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

A call to Chris over at Big Bear Gear Lambertville also got us the first word of a few shad being caught in the river at Lambertville. Chris told me the store is well stocked with fishing gear for the shad run and for the opening of trout season in April.

A call to Bullet Hole Annex got us several reports. Nick said the store weathered he storm with no problems, however many areas still did not have power over the weekend and debris was still being cleaned up from the storm. Greenwood Lake is giving up smallies and largemouth to topwater baits and plastics fished around weedlines and structures. Hopatcong is also serving up some bass along with hybrids and occasional walleyes after dark. The Passaic is giving up catfish, carp and some smallies under high water conditions. Last but not least Verona Park Lake is seeing a good panfish bite and some early day bass on topwater baits.

Laurie Murphy at Dow’s Boat Rentals said the big cats are starting to hit in the lake. This past week Joe Orlando checked in with an 8-pound plus channel cat; Jim Welsh with a white cat weighing just over 3 pounds and Al Tourinsky has an 8-1/4-pound channel cat. Other notable catches this past week included a 3-pound, 5-ounce largemouth caught by Jake Bozik; Jim Welsh had a 7-pound, 5-ounce walleye; Jeremy Masso a 3-1/2-pound smallie; and Pete Rathjens a 3-1/2-pound bronzeback. The shop is now open to the public and you must wear a mask in order to come into the store. If you’re not comfortable coming in, the shop is still doing curbside pick up. The shop is stocking shiners, herring and worms and boat rentals are now available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Knee Deep Club will be holding their annual Catfish Contest from 6 p.m. Saturday, August 15 till noon on Sunday, August 16. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three heaviest fish, with gift certificates going to fourth, fifth and sixth place.

Over at Bait N’ Hook we were told they survived the storm, despite a short power outage, and were once again open by appointment only. They are not carrying live bait at the present time. When it comes to the fishing the only report they had since the storm was of some bass fishing in Oak Pond.

Another person that told us pickerel fishing was very good in December and should be good in January unless we have a hard freeze up was Steve over at the Blackwater Sport Center. In addition he mentioned some trout fishing should still be on tap in the fall and winter stocked waters in January. The store will be open Monday through Friday normal hours and closed on Sundays in January.

Fishing in the lower part of the state has been plagued by skim ice and up and down fishing, said Steve over at the Blackwater Sport Center. Pickerel fishing has been steady on live lined minnows when the water has been open on the bogs and ponds, as well as below the dam spillways. Parvin, Rainbow and some of the other lakes are producing some bass, pickerel and crappies. Fishing in Union Lake has been slow so far this winter. Steve said Mike Iasconelli won a recent winter tournament on a South Jersey Lake during January. I guess that’s one way to stay in shape when a lot of big tournaments have been cancelled!

The folks Buck Tails Outfitters are stocking bloods for those who want to give the bulkhead a shot there in Mays Landing. Plenty of open water for those looking to head into the Pines in search of pickerel.

Shad fishing was the main topic when I spoke with Diane over at Dave’s Sporting Goods in Doylestown. Diane said she got the first reports of shad being caught as far north as Bryam the last week in March. Since it’s the first part of the run most of the shad are bucks being caught on spoons and darts. The water is slightly warmer in the afternoons which are producing better numbers, she said.

“We saw another week of wet weather and heat,” said the crew at Smith Bait and Tackle in Leipsic. Despite the weather and heat some anglers have been finding fish at Massey Mill Pond, Silver Lake and Garrisons. Snakeheads, panfish and bass are being caught from Massey’s mainly on minnows. Silver Lake is giving up bass and panfish, and Garrisons is seeing an a.m. topwater bite.