Kensico during the Nor'easter? Heart says go, head says it'll be a wash!

[Brooklynite]

Hello--spent about two weeks lurking on the forums learning about Kensico. Really respect the members passion and knowledge. Grew up fishing Walleye in Lake Erie and the Cayuhoga, and later surf fishing in Ocean City, NJ. Sadly, life gets in the way and I let fishing slip away until this summer when I got into bassin' with my brothers in Lake Anna, VA. Having lived in NY for several years, I always assumed I would have to head wayup the Hudson before I could find Bass until I learned about the reservoirs and lakes w/in an hour of Brooklyn.

So wouldn't you know that the weekend I want to finally headout, after picking up some new crankbait at Dream Tackle in Greenpoint and lining up my fishing buddy, we get not one but two nor'easters?! We're in the lull now and it ain't raining but the second is supposed to kick up tomorrow. My guess is the water temp is down and it'll be windy. I was planning to shore fish for Bass, maybe hit Rye Bridge and Loudon's Cove or the Pumphouse...

I know, a bass is wet all the time, but a couple of questions--will Kensico shut down cuz of the cold front? If I do go, do you recommend going deep or shallow (I'll come prepared for both)? Is there an area that might be more protected (Rye or Kensico side?). Regarding bait, I'm definitely gonna try free-lining Sawbellies or Shiners, but I also have a new Rapala #9 jointed minnow I've been dying to try out.

Last question--do you really need a DEP parking permit to park on the roads?

So any help, advice, thoughts or strategies is greatly appreciated fellas and again, much respect.

[VinnyH]

Brooklyn,
Welcome, hopefully logging in wasn't too much of a pain. I saw some activations lately taking longer. Glad you got through.

Fishing after rain always seems to be slow. I'm bummed since I was hoping to get out this weekend also. My only tip is that, for bass, I think you have to go deep and slow with whatever bait your using. If I get out Sunday I'll look to dead-stick texas rigged worms. Maybe rig a soft minnow type plastic on a jig head and do a slow retrieve with that.

Hopefully the trout guys will chime in with some thoughts on free lining sawbellies, etc.

Best Always,
Vinny

[KenH]

Hi brooklynite

"will Kensico shut down cuz of the cold front?"-Maybe. We're still in the middle of a very drastic temperature drop. Even though I'm not a Bass fisherman I know that a sudden temp drop can make fish sluggish. As Vinny says, fish deep.
"Regarding bait, I'm definitely gonna try free-lining Sawbellies or Shiners," It's nearly impossible to freeline baitfish with strong winds. Same with floats. If I were baitfishing I'd fish Shiners (not sawbellies) off the bottom on a sliding sinker rig. I can keep the bait pinned and the line tight regardless of wind.
"I also have a new Rapala #9 jointed minnow I've been dying to try out." Great lure one of my favorites too. But-Not the ideal to be casting in strong winds though at 1/4 oz and no weight shift system.
"Last question--do you really need a DEP parking permit to park on the roads?" Yes. But I did see a guy
who wrote his Access Permit number on a piece of paper and hung it from the rear view mirror, probably
as a temporary solution. You can get the hanging one from the DEP very easily by just requesting it.

Good luck and please let us know how you make out if you go.
Ken

[Brooklynite]

Thank you KenH and VinnyH, I certainly appreciate the advice. Will go for the Shiners and slip sinker rig. Printed out my DEP parking permit and pulled the rain pants from storage. Will try deadsticking a yamamoto too and post back with results. 

Best Wishes 

[yonkers26]

I asked one of the DEP Police officers about that one day, and he said that the vehicle mirror tag is more to help them identify the permit holder, and is actually not required if you are simply on the side of the road. The permit on your person is.

A call to the area DEP PD precinct (I believe the 6th?) may be the avenue to get an answer if you want to hear it yourself. I tried to search for a number for you but could not find anything.

