I'm currently in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia. While in town visiting family and the Phillies, I figured I'd get some fishing in while I had the chance. I'd been excited to revisit Hopkins Pond - I'd tried it years before, But I had not used good bait and the lake was too overrun by Alligator Snapping Turtles to get any fishing done. This time, we were going to be more prepared.
My grandfather, brother, and I headed out to Dick’s to pick up worms for bait and gear such as small snelled hooks, swivels, and bobbers to replenish the low supply I had left in NJ from previous trips. However, while getting back in the car, it didn’t start. It’s an old car we’ve got up here, and the battery certainly showed it. Long story short, we had our bait and tackle but would have to wait until later to go fishing.
Despite the setback with the car, which was thankfully fixed the next morning, we were not deterred and excited as ever to head back on the water. It was a perfect and clear summer morning with temps in the 80s when we decided to go out, this time straight for the lake.
After parking at the lot next to the lake, we took the trail alongside the shore through the surrounding trees until we found a nice shaded spot to drop our lines.
When we first arrived, Jacob and I had the same I idea: it may start off slow, but it was going to be a good day. We turned out to be right on point. Greeted by a large snapping turtle at the bank, we tossed our baited hooks in. Jakes and I switched off all day between two rigs: one with the hook suspended under a bobber, and another setup with the line connected to snelled hooks attached to a swivel, weighted with a split shot sinker fastened to the line above the swivel. Both worked.
Unlike the last time I was here, the fish started biting almost immediately when we dropped our baits in the water. As I was explaining to my grandfather on the way over, fish tend to look for shade and structure on a hot summer day, making the tree root-riddled shore of the lake a perfect place to catch them. We were going for sunfish, testing the lake, with the hope of a new species. But, of course, the main goal was to have fun.
It took a bit to actually start catching, since although the fish were nibbling, they frustratingly took the bait off the hook before we could set the hook. However, eventually, I was able to put us on the board with the first fish, a Bluegill! Once I caught that one, the catching was almost nonstop for the next few hours until we ran out of worms. I caught about 10 and Jacob caught about 16, but his higher total was obviously because I spent more time rigging and baiting. Obviously.
The fishing was going so well that even Zaide, who had just been taking pictures so far, got in on the action. He caught two bluegills as well, after which he said with a smile, “well, that was enjoyable.” While editing some of the photos, he showed me a caption he gave one of them: “It Was Summertime And The Fishin’ Was Easy,” similar to a line from a favorite play of his, Porgy and Bess. I thought the line described today perfectly - a fun, easy day of fishing with family on a nice summer day. It doesn’t get much better than that.
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