Travel - Crawford Lake, ME

It Ain’t What’s Below, It’s What’s Above

This is a bit of a cheat as this was the second trip to Crawford Lake, just miles from Camden/Rockland/Rockport in Union, Washington County. The first trip provided sight fishing and at least 2-3 bass a day. This year the fishing was almost miserable. If I had not found an article on white perch manhandling blood worms, it would have been a year of catching a bass every other day (I think I tagged 3, maybe 4 during the week.)

While I caught one on my go-to wacky worm senko, I invariably caught the rest on a Strike King fluke. Why so difficult? I knew the grasses, the structure from the year before, even brought my fish finder. It seems every time I turned my back I heard a noise, a plop. A chestnut or acorn from the overhanging trees. Now why did it take over a week for homo pescatoris to figure out that no fish in his right mind, in 6-9” of water is going to sit around to get bopped on the head? Yet that is exactly what must have been happening. Sure, the grass was great, but not worth a headache. So the fishing was close to ruined by what was above my rod, not by the snags below.

Since I failed to report on Crawford last year, I am going to add a bonus: Winding Trails in Farmington, CT. I had an awful time trying to manage a kayak in Maine with the winds that would pick up, so I was delighted to find one could fish from a paddle boat at Winding Trails. My first mate had her fly rod and I had two spinning rods. Even with the fish finder, nothing was happening. It was late in the day and the boathouse was about to close. In sheer exasperation, I let my line troll behind – in fact we had two lines: one pearl fluke and one june bug lizard. Best twenty minutes of bass fishing ever had. Twice had 12”+ bass hit the fluke. Again so slow to figure it out: the fluke was white, the lizard dark, but this – like Maine – was clear water. Here in DC Metro, just not used to anything but green, brown, black water. What a concept: fish light in clear, dark in dark water – just like the books say. Twice. Just so embarrassed …

Travel - New York, NY (Hudson Pier 42)

Hot town, summer in the city ...…
or
No Rod, No Bait, No problem!

Apparently there are two places to fish in Manhattan that are free of licenses and fees and include tackle. So just get off the subway and go fish!

The summer program details for Hudson River Park can be found at:

http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/events.asp

and scrolling down to Big City Fishing on the left. I visited Pier 42 at West and Charles St in Greenwich Village. The closest subway was Christopher St/Sheridan Square on the Broadway Local (train 1), which is approximately 14 blocks east of the pier. There is another pier just a block north of the Circle Line pier and more easily accessible by the M50 bus (going west on 49^th St and get off at the end at 43^rd St; yes, it hooks down 6 blocks!), but I did the Circle Line a month before and felt that there were too many ships -- three cruise ships alone that one day -- for any good fishing.

It was a hot sunny afternoon,

with so few people that I was able to abuse the hospitality of the park for two hours, with the four attendants willing to bait my #4 hook with clams.

I had very few bites, but next time I would bring my own lures and bait. Essentially I had bait stolen a half-dozen times, caught one fish and absolutely nothing else but snags for the last hour. Once again I forgot my sunscreen.

Alongside the tent, was a filter for the day’s catch: a 12” striper, two 6” sea bass, and my porgie.

I have enclosed the Big City Fishing details below, in their entirety, as they are so in keeping with my philosophy of metro-fishing. Note that this event closes Labor Day.

Next time I will try Central Park, which allows fishing through October …

Big City Fishing

Pier 46 in Greenwich Village
Cross at Charles St.

Pier 84
Cross at W.44th St. or W.43rd St.
212.627.2020

July 4th - Labor Day:
Tuesday - Sunday, 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

Cost: free

Yes you can fish in the Hudson River and it's better than ever at Hudson River Park!

Big City Fishing gives anyone and everyone the chance to fish. It's an appropriate and fun activity for those as young as five. Big City Fishing is available to visiting schools throughout the year.

Catch-and-release
Because we practice catch-and-release fishing in Hudson River Park, all fish are returned to the river at the end of the program.

Provided
All of the necessary supplies including rods, reels and bait, as well as formal instruction. Fishing poles are provided on a first come, first served basis, with a half-hour limit when others are waiting.

Beyond fishing
Big City Fishing also provides participants with a first hand opportunity to learn about the Hudson River Estuarine Sanctuary. View plankton through microscopes, examine live specimens – caught that morning, either in traps or on someone’s line – and identify species using the Hudson River Park’s signature Fish Poster.

Recently caught
American eel, striped bass, black sea bass, bluefish, oyster toadfish, cunner, white perch, flounder, porgy, blue crabs.

Pier 46

Accessible to people with disabilities: Yes

Food Available: seasonal concession

Water Available: Yes

Restrooms: Pier 45 Comfort Station

Subway
1 at Christopher St.

Bus
M8

Nearby:
Christopher Street Fountain
Educational programs
Sunbathing
Water Taxi stop
Cafe

Pier 84

Restrooms: Pier 84 Comfort Station

Accessible to people with disabilities: Yes

Food Available: yes

Water Available: yes

Subway
A,C,E at 42nd St.

Bus
M42, M50

Nearby:
• Dynamic fountain
• Lawn with trees
• Fishing
• Sunbathing
• Summer events
• Dog Run
• Bike rental
• Water Taxi stop
• Restaurant
• Shopping

More about Pier 46
More about Pier 84

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© 2008 Hudson River Park Trust
All rights reserved

Hudson River Park Trust
EMAIL
phone: 212-627-2020
fax: 212-627-2021

353 West St.
Pier 40, 2nd floor
New York, New York 10014