NJ Fishing 2024

BassFishingMachine reply :

Any of you guys been doing any fishing lately? Just wanted to see if anyone attempted to do some bassin yet. I've been having fun catching suckers in rivers, using worms. I tell you what, use a ultralite and hook into a nice 16inch sucker and you'll enjoy that fight for sure. Most of the lakes around here are defrosted, and if they are icy, its thin ice that melts, and reappears the next morning, but all in all I've been seeing alot of entirely open water lakes.

However, there is no sign of life in these lakes yet, which is why I don't bother throwin any lures around. The suckers are biting and thats good enough for me, until it warms up a bit that is..

NJ Tom reply :

Just started getting the boat ready, and respooling the reels hoping to get out soon, but now I look out the window and see nothing but snow. :'(

demonjd22 reply :

I will agree with nj tom, things WERE looking better and then we got dumped on. Unfortunately im in north jersey (Morris County) where the lakes are still mostly frozen over. How about you gentlemen?

Sharkbite reply :

I haven't been out either. I am working on the boat and trailer. Most bodies of water are pritty clear now. I plan on taking the boat for a run when it get above 40 F . I want to graph Spruce Run that will be my home for this season I think its close and pritty big. I think it will be a great learnig lake for me.

Any one know the lake at all. Always up for help.

NJ Tom reply :

Can't say I heard of Spruce Run. I am in Southern NJ, Down near the Atlantic City/shore area.

bilgerat reply :

Camden County here, went out a handful of times before the weather went to #@*& , nothing happening here yet

Sharkbite reply :

Its goiing to the 60s this weekend I am going to take the boat out for a run can't wait. ;D

JKay reply :

I just installed a fishfinder in my kayak this past week and am itching to get it out on the water. Lakes are still frozen over up here in Kinnelon. That 60 degree day coming up will be a total teaser; warm day, still lots of ice.

Maybe I should install an icebreaker bow on the yak next? If I paddle like crazy I could probably make it to some deeper open water

Zel... reply :

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I want to graph Spruce Run that will be my home for this season I think its close and pritty big. I think it will be a great learnig lake for me.
Any one know the lake at all. Always up for help.

Spruce Run is my second favorite lake in New Jersey

Here is a contour lake map of Spruce Run for you... no need to graph it.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/lakes/sprucern.pdf

And here are my 2 favorite locations on the lake. Weightless 5 Trick Sticks, Rapalas, and 4 straight finesse worms on a jighead do the trick for me in the springtime.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/zelmonster/spr1.jpg

(The ocassional 10 pound striper will get the heart pounding.)

Sharkbite reply :

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I want to graph Spruce Run that will be my home for this season I think its close and pritty big. I think it will be a great learnig lake for me.
Any one know the lake at all. Always up for help.

Spruce Run is my second favorite lake in New Jersey

Here is a contour lake map of Spruce Run for you... no need to graph it.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/lakes/sprucern.pdf

And here are my 2 favorite locations on the lake. Weightless 5 Trick Sticks, Rapalas, and 4 straight finesse worms on a jighead do the trick for me in the springtime.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/zelmonster/spr1.jpg

(The ocassional 10 pound striper will get the heart pounding.)

wow thax Zel. I didn't know you fished there YOU just really helped me Thanx

bilgerat reply :

First '09 fish last night !

All caught on ultra lite. 2 bass and 1 crappie.

First bass about 1 lb caught on a 2" Yum Vibra King tube on a 1/16 oz jighead.

Second was the crappie on a wacky rigged 3" Yum Dinger.

The last was the best, about 2.5 lb bass on the wacky rig. Missed him the first time, cast back to the spot immediately and got him. No fight at all, I guess they're still groggy.

Sharkbite reply :

Hey guys went to Spruce Run today and there is still ice only in the coves. The large center was clear. As we were loading the boat on the trailer 3 other guys came and were going out I don't know how they did but I didn't fish today. I wanted to test my boat out.

fishfanatic reply :

I'm in Camden Co. I have been fishing about 5 times a week for the last 3 weeks in our local lake/ponds with mixed luck. Have been using a spoon bait for trout at Audubon lake and have pulled in several pickerel the largest around 22inch and a couple of large mouth. Still no trout however

Sharkbite reply :

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I'm in Camden Co. I have been fishing about 5 times a week for the last 3 weeks in our local lake/ponds with mixed luck. Have been using a spoon bait for trout at Audubon lake and have pulled in several pickerel the largest around 22inch and a couple of large mouth. Still no trout however

