Nj Reports 2024

Clash City Rocker reply :

Hey guys, lets start sharing some info.

I've been fishing clear water from the bank and I've been successful with blue-gill color jigs/trailers (caught a PB 6 1/2 pounder on this). Also had a lot of luck on Sunday slow-rolling a chrome/blue trap (the chain pickerel loved that one also).

How about you guys?

BrianSnat reply :

I had a pretty good day trolling with a Binsky blade bait. Boated 5 good size pickerel up to 24 inches and a 2 lb crappie. I was trolling hoping to hook into a trout or hybrid bass but didn't get either. Later on I tried the shallows (2-6 feet deep) with a Senko to see if the bass were in and bagged two in 10 minutes. It's been a strange winter. I've never seen bass in the shallows so early.

Christian M reply :

I've been out a couple times, first bass of the season came off a black worm shaky head on a drop off, just a 2lb dink tho. Second time out I caught a nice rainbow trout off a gold trap, then 2 good sized pickeril trolling the gold trap. I haven't hit any of my good holes yet tho.

NJBasstard reply :

I've been fishing from the bank in 6 feet of water or less. Been having good luck with bluegill color spinnerbaits and shad color crankbaits. Even got a descent catfish on the bluegill spinner the other day, which was a first for me. I've caught a few nice pickerel using a black buzzbait in 1-2ft too.

JerseyBassAddiction reply :

Big Fatties are hitting silent square bills slow rolled in the shallows by me. They are also moving in on the pads at Newton lake. 6-7 pounders.

JerseyBassAddiction reply :

On 3/27/2012 at 12:36 PM, Christian M said:

I've been out a couple times, first bass of the season came off a black worm shaky head on a drop off, just a 2lb dink tho. Second time out I caught a nice rainbow trout off a gold trap, then 2 good sized pickeril trolling the gold trap. I haven't hit any of my good holes yet tho.

I wouldn't consider 2lbs a dink in NJ

Clash City Rocker reply :

Got pretty cold this weekend up here. Fished slow but still got skunked.

SmokeRise1 reply :

My lake temp dropped back into the high 40s over the last week or so. This should put the spawn back on a more traditional schedule. I guess it's time to start fishing like it's early April instead of early May like we did a few weeks ago.

Clash City Rocker reply :

Anybody going trout fishing on Saturday? I am!

xxjoker122 reply :

iI've been ripping trout lately, 2 days ago i caught 22 trout combined with my buddy,one of which was 7 pounds.I used a black rooster inline spinner i got from walmart thing is awsome its solid so you can cast that thing anywhere, cant waite for sat

NJBasstard reply :

Been fishing Delaware River channels in gloucester/camden county. Got some nice bass the past couple weeks on shallow cranks and spinner baits. Been seeing alot of snakeheads caught on rubber worms and frogs too.

BrianSnat reply :

Bagged 6 bass on the local lake (West Fayson) in about an hour and a half and lost another 3. Most of the ones I landed were in the 14-16 inch rainge. Used a black swimming Senko with a 1/8 ounce bullet weight pegged and was catching them 3-6 feet of water. Also picked up a 13 inch rainbow trolling a spinner.

jerzeeD reply :

Aeroflex in Andover was a bit slow last week. 3 pickeral and 2 LM's. One bass was over 5 lbs., though.

Clash City Rocker reply :

On 4/26/2012 at 9:06 AM, jerzeeD said:

Aeroflex in Andover was a bit slow last week. 3 pickeral and 2 LM's. One bass was over 5 lbs., though.

What were you throwing?

jerzeeD reply :

I caught the 5 lb.er on a 8" zoom lizard in pumpkinseed. Worked so slow I was practically sleeping at the rod when he hit. Every thing else at Aeroflex this year has been on a 1/2 oz. Koppers live target golden shiner, silver with a blue back. Worked relatively slow with the occasionsal pause/jerk of the rod. So far I have bagged a 19" Rainbow, a 16" brown, a couple yellow perch and some pickeral there all on the crank. Funny.

A.j. Gamble reply :

Been fishing Round Valley the past 2 weeks since the cold moved in, and the bass fishing has been SLOW. With the water clarity and temps in the high 40's to 50's, the only LMB's I've caught have been in beds. Using a Senko rigged either in a drop shot, weighted Gamamatsu hook, or 3/- Gam hook and working the worm at the speed of molasses. Moving maybe a foot a minute and making the worm do it's dance, I did manage to land a nice, fat LM over 16" and prob 4 or 5 lbs in 2 ft of water using that method. Hit 4 rainbow's on a Rapala X-Rap in Tiger Perch at Hoffmann's Park Pond (near Spruce Run).

