New Jersey & Delaware Bay - New Jersey & Delaware Bay Freshwater Fishing Reports

The top trout streams over at Bullet Hole Annex were the Ramapo, Pequest, Rockaway and flat Brook. Nick said he got the best reports from those streams this past week and most were restocked with trout this past week. On the bass fishing front the store got reports of decent bass action in Lake Hopatcong and Pompton Lake where swimbaits and spinnerbaits were the main tools for anglers. Nick also mentioned that the Passaic River was once again fishable, be it still on the high side.

“It was a good week of fishing on the big lake this past week,” cited Laurie Murphy at Dow’s Boat Rentals. Crappie and perch are still being caught around the bridges and in the shallow areas. Anglers are trolling trout on spinners and spoons, along with a few pickerel. In addition walleye are being caught and released along with some hybrids around Brady’s Bridge. Pete Pelligrino checked in with a 9-1/4-pound channel cat; Jim Welsh a 2.2-pound crappie and Ed Mahon a 4-1/4-pound pickerel for the top weigh-ins on the lake. Laurie said the lake is at full pool and water conditions are excellent.

The report on the trout fishing from Joe over at Fairfield Fishing Tackle set the tone for most of our other reports when he said the streams are still high but very fishable. Reports coming into the store have been of decent catches away from the stocking spots. Even the fish that are now being stocked are moving into quiet water places because of the high water. He also mentioned some decent reports coming from the local small lakes and ponds where bass and crappie are starting to take on a pre spawn mode.

Trout fishing was also the main topic when we spoke with Don over at Ramsey Outdoors in Succasunna, saying that while the streams are still running high and will be for a while longer, water conditions have cleaned up and as long as you can get down to the fish you will catch them in the bigger streams. He suggested fishing the smaller streams away from the stocking spots in the holes where they lay up during high water. Likewise spinners and spoons make better lure choices in the larger streams while salmon egg and Powerbait nuggets are a better choice in the smaller streams. Andrew over at the Ramsey store also told us of very much improved stream conditions especially on the Ramapo, Rockaway and upper Musconetcong. He said spinners, small spoons and salmon eggs are taking the bulk of the trout in those streams. He also got word of some good bass fishing in the northern reservoirs,

Northern trout streams are running clear but high, and fishing has been decent according to Mark over at Tackle World. Mark told me pick Gulp worms and pink salmon eggs have been the top producers. The shop also got a report of some landlocked salmon being caught at Waywayanda and some smallmouth being caught from Greenwood Lake on swimbaits. Mark asked me to remind everyone of their up and coming Shimano Fishing Workshops on April 28. The workshops are free so stop on by and pick up some tips from the pros and good deals on Shimano gear.

Over at Creekside Outfitters Tom P had several reports for us. Waretown Lake is giving up some largemouth and crappies with the bass hitting Chatterbaits and the slabs hitting small killies and jigs. Some nice rainbows are also being caught from the upper Toms River and the TCA. Lake Riviera is producing some bass on golden shiners. Lou Brock pulled an 18-inch rainbow from the upper Shark River and some catfish are also being caught there.

Pickerel fishing continues to be the number one producer now that water levels in the Pine Barrens have returned to normal in most areas, stated Dennis over at the Hook House Bait and Tackle. Killies, spinners and swimming plugs continue to be the top producers. Dennis said he also got decent reports on the trout fishing in the Riverwood Park section of the Toms River on spinners and also mentioned that trout fishing has remained good in Spring Lake.

Bass and crappie fishing got top billing over at Jersey Hooker Outfitters. Amanda said she got good reports on the fishing at Manasquan Reservoir, Lake Carasaljo, Lake Manetta and Lake Shenandoah. Here too the word on the pickerel fishing in the cedar waters west of the store was very good on live killies and swimbaits. She also mentioned Spring Lake and the upper Toms River as being the top spots for trout fishermen this past week.

I spoke with John Bullock at Old School Outdoors in Ewing and he told me reports coming into his shop are telling of boat fishermen doing better with the shad than shoreline fishermen. A good part of the buck shad got past the Lambertville area with the recent high water. Anglers have also been doing well with the walleyes in the river from Trenton north to the Gap. John also mentioned that the canal and other waters in Mercer County were restocked with trout this past week.

“It was an up and down week of fishing in the lower part of the state,” stated Justin over at Allens Dock on Bass River. Pickerel fishing in the nearby cedar waters has been decent, with some better access, on live killies and swimbaits. Perch fishing has been decent in the Mullica and Bass rivers he added.

We got a pair of reports on the trout fishing in the lower part of the state when we spoke with the folks over at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May. They told us the trout fishing in Tuckahoe Lake was spotty at best while the fishing in Ponderlodge Lake which was restocked this past week, was good, Most of the trout are being caught on Trout Magnets and Powerbaits. They also mentioned some decent pickerel fishing in some of the cedar water lakes on live bait.

I spoke to Diane over at Dave’s Sporting Goods in Doylestown and she told us the reports on the trout fishing in the Tohickon Creek remain good and water levels in the cheek are in very good shape as of this report. In addition she said the reports on shad fishing show the bulk of the bucks being from Easton north.

“Perch fishing was the name of the game in the sweet waters of the Diamond State this past week,” stated Steve over at Smith Bait and Tackle in Leipsic. Steve said spillways at Garrisons Lake and Silver Lake remained the top spots and some bass and crappies are also being caught in those lakes as well. The top trout spot in the state was White Clay Creek where some decent size rainbows are supplying the fishing.