Really your pullin in pickrele already? I thought they were pritty much the last in the lake to become active. How big is the lake you are fishing?

fishfanatic reply :

Really your pullin in pickrele already? I thought they were pritty much the last in the lake to become active. How big is the lake you are fishing?

the lake is not big just a local park lake freeze over if below freezing for a couple of days and thaws quick as well maybe 1/2 mile long

jvox reply :

Went out a few weeks ago, still A LOT of ice. Found a clear spot, but no luck. Hopefully the warm weath comes and STAYS soon. Im itching for my first bass of 09.

Sharkbite reply :

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Really your pullin in pickrele already? I thought they were pritty much the last in the lake to become active. How big is the lake you are fishing?
the lake is not big just a local park lake freeze over if below freezing for a couple of days and thaws quick as well maybe 1/2 mile long

Sound good bro

Jacksmyname reply :

Hi all. I think this is my first post, but I've been lurking for a while.

I now live in S.C., but lived in N.J. until 2005.

I fished Spruce Run quite a lot years ago; pretty good lake.

However, not far from there is Round Valley. Great place.

Large bass and trout (8-12 lbs) there were common place.

Brown, rainbow, and lake trout, Large and small mouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, rock bass, bullhead catfish, and eels are found there. Really a nice place to go.

Jack

Zel... reply :

Welcome Jack.

Round Valley is a hit or miss lake for me. Gin clear and you can see down 30 feet or so. I've caught some real quality bass there though. When it's tough there, I have a few deep spots with structure that jigging spoons and blade baits produce. No better place to spot fish during the spawn than RV.

Ever fish Merrill Creek Reservoir while you lived up north? (Now that's my favorite NJ lake.)

Jacksmyname reply :

Thanks for the welcome Zel.

Never fished Merrill Creek. Round Valley and Spruce Run were my haunts, along with various streams.

Don't know if you know any history of RV, but over the years a number of people drowned there; that lake can get nasty in bad weather. Last count I remember from about 30 years ago was 6, whose bodies were never recovered. One did eventually "come up", I think about 20 years ago or so. In the late seventies they had a one man sub there to try to locate the drowning victims, but no luck. The water is too murky/dark down deep. It was once a farming valley. There are still buildings, trees, roads etc. that were flooded over.

I've always loved bass fishing, as well as trout on small streams using ultra light spinng gear. Where I am now in S.C., close to Charleston, there aren't any trout waters, but plenty of places to go for bass. We have two small lakes here in our community; one is more of a large farm pond, the other about 67 acres. Several more large lakes within about a half hour's drive.

The last time I went fishing was in 1988. I just bought a bunch of new "stuff", including two Loomis spinning rods, a Shimano Stradic, two Sage fly rods, a Ross CLA fly reel, lures, line, etc. Tackle I still have from many years ago includes two Shakespear Ugly Stiks, a Fenwick 5ft. ultra light, a Loomis 5ft ultra light, two Daiwa reals, two Shimano ultra light reels, two Fenwick pack rods from my motorcycle days. Still have the first reel I bought 40 years ago, a Mitchell 300.

The "youngest" gear is the Loomis 5ft, and the two Shimanos, all bought in 1988. The other gear goes back 35 years or more.

Now, like everyone else, I'm REALLY antsy waiting for the weather to turn warm and stay that way. We had a really nice week, but it's cooled off again, with rain forecast for almost a week.

Sharkbite reply :

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Welcome Jack.
Round Valley is a hit or miss lake for me. Gin clear and you can see down 30 feet or so. I've caught some real quality bass there though. When it's tough there, I have a few deep spots with structure that jigging spoons and blade baits produce. No better place to spot fish during the spawn than RV.

Ever fish Merrill Creek Reservoir while you lived up north? (Now that's my favorite NJ lake.)

Hey Zel I fished Merrill Creek a few times got skunked alot. The only place I had produced was the weed bed straight across from the launch. Havn't gone back much since. Got any info?

