New Croton fishing

[Optor]

Hello, I've been fishing near the dam area close to Muscoot I guess.  I am wondering if anyone knows if there are Smallmouth around.  I've seen some carp, caught a couple very small LM and perch... but it seems possibly too shallow for smallmouth or trout.  If anyone knows the best Reservoir for Smallmouth I'd appreciate the info.  Thanks

[VinnyH]

Welcome to the forums.

I was on New Croton last week and there didn't seem to be any smallies around. Caught a bunch of LMB in the 1 - 1 1/2 lb size but it was slow.

There are a lot of smallies in Kensico and Bog Brook two of my favorite lakes. Hopefully some of the other guys will chime in.

Best Always,
Vinny

[KenH]

I've caught some Smallmouth in Muscoot, more in Cross River, and
even more in Kensico.

Ken
 

[yanks555giants]

Just wanted to say thanks to all for some tips as I ended up getting a boat and putting it on new croton.  I've fished in semi v's for years but got a jon boat and was surprised by how much more tippy they are fyi.
I fished new croton late july in the morning for bass and got nothing.  I fished it this weekend with temperature cooler, a breeze, and at night, and the water in it is still very hot and the weeds seem to retain the heat not helping much.  Therefore, we tried about 25ft deep and away from weeds with plastic worms no luck, then shore line top water no luck, then i coverd some ground with a crank bait and in between the two on the drop and that worked so we swithced to jigs on that drop off and caught a few not very big large mouths.  The fish them selves were very warm, thus I was suprised how fiesty they were for their size and how sharp their teeth were compared to other lakes.  Has anyone noticed that?
Well it was nice to get some tension on the line and know that there are some fish in the lake.
I usually only fish artificial catch and release, what is keeper size these days? And is this one of the lakes where the big guys only hit live bait or is it just because of the time of year and how hot weather and water is?

[VinnyH]

I usually only fish artificial catch and release, what is keeper size these days? And is this one of the lakes where the big guys only hit live bait or is it just because of the time of year and how hot weather and water is?

I think it's tough all over unless you have some nice deep spots by rocks and structure. Luckily the summer is ending and we'll see things cool off slowly but surely.

Best Always,
Vinny

[Optor]

Hey Yanks555, we've had the same problem with nailing some large ones.  BTW the size limit for bass is 12 inches or more and also 5 is the limit per day.  So far we've been fishing for about 3 weeks now and haven't had a 12 incher yet.  We've tried soft baits,live minnows, crank baits, live night crawlers, plastic frogs... and still not landing a nice one.  I can tell you that we've drifted over a mat of weed one morning and actually saw at least a 19 or 20 incher in about 3 feet of water in a clearing.  It saw us then took a dash.  We came back to that spot a number of times and haven't seen him (or her) again.  Anyway... we are not discouraged and will keep trying.  We went out on New Croton on Sat 8-15, fished from 5:15am to about 2:00pm and had some nice tugs but nothing hooked.  We fished off the bank in Muscoot and seemed to have more action there... then we thought if we had a boat then we'd see more action!  Well in a way, we do but still not nailing the keepers.  We still love getting out there though...  Anyone out there notice tons of baitfish and lots of big fish in the mix?  We have a Fishfinder and have seen this and wonder what kind of "big fish" these could be.  They don't take live worms, live shiners, crankbaits...or plastics.  Maybe they are carp just hanging out with these huge massive schools?  Maybe there's so much live baitfish that they don't hit anything else?  Maybe the baitfish is actually perch?  I don't know.  I should bring some corn with me and see if they are carp.  Maybe I can land one of those.  Would be fine to have something heavy on the line though. 

[VinnyH]

I've seen a lot of carp in Muscoot., especially just north of the Route 35 bridge in the shallow areas.

Vinny

[Biz-R-OWorld]

Anybody have any sort of consistent success getting carp to bite? I fish a small little pond for LM Bass and Catfish, and I see a few huge Carp once in a while...They have to be over 30 inches.....I have tried worms, corn, bread, shiners, etc....they wont hit anything....I guess they get so big from eating vegetation only?

[yanks555giants]

at a old pond by my old house when no carp would bite but i would see them or little ones i used to chum the water with tiny pieces of bread and all the little ones would come up first.... then the big ones would follow.... then once i saw it i would put my hook into that feeding frenzy with a piece of bread on it and catch them

[Biz-R-OWorld]

this isnt that small of a pond....the Carp are usually like 20-25 feet from shore....they are constantly just cruising around and surfacing...

[KenH]

I'm very surprised to hear that the carp in the pond don't take corn.
I don't think I've ever seen carp in any reservoirs or pomds in this area
that couldn't be caught on white sweet canned corn threaded onto a #6 baitholder
hook with a sliding sinker rug.

Ken H

[Optor]

I guess those big fish I see with the large schools of baitfish are carp.  Maybe I'll bring some white sweet corn with me and give it a try.  We've tried almost everything else.  We're going this weekend to New Croton with a variety of combat gear.  The solunar is not in our favor though... but hey, like the lottery, you never know.

[Uncle Crappie]

There is some big perch, whites, and and crappies chasing the sawbellys in Croton try some small slow drop spoons jigged  over the schools .Small shiners works great also  The fish finder is important in summer to see those schools !

[biggamee]

Hey I think with carp the lunar calender shouldn't matter..I don't think they are night feeders. But advice is to be as stealth as you can and be there ready before dawn 5am. If your lucky you'll see them in the shallows turning rocks over..cast the corn at them..Good luck.

[yanks555giants]

question on the lunar calendar.
i know fishing is supposed to be better at new moon and fullmoon, has anyone found or read whether its better a few days before or after if you can not make it exactly on that day?