Christmas Eve Sunfish...report from New Jersey..Merry Christmas

[Mike Burro]

 

December 25th:

Greetings fellow panfisherman. Yesterday I got a very welcome present from Santa Claus..I finally landed a sunfish in mostly frozen waters, after a drought that had lasted since December 3rd. It's been cold here in central New Jersey, with day time temperatures toppping out around 35-36 degrees. All the secondary waters had been frozen solid until yesterday when a small section of my local pond thawed. I had tried ice fishing gear with no luck, but thanks to the break in the ice, I used a long pole a landed one small fish. That little fish made my day, and perhaps my whole month..As I've said before, "Fish don't hibernate". They're in there all year long, but you have to change strategies until you find the right presentation.

Merry Christmas to all...Mike Burro : Columbus, New Jersey

[John Sheehan]

Yay a New Jersey fish!!

[Mike Burro]

Thanks John,
not exactly a 'Big Bluegill', but given the conditions, I was thrilled to catch one on Christmas eve..Most people around here just stop fishing altogether around October..Sometimes, cars honk their horns from a distance when they see me out there. I don't know if they think I'm determined or just crazy!!!
Cheers! Mike Burro
PS: hope to show you some 'Big Jersey Bluegills' in the future!!

[Nathan Hall]

I understand.  You have to do it any way you can sometimes.

[John Sheehan]

Mike Where is Columbus NJ? I'm in Passaic County in a little town called Ringwood and its near the Monksville Reservoir and Greenwood Lake.

[Mike Burro]

Hi John,
Columbus is a long way from Ringwood..I remember backpacking out of Ringwood near Greenwood Lake..I think you are in one of the nicest corners of New Jersey, really a lot like New York State. I'm in Burlington County about 12- 15 miles south of Trenton. I grew up on a 100 acre farm here in Columbus, which was traditionally a rural agricultural community. No large reservoirs around here, just 'secondary' lakes, ponds and creeks. There is also easy access to the Delaware river, but I prefer not to fish in it. Number one, you can't 'safely' eat anything you catch, plus I enjoy the serenity as much as the actual fishing. I like to hunker down under cover..Happy New Year!!! Cheers! Mike