NJ Fishing

[BassFishingMachine]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[bilgerat]

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

[Sharkbite]

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

[JKay]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[beloved78]

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