By Tom Schlichter   From a sweetwater perspective, November is a bonus round for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast anglers. The best of the year is already behind us but now we are playing with house money. Any day nice enough to get out is a gift and if the fish happen to bite, so much the […]… Read more »

By Tom Schlichter     Serious freshwater anglers depend on a variety of jigs to separate bigmouth bass from weedy shallows during the summer. But will jigging produce once the salad recedes and the water turns crystal clear? You bet it will! With the mild falls and moderate winters we’ve experienced in recent years, many […]… Read more »

  The legendary fall run of stripers and blues that slides from Cape Cod all the way down to southern New Jersey each November offers some of the most exciting fishing of the year. Many anglers think of this blitz action as a surf gig but drift over the clouds of sand eels and bay […]… Read more »

  The scene was one of pure fall fishing mayhem. In the rip that rounded the end of a prominent point, anglers from shore were heaving long casts toward breaking fish while several boat crews used light-tackle and fly rods to cast toward the beach. Terns and gulls were diving on the bait from above […]… Read more »

  With all the anticipation of the fall run of stripers, bluefish and false albacore that lights up the coastal waters of the northeast and mid-Atlantic during October and November, it’s no wonder many lakes and ponds are virtually untouched at this time of year. To be sure, I get in my fair share of […]… Read more »

  Most serious northeast and mid-Atlantic anglers are familiar with the fantastic mixed-bag bottom fishing for porgies, sea bass, triggerfish and the like that takes place each fall. Surprisingly few, however, seem to realize that a special gathering of assorted species also develops in our local lakes and ponds in October and November. Break out some […]… Read more »

  Three fast, light taps signaled something was investigating my bait on the rocky bottom some 40 feet below. For an instant, I considered setting the hook but decided to pass believing the taps to come from pesky bergalls  or small sea bass. I was looking for bigger game, a bulldog blackfish of 6 pounds […]… Read more »

  The fall season always seems to sneak up on me. One day I’m dragging weedless worms or pig & jigs across the tops of lush, green weed mats that are literally pushing up against the surface. Two weeks later, I notice a few more open pockets and soon after the weeds turn to brown. […]… Read more »