Nj Reports

[gambs44]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[jerzeeD]

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.