NJAngler609 reply :

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I'm in Camden Co. I have been fishing about 5 times a week for the last 3 weeks in our local lake/ponds with mixed luck. Have been using a spoon bait for trout at Audubon lake and have pulled in several pickerel the largest around 22inch and a couple of large mouth. Still no trout however

Really your pullin in pickrele already? I thought they were pritty much the last in the lake to become active. How big is the lake you are fishing?

haddon lake(audubon lake) is a pretty d**n good lake for its size....seen some good sized fish pulled out of there...last year seen about a 6+ lber spawning

Zel... reply :

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Hey Zel I fished Merrill Creek a few times got skunked alot. The only place I had produced was the weed bed straight across from the launch. Havn't gone back much since. Got any info?

Here are my Merrill Creek Res. deep water spots... circled in red. Jigging Spoons, Blade Baits, Jigs and Carolina Rigged Tubes is what I use.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/zelmonster/MERRILLCREEKMAP.jpg

Sharkbite reply :

Thanx alot Zel I will be sure to let you know how I do there.

beloved78 reply :

well i have been fishing davidson mil pond (it is the lower pond from farrington lake )it is a middlesex county park and i have had good results i fish with my ultralight and caught 4lmb 2pickeral and 2 catfish i caught all my bass an crawfish colored lures the biggest one i caught was 4lb 3oz on a red crawfish tiny trap it was awesome so if you live in central jersey check this place out .they allow boats but only electric motors .i dont have a boat all my fishin is on the banks. ps my buddy has been killin the pickerel their

lubina reply :

Fish activity has been very good last week, as usual the dinks first. Perch are attacking bass lures aggressively. My best was a 2 1/2 pounder. Best lures have been cranks and jerks fished slow and jigs. With the cold front coming this week may be harder to catch them.

Tom Sawyer reply :

3 pickerel, 1 small LMB, caught on live shiners yesterday.. Sunnies were out hitting earthworms too... special day with my 5 1/2 yr old, good times, spring is here.

In the a.m. I went to Poricy Park in red bank/middletown on my maiden voyage on 1st kayak. Zero life ,no activity at all , no bait fish or swirls or anything, except one sunny floating belly up..

bilgerat reply :

Friday night was good - 5 bass, 2 crappie. Biggest bass about 3 lb.

Saturday night was terrible > Windy, lost 3 lures. 1 dink in 5 hours. I should have stayed home, but my daughter had a sleepover. House full of 12 year old girls. Hmmmm.... maybe I was better off out anyway

Sharkbite reply :

Hey I am trying to get out to Spruce Run tomorrow or the next day. The weather has been a little rough. I am new to boating so want to be safe. I will keep you guys up dated.

fishfanatic reply :

Going out this weekend again will let ya know

grahamb reply :

Looks like Spruce Run rents boats. Is that place too big to fish effectively from a row boat?

thanks.

Sharkbite reply :

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Looks like Spruce Run rents boats. Is that place too big to fish effectively from a row boat?
thanks.

Well I have a small Jon boat with a 3hp motor and trolling I get around just fine.

jvox reply :

Ive been fishing Duhernal Lake in Old Bridge, and two reservoirs off of the lake, and have been getting SKUNKED! :'(

Ive pretty much only been using plastic worms. Seems I cant really use and other type of lure because there are weeds EVERYWHERE in these bodies of water. The plastic worms work great in the summer, but I havent been getting anything with them lately. Any suggestions?

Sharkbite reply :

What about w T riged or weedless jig. Maybe even a fluke or spinner bait. Is this in old brige NJ

Zel... reply :

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Ive been fishing Duhernal Lake in Old Bridge, and two reservoirs off of the lake, and have been getting SKUNKED! :'(
Ive pretty much only been using plastic worms. Seems I cant really use and other type of lure because there are weeds EVERYWHERE in these bodies of water. The plastic worms work great in the summer, but I havent been getting anything with them lately. Any suggestions?

I'm not familiar with the lakes you noted, but this time of year in the NJ lakes I do fish - I stick with suspending jerkbaits (worked slowely with long pauses), and go small on plastics with 3 grubs and 4 straight worms on 1/8 oz jigheads (and I only use dark natural colors this time of the year with plastics, like pumpkinseed, watermelon, smoke and black), again worked slowely.

bilgerat reply :

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Ive been fishing Duhernal Lake in Old Bridge, and two reservoirs off of the lake, and have been getting SKUNKED! :'(
Ive pretty much only been using plastic worms. Seems I cant really use and other type of lure because there are weeds EVERYWHERE in these bodies of water. The plastic worms work great in the summer, but I havent been getting anything with them lately. Any suggestions?