[Tom]

Brooklynite,
It's an easy fix to call the DEP to get a replacement car tag. I needed a replacement awhile back and was able to get another quickly in the mail. I also have the phone number for the DEP Police. It is: 888-426-7433. I keep the number on file on my cell phone in case there is an emergency or I have to report anything serious.
Tom

[yonkers26]

Good info, Tom

[Brooklynite]

First things first, we got skunked, and I mean not even a tug or a nibble trying several methods for trout and bass--bottom fishing with slip sinker and minnow, float fishing with minnow about 4' below that, topwater fishing with a panther martin, chartreuse and white spinners, freelining shiners (from Wade's), tried t-rigging worms too. Shiners came back twitching w/o a mark on them.  I tried a popper just for the hell of it to wake the lake up. 

Tried getting the lures up under the bridge but again, nothing. Earlier, I did watch a guy with a Russian accent pull in a decent looking Laker (brown trout?) that had to be 17 or 18" at around 9am from the SW point off Rye bridge... That was real fun/frustrating to watch but I noted he pulled it in with a type of silver spoon with a tri-hook and a big eye. Anyone know what that might be?

But, well it was a good day...it didn't rain! (just a couple of drops) and my buddy and I caught up, I got to explore the Rye bridge and Area 12 (just amazing colors back there in the foliage).

Some DEP activity--at about 830am they were scouting around the boats and pulling several that had expired licenses and hauling them away across the lake. The Russian was cursing 'em.  Guess these guys mean business. Also seemed like the DEP were out trolling? Figured it was them because they had a gas motor and were going back and forth throughout the day.

We left at about 3pm but we're both looking forward to the next trip when maybe its a bit warmer and the fish are less sluggish, scouting more areas on Kisco rd. maybe next weekend. You know how it is, we left with that happy relaxed feelin but another one gnawing at the back of your neck.

[oilgorg]

Got to pay your dues cuz you know they don't come easy. Hope the fish Gods shine on your next trip and maybe the Yankees can end this game so I can go to bed.

[KenH]

Thanks for the report Brooklynite. Seems the fish are more sluggish than I assumed since this weather
is more than a cold front it's turning the water layers over. You were fishing from a boat right?
Did you happen to get a surfacewater temp reading?

"silver spoon with a tri-hook and a big eye. Anyone know what that might be?"

Savant spoons are the only ones that come quickly to mind around here.

"Rye bridge and Area 12 (just amazing colors back there in the foliage)."

Do you mean Boating Area 12, which is in Rye Lake?
Or Section 12 which is way up north by the corner of Routes 22 and 120?

Ken
 

[Brooklynite]

Fishing from shore actually.

Section 12 near corner of 22 and 120.

Didn't have anything to measure the surface temp.

[KenH]

Ah ok. Thanks.

I'm going to try and get out a little mid week when
the weather improves.

Ken

[arkpov56]

Midweek seems to be the perfect time.  By the next weekend the weather goes sour again...  Ken, lucky you are to be able to go on the water when it cooperates.  Please do some damage there for all of us who begs for a good weather on that long craved for weekend.

Hope to see your report, as usual.

[mike.com]

yes you do need a permit. if you have a freshwater license. then why not the watershed permit it's only free from deep website. I'm in newcroton area 28 leaky boat but just got a bilge pump. not that much water but u want to be careful. maybe I'll run in to u one day up there. i ha vent had and luck in new ken cause it is always packed with people. and a boat is the best everybody wants a boat in kencisco. i got these last weekend.  in new croton in my boat. and I'm for Brooklyn too bushwick.

[Brooklynite]

Played hooky and went out on Kensico again today was there by 830--had to be the exact OPPOSITE of the weather last weekend--but got skunked again. At 9am a couple fish were rolling near the surface near the Rt. 22 bridge but alas, nothing was really biting. Pretty much everyone around me gave up by 1pm. A few guys in boats trolling just soaking up the sunshine around 4pm though! So jealous.

I've fished a lot of lakes from shore, but Kensico is tough. Funny thing--I'm not even seeing the panfish or bait balls in the coves or under the laydowns that I'm used to seeing on other lakes. Could it be that with this reservoir you've got to be able to get around (as in you really need a boat)? Wade really hooked me up with a couple of Krocodiles that would really get me out farther from shore, but no too heavy. Still, I'm really surprised that I haven't even got a nip or tug on spinnerbait, crankbait, floated and freelined shiners... Shiners came back untouched!

Amazing to see the change in foliage from last week to this week--gold, blazing red, coppers and oranges! Spotted a guy fly-fishing--very cool.

Still paying those Kensico dues!