Hook, Line and Sinker by Judy Van Put

November’s Bounty
After the surprise snowstorm on October 29, the weather has evened out and brought a number of welcoming warm days, added time to do more autumn activities usually relegated for earlier in the season, such as last-minute garden chores and….fishing!

August fishing has proven to be quite productive this year. Al Carpenter of Al’s Sports Store in Downsville, reports better-than-average fishing for the month of August, especially for anglers who are trolling. Most successful Pepacton Reservoir trout fishers have been using plugs, Rapalas and Thundersticks, along with Sutton Spoons and Stingers and are doing a bit better with those lures than with bait. The catch rate is “better than average,” according to Al, with most fish being located at about 35 feet.

Fishing in the Pepacton Reservoir after the first week in August was pretty productive. Al Carpenter of Al’s Sports Shop in Downsville reported that sawbellies still seem to be the bait of choice and that trout are being caught pretty much all during the day, with most fish being found at about 35-40 feet.

A few nice trout were brought into the store, the largest of which was a beautiful 11-pound, 13-ounce brown taken by John Zielinski, who was up from Pennsylvania. John used a sawbelly to catch the big fish.

Al Carpenter of Al’s Sports Shop in Downsville reported on the winners of the July Pepacton Trout Derby. Capturing the first prize was Ed Brown of Walton for his winning fish that tipped the scales at 11 pounds, five ounces, and measured 28 inches. Ed was trolling with a Michigan Stinger to catch his trout. Winning second prize was Al Lutkins from New Jersey for his 10-pound, 12-ounce brown trout that measured all of 29 and-one-quarter inches in length.

This Thursday, July 28 is a very special day. Don Tracy of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania sent out a notice that it’s the 4th Annual “Fishing With the Blind” day. Each year a group of about 25 blind/partially blind folks from the NYC area gather to spend a week in July at “The Land of the Vikings,” a local resort located about two miles from the Hale Eddy bridge.