This is exactly why I started using light gear a couple of years back. Just my opinion, I've found I can work lighter baits better in a small water column. Zel has a good point about the small plastics on small jigheads. I even go down to 1/16 oz jigheads, as they are lighter I can work them longer without getting fouled in the weeds. You can catch plenty of bass (and nice ones too) on small baits.

Here's some of what I use:

Wacky rigged senko style 3" worm on #6 octopus or mosquito hook.

Small Fin-s fluke type bait rigged weedless and weightless.

Shallow cranks (Mann's Baby one minus) dives less than a foot.

3" Mister Twister curly tail grub on a 1/16 to 1/8 oz jighead.

Sharkbite reply :

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Ive been fishing Duhernal Lake in Old Bridge, and two reservoirs off of the lake, and have been getting SKUNKED! :'(
Ive pretty much only been using plastic worms. Seems I cant really use and other type of lure because there are weeds EVERYWHERE in these bodies of water. The plastic worms work great in the summer, but I havent been getting anything with them lately. Any suggestions?

I'm not familiar with the lakes you noted, but this time of year in the NJ lakes I do fish - I stick with suspending jerkbaits (worked slowely with long pauses), and go small on plastics with 3 grubs and 4 straight worms on 1/8 oz jigheads (and I only use dark natural colors this time of the year with plastics, like pumpkinseed, watermelon, smoke and black), again worked slowely.

Hey Zel what about any hard baits? Like a shallow diving crank ?

Tom Sawyer reply :

Today off the 2nd voyage on the yak; A orange suspended crankbait fished reeeel slow , got a decent lil LMB,, and a wacky rigged garlic glow centipede looking thing from cabelas got a nice pickerel, it was just like using a 3' senko..all in all slow.saw a school of crappie on top doing some ritual but they cared little of my offerings which were a small spinner w/ grub tail,and small crank.. Buona Pasqua to all

Zel... reply :

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Hey Zel what about any hard baits? Like a shallow diving crank ?

Prespawn I will stick to the Original Floating Rapala for the upper range, and a Suspending Rattlin Rogue for deeper. Post spawn I will still go with the Original Floating Rapala and move to thinner profile deeper running hardbaits like the Rapala Shad Rap and a Rat'L'Trap. Just seems to work for me in NJ lakes. I've never gained a comfort level with shallow running crankbaits.

Sharkbite reply :

Ok great I think I am going to do alot with finess plastics and jigs this year.

NJAngler609 reply :

caught this last sunday on a 1/2 oz booyah red/black jig with a chigger craw....5 lbs even

Sharkbite reply :

Wow great Bass man what lake are you at?

NJAngler609 reply :

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Wow great Bass man what lake are you at?

its a secret lol...i live in burlington city tho..so theres a clue

Sharkbite reply :

Yea I'm not familar with that area. Isn't that near Cherryhill NJ

Zel... reply :

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its a secret lol...i live in burlington city tho..so theres a clue

If I were to harbor a guess I'd say Sylvan Lake.

NJAngler609 reply :

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its a secret lol...i live in burlington city tho..so theres a clue

If I were to harbor a guess I'd say Sylvan Lake.

hahahahaha man i wish...i absolutely hate that lake...the bucket brigade kills that lake plus they stock it with trout every year...id rather sit on my butt then fish that lake

NJAngler609 reply :

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Yea I'm not familar with that area. Isn't that near Cherryhill NJ

yeah about 15 mins north of cherry hill

beloved78 reply :

well trout season has been good to me so far i caught a 8 lb 2 oz brown trout on opening day been traveling to monmoth county all the way to verona lake in essex county nothin but a lil trout at englishtown pond thats it fished today at ferrington lake with shinners hoping to get a pike or a bass or something but shizzel nothin at all gona check out hooks creek lake manyana so im hoping

Sharkbite reply :

Well I went to spruce run and got skunked. I fished the points Zel said to but nothing. I also had problems wih my fishfinder. I had it tied to the battery. I took it off the terminal then I put it back on and now it gets no power.

JKay reply :

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Well I went to spruce run and got skunked. I fished the points Zel said to but nothing. I also had problems wih my fishfinder. I had it tied to the battery. I took it off the terminal then I put it back on and now it gets no power.

