Poconos Fishing ... Errr, Family Trip - Part 1

[Latimeria]

Wow, it was the whole west coast family making our way out to Newark Airport for the long ride to the Poconos.  6 of us is a bigger group than I'm used to while traveling and flying.

It was smooth sailing on the way to EWR.  Mostly a good but lots of screaming kids on the plane.

We finally get through the airport to pick up the rental truck.  I would up getting a Ford Expedition XL to make sure we had enough room for 6 along with luggage.  New trucks are crazy and I almost didn't know how to operate it.  LOL

As we were trying to find our way to the highway, google maps directed us on a way I wasn't familiar with... until i realized what had happened.  To avoid traffic it took us through the worst parts of Newark.  When I was young, we avoided this part of town since it would most likely mean you were going to die.  That was the worst 30 minutes of driving and trying to find the highway, but we finally found the road to the Poconos (or my granddaughter was calling it "The Pinocchio's".  hahaha)

We finally start getting some miles in when I hear "I'm hungry, let's stop for dinner..."  Well, there goes the good timewe were making, but I saw a pizza joint and we pulled in.

My granddaughter was excited to see all the pizza to choose from!



We ate well and had a lot more food than what we could handle.  I forgot how filling east coast food is as well as the "Fuel Tanks" people have under their shirts.



We finally get back on the road and start making our way up to house. 

While driving on the 84, I hit cruise control and felt the wheel trying to do it's own thing.  Then the car says to "Let go of the wheel and it will drive for me...."  WTF?  So I did and it totally drove around corners, slowed to upcoming cars and I was a little freaking out.  That was unnerving but crazy to see where cars have come.
We finally made it up the mountain as Maps brought us through tiny back woods roads to get to the house.
I get my passes as this is a mountain gated community and looked out over the front pond to see a ton of blinking lights.  I knew the family was probably geeking out in the truck.
The family LOVED seeing the lightning bugs (fire flies) and were all tripping out pretty hard over them.  LOL

We spend time with the folks before calling it for the night.  I planned on fishing for a few hours before everyone woke up so was pretty stoked.

I woke up and saw my folks had stocked some essentials...  I swear this is all I remember when growing up.



It gets light out there really early and it was nice seeing all that green.



I get to the first spot on the big lake and just stark stalking the shoreline.



The bluegill were really aggressive and tearing up my rubber work, but no bass.



I finally walk over to a corner by the dam that looks really good, but had impossible rocks to navigate.  I figured I would deal with it if I did hook up.  Foliage covered rocks with poison ivy wasn't looking too good.  I could barely even stand by the top of the rocks.



First cast and my bait got slammed!  I see a 2 pounder jumping out of the water and now I have to make my way down this death trap.  I almost didn't make it but I at least had the bass pinned along the rocks... until I slipped and the 6# line snapped on the drop into the rocks..  Grrr...

I continue to fish the dam area but nothing.  I then sneak down to the outflow culvert (my old secret spot) but realized they have "Keep Out" signs everywhere and cut down the trees that used to block your view.  Well, 3 casts in and security rolls up on me and kicks me out.  Oh well.

I decide to move over to a smaller lake I use to frequent as I was sure I would catch something there.



I throw on a creature bait and start working the pads.  In no time, I'm on the board with this little pickle.  At least the skunk is gone!



The fish are all over the board, but I caught quite a few and lost lost only a couple.  My biggest of the morning.



Pretty nice bass for this pond.



I kept a good count and had only another 90 minutes to catch as many as I can







They took the baits full throttle.







The sun came up and the humidity tripled as well as the bugs got even worse.  In any case, I went 12 for 14 so pretty good trip!



I ran to the other side of the lake but there was now a dock there!  Last time I was back here was 15 years ago and things have definitely changed.
Anyway, the old dude on the dock had 6 rods out and when I started casting on the land part, he started casting at me to try and keep me from fishing.  Kind of a Sasquatch/Rasta move if you ask me.  hahahahaha

Well, I got home and enjoyed a beverage and prepped the rods for the next morning.





Part2 coming soon.

[sasquatch]

Gave it a brief skim at work. What jumps out at me? A dig at me. Typical Tom. 🙄😂

[Latimeria]

Gave it a brief skim at work. What jumps out at me? A dig at me. Typical Tom. 🙄😂

That was just a test to see if you were out there looking.  I'm pleased to know you are still out there and reading the forum.   

[sasquatch]

Gave it a brief skim at work. What jumps out at me? A dig at me. Typical Tom. 🙄😂

That was just a test to see if you were out there looking.  I'm pleased to know you are still out there and reading the forum.   

Always around.

[jrodda]

Very bold walking around Poison Ivy in sandals.

Never heard of the Poconos until you mentioned them and then heard about them a second time today. Looks really nice out there. Glad you busted the skunk early.