Park, NJ, but I wanted to post it on my prospect park blog because I first got the notion to try fly-fishing by watching a fishing vet at prospect park. I mean this is how we all got our start right, by watching someone else.  He was really one of the few that I have ever seen bold enough to fly fish in an urban lake, and was nice enough to provide some info on the sport. As I was most of the times struggling and a few of the times catching sunnies in N.J, I got a question in NJ. The woman and her son came cautiously behind me and said, "excuse me sir, but is that fly-fishing" I replied that it was, and I saw the boy looked in amazement at the line laying on the ground. Who knows, maybe he'll be encouraged to pick up a fly-rod in the future. If he does, he'll have Mr. Henry to thank in Prospect Park for the encouragement as I do. I put a link to his great site on the right of the blog. It's called  NYC Great Lakes Fishing, give it a try. It really is a resource of great fly fishing information.  Read more!

Late March Fishing in Prospect Park

If March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, then maybe March is still coming because the weather was rough on March 23rd. Now, I typically don't announce dates within my posts because I have thought that any day could be good based upon the conditions. But for the past couple of years the conditions on these days have been similar, wet and cold and overcasty, and the fishing has been excellent. Read further for the story. Coming towards the end of my work day I had a choice. Due to an engagement that I had later on in the evening, I had a plethora of options to choose from, catch an early movie, visit family or fish. I originally crossed out fishing from the list because the weather I encountered as I stepped outside my workplace which brought back memories of Fall blue fishing on the ocean with whipping rain, high winds and all sorts of nauseating smells. So I decided to go with the movies. On the way to the theater which is across the street from the Park, I decided to grab a slice of pizza. While scarfing down the triangular piece of heaven I opened my phone and started reviewing pictures that I had taken over the years. And I happened upon pics from March 23rd. I remembered the five nice sized bass I caught and the fun I had despite the freezing rain that was biting my face and the accumulation of ice on the eyes of my fishing rod. That day was overcast just like it was on this day. I had to try. I found the spot that I generally hit em. I followed the wind patterns to see where the bait would be pushed to and found a nice casting line across a cove that was protected from the wind.But there were no bites. I made several casts and realized my slacks were a bit too wet for comfort and decided that today wasn't the day.

I snapped a few sad looking shots and decided to walk out of the park. On the way out I noticed movement in the water. It wasn't fish; at least I don't think it was. It was tree buds or something that was falling into the water from above. So I decided to fish. It had all the elements of a good spot except that it was so public and that I've never seen anyone catch a bass there so early in the year. It was a novice spot, thought. I've even seen kids casting bobbers here. But there was a dried weed line, the wind was blowing right towards the line, there was a cove of still water near by and I was on my way out so I gave it a go. Three casts and nothing while using a white and purple rattle trap. On the fourth cast, the last cast, I saw the fish rushing the lure and the fish was on!!!!

I don't know where this one came from, but I was sure happy. Afterward, I made a few more casts with no bites, so I left. But next year, I know to brave the Lion for a chance at that March 23rd Large mouth bass in Prospect Park.


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Early Spring Fishing Prospect Park

March is crazy like that, some days are forty degrees while others are seventy two. This past Friday was one of those crazy days in Prospect Park. It was 72 degress. But the madness didn't stop there. I fished from 3:30 pm to about 6:15 pm and I counted 15 fisherman working the edges and ledges around the park. Nobody was really on the main lake; most kept between the ice skating rink and the boat house. It was March Madness. And the most frustrating piece about the day was that I could see the bass all around the area where I was fishing if I was still and quiet enough. They would scatter due to a commotion caused by somebody walking a dog or kids running around, but once the distractions subsided the fish would all come back. I saw many small ones and a bunch of 2 pound plus fish. And I couldn't hook not a one. I tried my entire bag or tricks, rattle-traps, worms, tubes and even decided to throw on this rooster tail thing I've never fished with before. And what do you know? It snagged me a tiny bass. How crazy? All in all it was a good outing. Read more!

March Fishing Prospect Park

Although you may have been tempted to stay home, the warm weather should have bolstered your resolve to hunt down some early spring fish. I had a chance to visit Prospect Park on Saturday, March 5th around 12:00 pm. And I stayed for about an hour and a half. Even though I met disappointment at every bend in the park due to some ice, when I found open water I was rewarded with my first bass of the year. Read more for picture and story. Spring is here!!!! I have had success fishing in Prospect in January in the past as well as in February as well as in March. If there is no ice on the lake, it is possible to catch bass in the mud hole year round. But if the ice is on the lake, your challenge is to find open water that has some of the same characteristics as the mud hole, which is a shallow depth and a mud or rock bottom that warms up much faster than the rest of the lake. And it doesn't hurt if this area is like a bowl shape or bow that will collect bait fish that are sunning.Here were my options: a small open part between what looked to me like to glaciers, or a open part next to the boat house with shallow water and a mud bottom.

Which one do you think I chose? With a deep purple and green rattle trap I chose the one with a mud bottom. Now I will not say that this is where I caught the fish from, but I will say that I caught a couple of bass on this March day in Prospect Park while using these tackle and location strategies.

And this, among others, were gladly received as the result. I hope you all have the same luck.



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