South Shore: Cabin Fever… Not in Sweetwater! - The Fisherman

South Shore: Cabin Fever… Not in Sweetwater!

2018 12 Cabin Fever Not Sweetwater River
Carlls River produces holdovers from fall stockings all winter long.

When the salt chuck is void of options, hardcore anglers set their sights on freshwater opportunities. 

Every December I hear anglers complain about the onset of cabin fever. Cabin fever only sets in if you allow it to! While fishing saltwater through the winter can be a challenge, there are a number of opportunities to bend a rod on the freshwater side throughout the winter months.  Let’s take a look at the options freshwater anglers have in their back pockets from now through March. With the Connetquot open year round, bass allowed to be caught as a catch and release fishery, and white perch available in our tidal creeks and rivers, the winter is filled with options.

White Perch

While speaking with Bill Falco of Chasing Tails in Oakdale, white perch became the focus of our discussion. According to Bill, although trout are an option, there are less targeted fish swimming around our local waters that put up a scrappy fight during the winter months. Bill was referring to the solid white perch fishery we have here on the Island. White perch hold over in most of our local brackish water rivers and tributaries throughout winter and into early spring.

According to Bill, “These relatives of the striped bass love to munch on jigs, and the old standby nightcrawlers. For jig fishing, a 1/8-ounce head with a 2- to 3-inch curly tail grub gets the job done most days. Perch love the classic bright colors like white and chartreuse. Their favorite forage is grass shrimp, so they also seek out more natural colors like black and brown.”

Tackle for these feisty perch is strictly ultra-light spinning gear. Line ranges from 2- to 6-pound test mono or 6- to 10-pound braid with a trace of fluorocarbon leader are the best options. Bill also said that cadence is the key. Small pops of the jig along the bottom is all you need. Hop it up and down, or sideways to stir up the bottom a bit. They hit hard and put up a great fight on the proper gear. As an added bonus, school stripers holdover in these same waters—same gear, same tackle, bigger fight!

2018 12 Cabin Fever Not Sweetwater Purple Fish
A chunky winter run rainbow from the Connetquot River.

Trout Mania

For trout, the best person I know to steer you in the right direction is Paul McCain of River Bay Outfitters. According to Paul, after the holiday decorations are stored away, his thoughts turn to casting the long wand (fly rod).

Paul said that the fishing at times can be slow, but rivers and streams that were crowded in the warmer season, are now empty of other anglers. Another plus is that you don’t need to be on the water at first light as most of the action occurs during the warmest part of the day.

2018 12 Cabin Fever Not Sweetwater Catch 3
Bill Falco of Chasing Tails with a typical white perch from the Connetquot River.

“You want the water to warm up as the fish are cold blooded and will be a little sluggish first thing. I also have some of my best days when it is sunny. Think slowly and low when you present your fly,” said Paul. He said that 90percent of his fishing is done with streamers and nymphs but on rare days, he encounters a midge hatch.

“If fishing 8x tippet and size 24 flies is your thing then winter will surely please you. Of course you need to fish good water, and here on Long Island we are lucky to have some of the best trout waters within a few hours’ drive,” stated Paul.

Paul explained that most of our streams are spring fed, which means that their temperature is pretty much the same all year. Some of his favorites are Carlls River in Babylon, the tidal sections of the Carmans in Yaphank and the Nissequogue in Smithtown. If the weather stays warm, then the mill ponds are another option. Most will hold trout from the fall stocking. Just a few hours north, is the East Branch of the Croton. It is the only trout stream in Putnam County that stays open all year and since it is a tailwater, it remains ice free. On warmer days Paul heads over the border and fishes the Mianus River in Connecticut. It has an early black stonefly hatch that brings up all of the trout in the stream. And, if Paul really has some extra time, he heads to the Farmington and swings large streamers with his trout spey. Sometimes he lands some very impressive trout, and it is also good practice for fishing for steelhead.

2018 12 Cabin Fever Not Sweetwater Catch
Jimmy Johnson and a nice early winter bass from an East End lake.

Bass, Pickerel, Walleye

White perch and trout offer a bang up way to pass the time in the winter months, but I like to focus my efforts on bass, pickerel and walleye. All three of these can be caught on Long Island all winter long.

This year, they are predicting a milder winter than last year, which bodes well for bass and pickerel action. Areas like West and Patchogue lakes, the Massapequa chain, Blydenburgh, Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond in Montauk all present good options. For walleye, Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond offer the best opportunities. And, if we do get a shot of cold weather, Laurel Lake can be a hot place for bass, pickerel and even some yellow perch.

The common belief is that bass and pickerel get lethargic in the winter months, and you have to slow down to catch anything. Although that holds true to some extent, it is far from the rule. I have had many times when a fast moving crankbait or spinnerbait gets whacked hard in the dead of winter when the water is hovering just above freezing. The best fishing often occurs on days when the sun shines bright following a few cloudy days. Fish the warmest (sunny) side of the lake for best results.

2018 12 Cabin Fever Not Sweetwater Catch 2
Smallmouth bass like this one displayed by the author can be caught in Fort Pond and Lake Ronkonkoma all winter long.

For the most part, a slow moving 10-inch worm or large Senko probably induces more strikes in the winter, and jigs are another good option. I like to fish the jig slowly, allowing it to settle to the bottom, then give one to two slight twitches before reeling in. On the Senko, the standard drop and twitch works well, while rubber worms should be dragged slowly along the bottom.

As for walleyes, white crankbaits always seem to be the better option, and this holds true any time during the year. Nightcrawlers or shiners fished under a float or free-lined also account for solid action.

Road Trip

If you have some time and feel like hopping on a plane, Marc Deschenes of VIP Adventures in South Carolina can put you onto some mean bass action all winter long. VIP features 11 lakes, which are all catch and release. All feature prime bass structure in the way of brush piles, lay downs and drop-offs, and are well populated with baitfish in the form of shad and crawfish. You’ll find the bass here are hearty and active. Guided trips are aboard a 20-foot Falcon Bass Boat, and include all the gear and tackle you will need. All you have to do is get there.

Well there you have it. Cabin fever is a state of mind and only a factor if you allow it to be. Long Island is blessed with some prime winter opportunities for those willing to bundle up and broaden their fishing horizons. And if you don’t mind driving a bit north, or hopping on a plane and heading south, the options are endless.

WINTER FISHING INFO

Chasing Tails/Oakdale
631-563-3474

River Bay Outfitters/Baldwin
516-415-7748

VIP Adventures/Marc Deschenes
843-708-5473

 

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