Don't feel too bad. I got skunked at Split Rock yesterday. The wind was howling up there by 2pm. Fish were suspended at 4-5' in 9-12 ft of water, but couldn't get much of a bite. I had one on and didn't realize that he was swimming toward me. When I did finally wake up, I tried to quickly reel up the slack to set the hook, but he must have felt it and spit it. Oh well. Better luck next time

Sharkbite reply :

Thaks for the support. I have faith in myself and I know it will only ge better. I am still new to bassin and also these lakes. I just need to put together a pattern or 2 and I'll be pullin em in

Fishin Phil reply :

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well i have been fishing davidson mil pond (it is the lower pond from farrington lake )it is a middlesex county park and i have had good results i fish with my ultralight and caught 4lmb 2pickeral and 2 catfish i caught all my bass an crawfish colored lures the biggest one i caught was 4lb 3oz on a red crawfish tiny trap it was awesome so if you live in central jersey check this place out .they allow boats but only electric motors .i dont have a boat all my fishin is on the banks. ps my buddy has been killin the pickerel their

Plus 1 on that. I used to live in South Brunswick and the Riva Ave circuit was great for after work lol. Start at Davidson's mill pond right after work, go down Riva and hit all the little spots on Farrington, then either hit up Dalenback or head head into Milltown/Ryders lane. By the time you fished all the spots it was time to quit fishin for the day!!

ikefan reply :

i've been ripping a 1/2 oz red eye shad gizzard shad pattern for the last month. a month ago, it was all dinks and the occasional yellow perch and one big (13 inch) shad. but, i've been on some good size for the last few weeks. i wade in and they're pretty consistently staging off the nearest dropoff close to the flats. at my main lake, there is growing vegetation at the bottom of two of these dropoffs..i've been casting past it and ripping the shad through it, or burning right over top barely touching. everything i've caught has been on a steady retrieve on these spots.

SenkoShawn reply :

im from NY but i wanna hit jersey bad this yr one of u guys gotta put me on some fish.

JerseyBassin reply :

fished spruce run once and only came up with one nice hybrid bass...looking to fish round valley this year

hear there are some big fish and thats what i like to target

Sharkbite reply :

Hey guys went back to Spruce Run on Sat. I got skunked again. I went back to the shallows hoping the bass would be warming up. They were there too. I seen them hitting the top. So I threw top water, jigs, and spinners. No strikes. Water temp 51 F and stained. I was fishing bushes and mud flats. Need Help. Thanx

Sharkbite reply :

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I want to graph Spruce Run that will be my home for this season I think its close and pritty big. I think it will be a great learnig lake for me.
Any one know the lake at all. Always up for help.

Spruce Run is my second favorite lake in New Jersey

Here is a contour lake map of Spruce Run for you... no need to graph it.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/lakes/sprucern.pdf

And here are my 2 favorite locations on the lake. Weightless 5 Trick Sticks, Rapalas, and 4 straight finesse worms on a jighead do the trick for me in the springtime.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/zelmonster/spr1.jpg

(The ocassional 10 pound striper will get the heart pounding.)

Hey Zel do you still fish these point during the spawn?

Zel... reply :

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Hey Zel do you still fish these point during the spawn?

ABSOLUTELY!

Big Phish reply :

Has anyone been having any luck in the lakes in the west milford, ringwood, wanaque area this season? I had a great time spring fishing in shepherd pond but the bass are starting to get deep into the pads, making the fishing tough. I'm thinking about giving the monksville another chance but my patience in wearing thin with that lake.

Sharkbite reply :

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Hey Zel do you still fish these point during the spawn?

ABSOLUTELY!

Great thanks. How far off of the shore line do you start? Do you cast rite up close to shore then work your way back. Or do you start furthewr and work your way close? I always see alot of anglers there. I think that might be why I don't catch them with all that pressure.

Zel... reply :

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Great thanks. How far off of the shore line do you start? Do you cast rite up close to shore then work your way back. Or do you start furthewr and work your way close? I always see alot of anglers there. I think that might be why I don't catch them with all that pressure.

As you said, there usually are anglers on the spot so I tend to fish where they aren't, and move in after they leave. But if the spot is empty I start on the shoreline (throwing to all that brush) and work my way out to the end of the point, working the entire flat and the edges of the dropoff. I tend to stick to stickbaits, Fat Ikas and 4" straight worms there. That area I work the plastics real slow.

Sharkbite reply :

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Great thanks. How far off of the shore line do you start? Do you cast rite up close to shore then work your way back. Or do you start furthewr and work your way close? I always see alot of anglers there. I think that might be why I don't catch them with all that pressure.

