ashokan 8/20/10

[striperman13]

I went  to the ashokan 8am this morning figuring to try some trolling for trout since it was nice and cool out.Well needless to say i was in for the workout of my life just dragging the boat to the water.At least it was downhill but I knew what I was gonna be in for when I left.I started out trolling a krocodile in silver and blue at 30 ft.After 2 hrs I had 8 nice smallies but no trout.I was using lead core so I went to 40 ft and in 10 min had a nice 18 " brown.About 15 min more and had either a big smallie or a rainbow but couldn't tell which but it was jumping like wild all over the place.It finally thru the hook.I decided to take a break and do a little bait fishing with shiners and that was the ticket.I had 1 rod at 35 ft deep and 1 at 20 and the 1 at 20 was non stop action.Within a half hour boated 4 nice smallies and a 20 inch brown.I raised the other rod to 20 ft also and right of the bat got a 13"brown and another nice smallie.Right after that it just died for awhile so I just put the 2 biggest shiners on and sat back and relaxed till about 3 pm and then the 1 rod bent right over with the tip in the water.Well using 8 lb flouro I had quite a fight on my hands.It took about 15 minutes before I even saw the fish and it was a beautiful 21"brown.I think it must have been raised by rainbows because it started jumping and I almost lost it.I boated that and now had my limit and a real nice supper for Saturday night.Now all I had to do was somehow drag the boat up the rocks about 50 ft without killing myself.all in all it was a great day and a nice surprise for this time of year.I took some pics but with a camera so as soon as I use the rest up I will post them.Good fishing all.
Gary

[KenH]

Great job! With results like that, I'd be willing to suffer a bit
and drag the boat 50ft.
Ken H

[Tom]

striperman13',
Congrats.  Nice fishing trip. Ashokan must be 3 hours from Westchester. Is it further (time wise) than Pepacton?  I was wondering what was the surface temperature.
Tom

[striperman13]

Tom,
I go to shokan from Kingston on route 28 so pepacton is about an hour longer for me.Not sure what it would be from westchester.I didn't check myself but was told surface temp is approx 78.I could see fish feeding on the surface so were probably smallies.Also as low as the water is a lot of folks are catching smallies just walking the shore throwing lures.I am hoping to get another boat next year and put that on the upprt basin.

[phishahn]

GARY , Upper or lower basin? Also, transom to bow, w/o draggin, is an easier way to bring to bring those long hauls up to the tree lines. Any sawbellie shops around?  Phish.

[striperman13]

Phish,
I am in the lower basin just up from the wiers in shovelcut gate 3.What I did with the boat this last time was the ole walk around.Its like doing a crab walk instead of dragging and bouncing the boat all over.There is only 1 place to get sawbellies and that is across from hurley mountain inn on 299.I have just been using shiners cause the browns have been hitting them real good.

[robm928]

Can you tell me about your rig? How did you get the shiner down deep did you use lead or slip float?

[striperman13]

Rob
What I do is slide a 1/4 ounce barrel sinker on my main line and tie a figure 8 swivel on below it.I then tie a 14 inch leader of 8 lb flouro carbon line to the swivel and I use a # 10 red gamakatsu hook.I put the hook back between the tail and the top fin so when you hold the leader the baitfish's head should be pointing down.This should keep the baitfish from swimming around the sinker and tangling your line especially with sawbellies.Hope this helps

[new2titicus]

I put the hook back between the tail and the top fin so when you hold the leader the baitfish's head should be pointing down.This should keep the baitfish from swimming around the sinker and tangling your line especially with sawbellies.Hope this helps

Very good point, I'll try this, thanks.

[new2titicus]

I'm going camping in the area this weekend and was thinking about driving to ashokan.  Can someone point out where I can fish from shore, it seems like there may be railroad tracks on one side, pm me if you would be willing to share privately.

-Paul

[new2titicus]

Are the watershed permits we use for the southern reservoirs good to use on Ashokan?

[Biz-R-OWorld]

dont know anything about Ashokan, but watershed permits are good anywhere in NY for watershed property. Good Luck!

[new2titicus]

Thanks, actually, I think I'll wind up fishing the Catskill creek, it's much closer to our campgrounds.

[Uncle Crappie]

Catskill creek is great for Smallies!