I believe the fish are confused with the huge warming trend followed by the sub-freezing temps with the rain. They're certainly not in pre spawn mode, hitting at anything, but are very skittish. Normally at RV, walking the banks you will see a ton of fish darting in and out, pickerel, bluegills, lmbs, even trout, but this past week especially the patterns are totally changed and slow...Anyone have the same experience in the Central/North Jersey area?

Clash City Rocker reply :

On 4/30/2012 at 7:43 AM, A.j. Gamble said:

I believe the fish are confused with the huge warming trend followed by the sub-freezing temps with the rain. They're certainly not in pre spawn mode, hitting at anything, but are very skittish. Normally at RV, walking the banks you will see a ton of fish darting in and out, pickerel, bluegills, lmbs, even trout, but this past week especially the patterns are totally changed and slow...Anyone have the same experience in the Central/North Jersey area?

Same thing here, very slow fishing following last week's weather. Should warm up by next weekend though.

jerzeeD reply :

Monksvill resovoir was slow... I almost slipped into a coma after 5 hours there Saturday. Going to Hopatcong on Friday with my buddy. It is supposed to be around 80 degrees. Here's hoping it picks up!

Clash City Rocker reply :

On 5/1/2012 at 2:31 AM, jerzeeD said:

Monksvill resovoir was slow... I almost slipped into a coma after 5 hours there Saturday. Going to Hopatcong on Friday with my buddy. It is supposed to be around 80 degrees. Here's hoping it picks up!

Amen! Maybe I'll see ya there!

jerzeeD reply :

Sweet! If you see 2 guys in a 16' white sea nymph with a mariner engine, that is me. We usually launch from Mt. Arlington.

A.j. Gamble reply :

Fishing at Hoffman's Park in Union, Hunterdon County, this week, and wanted to see if anyone could give me details on which of the other ponds besides the largest one, stocked with trout bc I was ripping rainbow's out of there on rapalas easily, that is good for bass fishing? The website says 5 of the ponds have bass in them and an old timer said there are biggins in one of them, but since there are 32 I don't want to waste any entire day. Especialy in the slow fishing that is plaguing all the area waters this month. Thanks for the info if anyone can fill me in with their experience.

Keepitbasic reply :

Got out today, just fished the shore out for about 2.5 hours no luck. Missed one. Fished jig,creatures,spinnerbaits. On a brighter note the boat is ready. Will get out tomorrow one way or another. Probably fish lake next to my house in Delran..swedes lake aka lake lani..

Keepitbasic reply :

Went to swedes today with the kids just fished the bank, caught 9 fish 1 on rapala dt4 6 on 4 inch worm wacky rigged 2 on 5 inch yum dinger. All around 1-1.5 lbs except 2 on yum dinger little over 2 lbs. great day with my 3 boys 13,8,5

jerzeeD reply :

1 4 lb. LM at aeroflex and 1 dink there Sunday. My buddy hit like 6 pickeral on his swimbaits though.

Clash City Rocker reply :

I'm trying to get some confidence in Senkos. I fished 2 hours from the bank with nothing but a weightless t-rigged Senko, and got 1 bite, 0 hook-ups. That's more than I've ever gotten on a Senko previously so I guess I'm headed in the right direction.

gambs44 reply :

With the warm weather trend of the past 2 weeks, the activity of the fish has picked up greatly. The bite's been steady for the entire day, and a variety of presentations have worked out here. Darker colors, blue/black and dark green w/ flake have been the ticket, whether on a soft plastic worm or lizard, or from a jig w/ craw trailer in those color schemes. I fished a new lake here and bagged this pig I have as my profile pic yesterday on one. It's my personal best since I was in HS 10 years ago too, so needless to say I was stoked when I finally beached the whale!

In the spirit of the original poster, lets start sharing our presentations and how they've worked in our neck of the woods. Learning what works from other guys is the best way to get bit I've come to learn. Especially since most articles and videos deal with the Southern bassin' or out West, it's tough to carry over some of the info bc of the difficulties that come with trying to fish in this crowded and pressured environment.

jerzeeD reply :

My buddy and I are going back to Aeroflex tomorrow for some late afternoon/evening fishing. I am dying to try out my new 3/4 oz. Koppers lipless gizzard shad!