As you said, there usually are anglers on the spot so I tend to fish where they aren't, and move in after they leave. But if the spot is empty I start on the shoreline (throwing to all that brush) and work my way out to the end of the point, working the entire flat and the edges of the dropoff. I tend to stick to stickbaits, Fat Ikas and 4" straight worms there. That area I work the plastics real slow.

Ok I see what I have been doing wrong now I think :-/ I have been fishing very close to the shore line. as well as focusing on that first drop about 10' to 12' off shore. I did dead stick with no strikes so I moved once I got the feeling that it wasn't a active zone. The water temp was coooler then too.

NJAngler609 reply :

went fishing to the secret spot again with my friend and boy did we have a great day...25 fish caught between the two of us...all fish were caught on a 5 inch mission fish in ayu color and a 1/2 oz booyah alton jones a-jig in blue and black with a berkley chigger craw trailer in blue amd black...fish were done spawing and were in the closest deep water near the spawning area...all fish were caught in 8-12 feet of water...pics of the biggest fish caught are below...couldnt break the 5 pound mark but alot of 4+ pounders

Sharkbite reply :

Dude the fish are close to done the spawn there? What was the water temp? How big is the lake. We couldn't find many beds at all.

NJAngler609 reply :

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Dude the fish are close to done the spawn there? What was the water temp? How big is the lake. We couldn't find many beds at all.

water temp was 68 degrees at 6am and got up to 72 by mid afternoon...fish have been off the beds for 2+ weeks now

Sharkbite reply :

today at the Spruce it was 64F climd to 67F do you think they are done too. Are you in south Jersey

NJAngler609 reply :

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today at the Spruce it was 64F climd to 67F do you think they are done too. Are you in south Jersey

yup in south jersey..well it considered south more like central...more then likely the fish at spruce just got done spawning and all the big girls are probably in deep water near the spawning areas..the females wont touch anything for a couple weeks after they spawn..they stay in deep water and recoup for a couple weeks...the males should be gaurding the beds/fry tho

Sharkbite reply :

Yea so far we got a Hybrid, and 2 Smallies. You can see them in the Fishing trip section. But rich got the smallies in the shallows tight to cover and the shoreline. Probibly on beds I guess. There heads were dented from the spawn. Checkout the thread dude. So were should I look now for the large mouth?

Sharkbite reply :

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Great thanks. How far off of the shore line do you start? Do you cast rite up close to shore then work your way back. Or do you start furthewr and work your way close? I always see alot of anglers there. I think that might be why I don't catch them with all that pressure.

As you said, there usually are anglers on the spot so I tend to fish where they aren't, and move in after they leave. But if the spot is empty I start on the shoreline (throwing to all that brush) and work my way out to the end of the point, working the entire flat and the edges of the dropoff. I tend to stick to stickbaits, Fat Ikas and 4" straight worms there. That area I work the plastics real slow.

Zel are you fishing all these plastics weightless in that area. I've been throwing alot of shacky heads and chompers. Should I stop and go weightless?

beloved78 reply :

well fished merrill creek reservoir today it was awesome throwing a 1/4 rattle trap couldnt believe the fish in their.i was pulling in 18 in trout and some massive bass.let me tell you my buddy tom hooked this bass is was about 6 lbs it was just a great time.all you jersey boys and gals check out merril creek reservoir you will not be dissapointed.and the best part of it is i dont own a bout all my fishing is done on the bank.i coldnt believe that the trout where killing the 1/4 rattle trap.i never seen anything like it.the bass in their are huge. i seen some big ones being pulled in by people on boats.their is not any bad place to fish their.all in all it was awesome

beloved78 reply :

one more place i want to share with you guys is kennedy park in sayreville nj.i was fishin and met a dude on the lake he showed me a picture of a pickeral he caught it was about 48 in so i asked and he told me about the lake.so i went with my daughter caught 5 bass all over 3lbs.my biggest was 5/12lbs on a frigin nightcrawler.i was fishing 2 pole 1 with bait and 1 lures was killin pickeral and bass.it was a great time.you guys got to check it out if our close you will love it.even my daughter was cathing em it was great.i dont believe in secret spots like some people i read on this post its pretty gay if you ask me their are alot of fish out their for all to catch and have fun so my fellow brethern when i come across a spot that i cath fish at i will post not keep it a secret like some fairy.until then tight lines and keep reelin em in peace

