Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Late Fall Smallmouth Lake Hopatcong NJ caught while fishing UL for Yellow Perch

      Hey Guy's,

 

 

    Here is a late fall report from Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey.

Usually I am done on the big lake the end of November due to weather and water levels. I have had a few December days in years past but not often. This year we have had really mild weather so I have been hitting the lake quite often. This past Friday 12-9-11 I hit the lake with fellow member Noel Sell. We fished mainly for Yellow Perch using ultra light tackle and soft plastic's Caught heaps of Perch and a few pickerel. I managed one bluegill and this BEAST smallie. 4lbs on my certified boga grip. Caught on my G. Loomis TSR862-2 light action rod, Daiwa JDM Exist 1003H native custom reel. Spooled with 4lb Berkley Fireline crystal and 6lb vanish leader. Lure was a Berkley 2" Ripple Shad rigged on a 1/16oz jighead.  Not sure if this will be my last open water report or not. If so ice reports to follow and then early ice out perch and crappie in March.....

 

 

 

                                                                                                       Brian R. Brennan

Views: 537

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Nice Smallie Brian! 

Oh my gosh, that smallie is a HAWG!

Nice small mouth bet that was a surprise. Keep up the good work and GOOD FISHIN..

Great Smallie!A December fish too?Ever fish Monksville ? They have some nice Smallies also.

Nice we have them in r lake .John got a big one .The trout r hittting big time on L-H .My Bud does good on the H-Stripers. I need to get there.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
4 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
6 hours ago
John Sheehan posted a photo
6 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Me too ,Jeff!"
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picture of our Water Level Impacted by Hurricane Erin….8/26/2025

You see where I placed the yellow circle we lost two feet of water level which empties many…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"I enjoy using small tackle…..I always go to it when the water temperature dips below…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Having a little fun with the gills….."
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"This Bass was wound  , Dick. High 70-80 degree water temp."
Aug 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I hear ya Dick ,but its been a long time finding numbers of these great critters for me !"
Aug 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I can take these all night long."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"Nice LMB."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

We Dodged a Bullet on This Hurricane……8/20/2025

"I hope you continue being on the lucky side. Best to you Jeffrey."
Aug 20

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service