BrianSnat reply :

It's been rough lately. This time of year the bass are usually juming in the boat. I was at Monksville last Saturday and hooked one bass in about 5 hours (and it spit the hook just as I got it along side the boat). I threw everything in my tackle box. Then on Sunday I went to Clinton Reservoir with a friend, He caught 2 small bass (no more than 11 inches) on consecutive casts but that was it for the day. I got skunked until we were trolling back to the launch when I pulled in a decent pickerel. That in nearly 6 hours of fishig.

This past Saturday and Sunday I was at Round Valley (camped there). Nada. Granted I was sort of going for trout and bass, which may have resulted in my getting neither. I was trolling a small spoon and small blade bait for trout in about 15-30 feet of water, while casting along the shore line for bass. Tried my go to bait, a T rigged, weightless Senko. When that failed I went with a Space Monkey and a Rage Anaconda on a drop shot. Then crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Nothing.

Even the local lake, Fayson, has been slow. Most years in May I've usually been catching between half a dozen to a dozen bass in 2-3 hours of after work fishing. Two nights out last week got me 1 small bass.

Clash City Rocker reply :

On 5/15/2012 at 8:59 AM, briansnat said:

It's been rough lately. This time of year the bass are usually juming in the boat. I was at Monksville last Saturday and hooked one bass in about 5 hours (and it spit the hook just as I got it along side the boat). I threw everything in my tackle box. Then on Sunday I went to Clinton Reservoir with a friend, He caught 2 small bass (no more than 11 inches) on consecutive casts but that was it for the day. I got skunked until we were trolling back to the launch when I pulled in a decent pickerel. That in nearly 6 hours of fishig.

This past Saturday and Sunday I was at Round Valley (camped there). Nada. Granted I was sort of going for trout and bass, which may have resulted in my getting neither. I was trolling a small spoon and small blade bait for trout in about 15-30 feet of water, while casting along the shore line for bass. Tried my go to bait, a T rigged, weightless Senko. When that failed I went with a Space Monkey and a Rage Anaconda on a drop shot. Then crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Nothing.

Even the local lake, Fayson, has been slow. Most years in May I've usually been catching between half a dozen to a dozen bass in 2-3 hours of after work fishing. Two nights out last week got me 1 small bass.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

jerzeeD reply :

I actually did decent on Sat..... Bagged 9, one was a hair over 3 lbs. I did this on my local lake here in PA though. My buddy got 10 on Franklin pond in sussex county. Friday we are going to try to get on Hopatcong for a bit. If not Hopatcong, then we might try Cranberry lake. That depends on where my friend wants to go ( using his boat!).

Clash City Rocker reply :

On 5/16/2012 at 9:16 AM, jerzeeD said:

I actually did decent on Sat..... Bagged 9, one was a hair over 3 lbs. I did this on my local lake here in PA though. My buddy got 10 on Franklin pond in sussex county. Friday we are going to try to get on Hopatcong for a bit. If not Hopatcong, then we might try Cranberry lake. That depends on where my friend wants to go ( using his boat!).

What were you and your buddy throwing?

jerzeeD reply :

Not sure what he was using on franklin pond... But I was using 6" and 8" zoom lizzards in pumpkinseed. I started on the 8", but noticed I was missing some. I downsized so the smaller ones could fit the bait in there mouth and voila... My hookup ratio got better.

tjc76 reply :

I've been nailing trout in all the stocked brooks and creeks. Getting kind of tired of trout fishing. Time to start concentrating on smallies. Hit the Passaic River yesterday. Smallmouth fishing is heating up. Had 4 bronzebacks 11- 19 inches. Hitting Rapala xraps and soft plastics.

jerzeeD reply :

Well, Lake hopatcong wasnt great. We went out fri. and my buddy 1 LM,1 pickeral, anf 2 rock bass. I hit a 3 lb LM and 1 LM that looked like a 7" power worm would beat in a street fight! I have a lot of running to do this week ( baby coming in 2 weeks!) , but I am going to see if I can hit Aeroflex one morning before work. My buddy and I have a trip to Lake Shohola planned for next Sunday.

tjc76 reply :

Fished the passaic river today in the pouring rain. The smallmouth bite was ON. 14 smallies landed, 3 dropped. 2 on a silver phoebe, 2 on a powerteam lures grub, 10 on a black/blue flake senko. Nothing huge, all fish 10 -14 inches. A couple of pictures.

ClackerBuzz reply :

hey guys. i just posted looking for some spots in ur area. can anyone make some suggestion?

