Lake Mahopac, NY

[nybass1]

I live only about a half hour away and decided to go check it out. Anybody familiar or has fished this lake before?

thanks,
nybass1

[RichZ]

It's a good lake. Used to be better before they killed all the milfoil and put in more grass carp than the lake's vegetation can actually support, but it's still an above average LM lake and an exceptional SM lake.

Here's a sample from a couple summers ago.



It's just about unfishable on weekends because of all the local boat traffic, and the access is both expensive and inconvenient (marinas on the lake don't open until 9AM). But this fishing's awfully good.

[nybass1]

wow man nice smallie and thanks for the info it looks like a nice fishery even with the whole grass problem

[WTL]

Boy thats a nice smallmouth...and somebody has been rocking a pistol grip rod! Good job.

[RichZ]

Originally Posted by WTL

somebody has been rocking a pistol grip rod!

That pistol grip has some history at that lake, so whenever I visit there, I pull it out of the closet, put a reel on it and strap it on the front deck, for old times sake.

Back in the late eighties, when I was retired from full time employment and could fish weekdays, I fished there a lot. And that was my favorite rod for plastics on 1/4 oz jighead in those days. And a plastic craw or twin tailed grub on a 1/4 ox head was my # one bait there, so I caught hundreds and hundreds of fish there on that rod.

Fast forward 25 years, and these days, I mostly fish drop shot there, but I still make it a point to pick up that short casting rod and hammer a few key spots with a creature bait on a jig head, and don't you know, it usually produced my best fish of the day. Another season or so, and I'll be fishing weekdays again. You can bet I'll be usin' that old Cabela's Fish Eagle whenever I visit Mahopac.

[nybass1]

Aw some little story there. Its pretty amazing that the lure that you killed them on 25 years ago is still bringing in pigs. Also weren't you on an episode of lunkerville??

[RichZ]

Yes, I have done a couple Lunkerville shows.

[joe p]

It is a great fishery, but the problem is, like most popular lakes in the summer, gets the attention of pleasure boaters and personal watercrafts, especially in the weekend.

Try fishing it midweek or on rainy days. The smallies bite better.


joe