D4u2s0t reply :

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one more place i want to share with you guys is kennedy park in sayreville nj.i was fishin and met a dude on the lake he showed me a picture of a pickeral he caught it was about 48 in so i asked and he told me about the lake.so i went with my daughter caught 5 bass all over 3lbs.my biggest was 5/12lbs on a frigin nightcrawler.i was fishing 2 pole 1 with bait and 1 lures was killin pickeral and bass.it was a great time.you guys got to check it out if our close you will love it.even my daughter was cathing em it was great.i dont believe in secret spots like some people i read on this post its pretty gay if you ask me their are alot of fish out their for all to catch and have fun so my fellow brethern when i come across a spot that i cath fish at i will post not keep it a secret like some fairy.until then tight lines and keep reelin em in peace

I agree. If I did well somewhere, i would have no problem telling anyone that was looking for a good spot.

Big Phish reply :

You think we're ever gunna get a break from this rain?

There's gunna be a rod in my car at work tomorrow, but something tells me I'm not gunna be able to use it when I get out.

D4u2s0t reply :

i've been going out in the rain... better than not going out! but yea this weather sucks. My lake is about 2 1/2 blocks from my house so if I want to go, as soon as there's a break in the rain i'm there in 2 minutes which is nice. Fishing is good off the docks, and my buddies boat is there also

Big Phish reply :

Yeah I had been going out too but I stay close to home when it rains, because of the lightning possibility. My favorite lakes are all about 30 minutes in different directions and if I get caught in a sudden thunderstorm in a kayak in them it could get quite ugly.

Big Phish reply :

So has anybody been having any luck lately. personally i've been havin a lot of slow days.

Zel... reply :

A friend from my old club said they all did pretty well at Aeroflex the other week.

Oh yeah... I forgot to mention in my PM that slow rolling spinnerbaits (chart & white) in deeper water at RV can also be very effective.

D4u2s0t reply :

the last few times out have also been pretty slow for me... last friday got 2 all day, monday got 1 but was only out for about a half hour. I'll be on the boat all day tomorrow though, and tonight if it's not raining so we'll see.

Big Phish reply :

Zel, i've heard areoflex is a real pain to fish due to the extreme amounts of pads and trout stocking. But maybe I'll give it a try.

Fortunately white and chart are my go to colors in spinnerbaits so i've got plenty, but i've never tried slow rolling them for fishing depth. Do you suggest weighting them for that or just using a very slow retrieve?

Zel... reply :

Yes Aeroflex has loads of pads and matted weeds. Just drop a Senko or Crawworm in any small opening or hole in the matted weeds and watch your line carefully. Be sure to have a stout rod. The whole area near the end of the runway, right near the launch is where I catch the most.

And I wouldn't weigh the spinnerbait down at RV, I just use ones with a single larger blade for slow rolling.

D4u2s0t reply :

Had a great night tonight, from 730 - 9 got 10 fish. 1 was a baby, I really have no idea how he ate the hook, was probably 7 inches lol. 8 were in the 2-3 pound range, didn't weigh them, one was just under 4, and one was just under 5, which is a pb for me. All caught on *** flukes, hogs, and space monkeys.

Big Phish reply :

Well then when are we going out D4u2s0t? I need a connection to get on that water.

D4u2s0t reply :

haha, yea you do. I didn't even go out in the boat, right off the dock. If you want to come one day let me know. I had a good laugh when someone caught a tiny *** small mouth, and said "Wow, that's gotta be 3 pounds" lol. No way it was even 1.

you can get up here in the off season, there's no one really checking. But summer time there's badge checkers at the parking lots, have to have your badge and parking sticker. but let me know. We go out most fridays unless i'm filming, and I go out in the mornings alot. If you want to go out early one day that would work.

Sharkbite reply :

Quote
Yes Aeroflex has loads of pads and matted weeds. Just drop a Senko or Crawworm in any small opening or hole in the matted weeds and watch your line carefully. Be sure to have a stout rod. The whole area near the end of the runway, right near the launch is where I catch the most.
And I wouldn't weigh the spinnerbait down at RV, I just use ones with a single larger blade for slow rolling.

What esactly is slow rolling a spinner bait? Like swim jigging?

Sharkbite reply :

I had my best this year at Farrington Lake guys. It was a nice sunny day then the over cast came in and the bite turned on. Its a nice lake there

Big Phish reply :

Rain, Rain Go away...