Post:

Hey guys, I’m interested in finding some ponds/lakes in south NJ. It’s actually going to be closer for me than constantly driving out to the Phila. Suburbs. I know there are some amazing fisheries just over the bridge. Can anyone make a few suggestions? Also I’m willing to join a fishery if they allow members. I fish from shore/canoe and love everything from open clear water to bushwhacking in the backwoods to a scum frog pond. Let me know if anyone would like to meet up. I usually fish at least 3 days a week. Thanks!

BrianSnat reply :

Things are heating up. Bagged 7 bass and two pickerel Sunday evening. Biggest bass was 4 lbs and also got a 3 pounder.

Went out again tonight for about an hour and a half and boated 5 bass and lost about 4 others. One was 3 plus pounds and all but one were a good size.

Caught them all on either a swim Senko or a Yumdinger (both green pumpkin and T rigged. Swim Senko had a keel weighted hook and the Yumdinger was weightless) in 5 feet or less of water. The biggest bass were all caught in about 2-3 feet of water.

BrianSnat reply :

On 5/22/2012 at 6:18 AM, tjc76 said:

Fished the passaic river today in the pouring rain. The smallmouth bite was ON. 14 smallies landed, 3 dropped. 2 on a silver phoebe, 2 on a powerteam lures grub, 10 on a black/blue flake senko. Nothing huge, all fish 10 -14 inches. A couple of pictures.

About where on the Passaic are you fishing?

BrianSnat reply :

On 5/25/2012 at 10:59 AM, ClackerBuzz said:

hey guys. i just posted looking for some spots in ur area. can anyone make some suggestion?

Post:

Hey guys, I’m interested in finding some ponds/lakes in south NJ. It’s actually going to be closer for me than constantly driving out to the Phila. Suburbs. I know there are some amazing fisheries just over the bridge. Can anyone make a few suggestions? Also I’m willing to join a fishery if they allow members. I fish from shore/canoe and love everything from open clear water to bushwhacking in the backwoods to a scum frog pond. Let me know if anyone would like to meet up. I usually fish at least 3 days a week. Thanks!

What about Round Valley or Spruce Run? I doubt they are much more than an hour away from you.

tjc76 reply :

On 5/31/2012 at 12:50 PM, briansnat said:

About where on the Passaic are you fishing?

Brian,

Been fishing pretty much everyday in the little falls/ totowa area. It has been on. xraps and senkos are hot.

Clash City Rocker reply :

Anybody finding more weeds than usual out there? Last summer in my usual hole I was throwing cranks, but now cant even throw a jig or spinnerbait without pulling in a blob of weeds with it. The plastic bite has been slow for me and I can't try anything else. Makes me wanna go home and drink beer!

BrianSnat reply :

I've been doing well lately on West and South Fayson Lakes. Bagging bass in the shallows in bunches. Mostly on a pumpkin Senko or Yumdinger, T rigged and weightless, but one night I was killing them on a Yamoto Kreature with a keel weighted 4/0 worm hook (also pumpkin). When I ran out of the Kreatures that night the bite slowed down a lot. In the past two weeks bagged 2 four pounders, several three pounders and a lot of bass in the 12 - 15 inch range. A few pickerel too.

Been getting between 6 and 9 fish in only a couple hours of fishing after work.

AK-Jax86 reply :

Anyone fish manasquan reservour. I use to go there all the time cuz I lived 5 mins from it and caught some nice size largemouth, pickerel, and hybrid stripe bass. I had a lot of fun there and you could rent boats for $15

jerzeeD reply :

The extra weedy waters are due to no winter freeze. The water temps were warmer than usual earlier than usual. 3/4 of the time i am throwing t-rigged plastics or weedless swimbaits.

Steven Dauster reply :

saw this thread and had to log in for the first time in a very long time. I have been fishing potash in oakland NJ lots of good sized perch (its a shame its so polluted would make good eats) and LMB is decent numbers. I usually go there for only 1-2 hours to get my fix when Im short on time but always get 1-3 even when Im only on the water for an hour. Nothing to call home size wise though. Been getting em on small zoom flukes and black/blue buzzbaits. Went to sebago on 7lake drive yesterday (I know its NY but its pretty close for most of us north NJ guys) got skunked water was very clear and but very turbulent. On a body of water that size Id figure they where holding deep and I was fishing from shore so I guess that attributes to part of my failures. Living so close to the passiac ive never really given it a shot but after reading up on some of you guys posts im gonna head and try it. Anyone ever fish whites pond in waldwick Ive also been considering giving that a shot.

tjc76 reply :

Steven, welcome to bassresource. I live in Waldwick and fish Whites quite a bit. It can be pretty good. Most of the fish there are cookie cutter size. 1 to 2 lbs. My pb from whites is 3 lb 9 oz. There are also lots of sunfish, carp, and catfish. I spend most of my time fishing the Passaic and Ramapo rivers for smallmouth. If you ever want to meet up, send me a pm.