Big Phish reply :

no one has anything to report lately? I've been working a ton but I'd love to hear if any of you other jersey guys are nailin' em

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

I'm not technically a Jersey Guy, I live across the river in Milford, PA. But anyway, I've been having great luck fishing shallow, pitching worms, Senkos mostly, from the banks. My catch rate is at 2.75/hr with some nice ones. 4 over 3lbs and one 5.75 lbs. Anyone else catching good ones shallow?

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Zel or anyone,

Can Aeroflex be fished from the banks or is that a waste of time there?

Thanks

NJAngler609 reply :

fished the local honey hole again and caught my new personal best....6lbs 5ozs...caught her in 12 ft of wtaer on a zoom baby brush hog(black/blue) on a submerged tree.

Big Phish reply :

nice fish! especially for the derty jers. feel free to PM me what lake that is.

Big Phish reply :

Anybody had any luck in this new cool weather?

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

The smallmouth are biting on the Delaware here in the Milford PA area. I've been hooking up on some largemouths in the private lake where I live but the strikes have been very light, just a pick up and swim away.

bilgerat reply :

It was ON last night here in South Jersey !!! I posted about it in the Tournaments and Outings section. Hopefully it'll stay hot through the weekend.......

Big Phish reply :

I've been havin' a pretty good week up here in the northern part of the state. The fish haven't been huge but they've been a lot easier to catch than they were a couple weeks ago.

Pez reply :

anyone fish round valley or spruce run lately?

Big Phish reply :

I'm going to Bear Swamp Lake in Mahwah for the day tomorrow. Anyone ever been up there? It's a two mile hike but I'll be with someone who has the gate code so we can bring the truck and kayaks. If you have any tips they'd be nice.

Big Phish reply :

If you live in Bergen county don't bother with Bear Swamp. It's a total waste of time, especially if you have to hike.

Big Phish reply :

Anyone doing any trout fishing next week? The fall season is coming up.

jbiz163 reply :

we were hitting the bass and pickerillo's up in stanhope, near Stevens state park... this 6.5-7lber hit the bass kicker frog through some thick slime. from the pic it looks like 5-6lbs but i was like 8 feet from the camera. wish i had the scale that day.

fishingfrenzy reply :

Quote
we were hitting the bass and pickerillo's up in stanhope, near Stevens state park... this 6.5-7lber hit the bass kicker frog through some thick slime. from the pic it looks like 5-6lbs but i was like 8 feet from the camera. wish i had the scale that day.

I know where you are.. looks like a solid 4 - 4.5lber.

RoLo reply :

Quote
we were hitting the bass and pickerillo's up in stanhope, near Stevens state park... this 6.5-7lber hit the bass kicker frog through some thick slime. from the pic it looks like 5-6lbs but i was like 8 feet from the camera. wish i had the scale that day.

I agree with you, from the picture it does look about 5 pounds.

Take it from a guy who lived in New Jersey for 50 years, that's an ELEPHANT by Jersey standards...congratulations!

In that same vicinity, we've done a lot of bassing in Hopatcong, Lake Muscenetcong,

and Budd Lake through the ice (lots of hawg pickerel).

Roger

D4u2s0t reply :

If you don't have a scale, should not estimate weight and post it. always my thought. ALWAYS hard to tell from a picture, but I would guess that to be 3-4 lbs. I still love the guy on my lake that caught MAYBE a 1/2 lb smallie and was screaming about how it was 3 lbs... was maybe 13 inches long lol.

Most 4+ pounders I have pulled in, the head is about the same size as mine. That pic the head is the same size as yours while your arms are fully extended. Either way, great fish. And who knows, you can't tell from a picture.

That being said, a 7 pound fish for these parts is great. I am yet to break 5 pounds in my home lake. Lots of 3-4 lbers, and 2 or 3 that were just on the brink of pushing 5.... but not quite there!

SAC2 reply :

anybody still bassin in jersey? i know there has gotta be a couple die hards out there with me! Swartswood lake produced 3 LMB between 1 and a half to 3 pounds and 1 decent sized smallie. smallie fell victim to the shakey head and the LMB were slayed with the drop shot and carolina rig.

The Bassinator reply :

I was back in jersey for thanksgiving break and caught a fat 3 pounder. I was just trying to learn to cast with a baitcaster and while I was reeling in I felt something pulling and it turned out to be a bass

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