Steven Dauster reply :

Thanks for the info tjc76! I have only been seriously bass fishing for the past 2 years (took me a while to get over beer and worms but hey lol) so as long as theyre there I dont care if they are only 1-2 pounds lol. If you dont mind me asking where in the passaic do you fish. Im not looking for youre honey hole or anything sepcific just where to park. I live a few blocks away and have tried parking across the street from elmwood park h.s with a little bit of luck. Just alot of trash in the water there and I dont like fishing so close to the street. I have also had good luck behind memorial middle school in fair lawn the problem is in the summer heat its like a mud bug swamp.

tjc76 reply :

Steven, I fish the Passaic mainly in the Little Falls/ Totowa area. I park in any office lot I can find with easy access to the river. As for Elmwood Park, you can do really good in that parking area. walk down the path headed south on river road, there are some deep holes right along the bank, eight to ten feet deep. the fish stack up there and will crush soft plastics

Steven Dauster reply :

Awesome thanks again tjc within the next day or two im going to give the passaic another shot and or whites cant wait

jerzeeD reply :

It was a multi species day at Aeroflex today! Caught a rainbow trout, a big perch, a 3 lb. LM, and 4 pickeral. Had a knot fail on one fish so god knows what that was...All in all a good day on a pressured lake.

Steven Dauster reply :

Like I said I gave the Passaic another shot from 730-11 this morn one big bluegill on a jointed rapala and a SMB 7.5inches on a different jointed rapala. Never caught anything on jointed cranks guess I should use em more. Bite was good before it starting warming up. After 9ish I couldnt buy a bite. Had another decent sized one jump out and toss the hook earlier in the morning as well Good day though any time I dont skunked I consider it a good day

tjc76 reply :

Nice work Steven, keep at it. They will get bigger. Rapalas work real good. It is always good to have a crankbait, minnow or spinner tied on a rod. You can cover water fast and move on if nothing is happening. Seems it worked for you.

tjc76 reply :

best fish of the day today. www.photobucket.com/tjc76july30

jerzeeD reply :

Nice fish,tj! Going back to Aeroflex with 2 dozen herring and a 12 pack Sat. evening. Targeting mostly rainbows, browns, and salmon to smoke up for a bbq on Sun. Got a good feeling though. My confidence in that lake literally grows by the trip

Mad Fisherman reply :

Fishing has been good for me. Caught 4 LM's, lost 2, all on senkos yesterday. On Sunday me and my buddy were kayak fishing. He caught a 1 and 2 lb LM. Later on we shore fished on a farm pond. He got nothing, I had a huge hit on a frog, a small 2 lber on a clear top water strike king that walked the dog and later on had an absolute giant on a Rapala skitter walk that got off by the dock. Catfish bite has picked up over here also.

Mad Fisherman reply :

Went out this morning with the same top water strike king and caught a 2-3 lber and had a hit which I think was a pickeral.

tjc76 reply :

Caught my personal best smallmouth bass yesterday. 18 inches 3 lbs 6 oz.

www.photobucket.com/tjc768912

Clash City Rocker reply :

Hey is anyone still catching anything? Pickerel?

SAC2 reply :

yes, there is still much good fishing to be had. caught a limit of pound and a halfers (bass, that is) drop shotting last weekend, a few slime darts mixed in. trying to get out in a few hours after i get my anatomy lab done. flippin bite might be good today with the high blue skies and little wind.

SAC2 reply :

well the flipping bite didnt pan out, but a trolling bite did....lol. hands got cold and resulted to trolling small rapalas slowly and ended up with 3-4 bass and a mess of pickeral.

Christian M reply :

On 4/2/2012 at 11:22 AM, JerseyBassAddiction said:

I wouldn't consider 2lbs a dink in NJ

Yea come to think about it 2lbs isn't so dinky in NJ, especially for the first trip of the season!

12987

Nj Reports 2024

related Northeast Bass Fishing topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Northeast Bass Fishing topic