Am headed there from Seattle for a wedding this weekend. Any warm water fishing nearby?
Varden
I’m one town over from Morristown.
Warm Water fishing. Hmmmmm?
Bass season doesn’t open in NJ until June 15. But I think that means that any bass caught have to be released. I’m still trout fishing myself. Here are some options:
(1) Lake Hopatcong. about 30 minutes from Morristown. You’ll need a boat, but you may be able to rent one. Bass, walleyes, pike. Better than you would expect.
(2) Wanaque Reservoir. About 45 minutes from Morristown. Some surprisingly good smallmouth fishing, but no boats, no wading. Shore fishing only. You’ll need a permit from the Water Commission that owns it.
(3) Monksville Reservoir. Slightly farther than Wanaque. Another bass/Walleye lake, but you’ll need a boat. Very difficult to fish from the shore due to brush, etc. No rentals available. Believe it or not, there have been some 50 inch Muskies pulled out of there over the past year.
(4) Swartswood Lake. 45-60 minutes from Morristown. Surprisingly pleasant scenery for NJ. Once was a great fishing lake. On the decline due to surrounding development.
(5) Delaware River. That’s an hour from Morristown. This is an interesting time right now because there’s a shad run going on. That’s a unique experience especially if you fly rod for them. But you would be likely to strike out unless you had some expert help in locating the shad.
Smallmouth are literally everywhere on the Delaware. So you can wade fish for them (with appropriate caution, of course). But, drift boating and expert assistance may be needed to locate the larger fish. Walleye fishing on the Delaware can be good.
(6) Greenwood Lake stradles the NJ/NY state line. Boat rentals. Bass, walleyes, some musky fishing.
It’s not freshwater, but the Jersey Shore is reportedly very hot right now – blues and stripers. You’ll probably be 90 minutes from Sandy Hook. Wish I could get down there myself.
Try googling with the terms Fish Game Wildlife New Jersey, and locate the web site for the NJ Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife. The website has some good information about warm water fishing.
There are a couple of small lakes 2-15 acres in size very local to Morristown. If you indicate more about your interest, I’ll provide an opinion – but that’s all it would be.
What am I doing this weekend? I’m headed to the Little Lehigh in Pennsylvania. The sulphurs are starting to appear.
[This message has been edited by BigFlatBrook (edited 26 May 2005).]
Wow. Great reply. Where would I trout fish nearby? I will be wading.
Varden
From Morristown, there are several small, local lakes that are stocked early in the season. They are strictly put and take. Stocking probably ended a couple of weeks ago. I’ve never seen a fly rod on any of those lakes (ponds, really).
The closest place would be the Rockaway River. It is heavily stocked. There is access, but it may be difficult to locate if you’re not familiar with the area.
The South Branch of the Raritan is about 45 minutes away. If you want, I could give you directions to the Ken Lockwood Gorge. You won’t believe it’s New Jersey (once you’re inside the gorge, that is). But, it’s going to be crowded on Memorial Day weekend. There are other places on the SBR, but I may have trouble giving you precise directions. If you have limited time, you’ll want precision.
The Musconetcong River is a little farther than the SBR. That’s another possibility. I can try to give precise directions to some locations there – but it would be best effort only.
Both the SBR and the Musky are freestoners, but have significant limestone influences. Geologically speaking, the same limestone belt that results in the Lehigh Valley limestoners runs through New Jersey. But the limestone belt in NJ was geologically squeezed, so to speak, so the limestone only shows through in a few places. The Musky and the SBR run along a couple of these narrow limestone belts. Both streams hold over trout and there are even some stream bred trout in there.
I think those might be the best options.
Thanks. I’ll get a local map or ask directions. This isn’t a for sure thing. I just want to keep some options open.
Varden
Varden,
I sent you an email describing what I would do if it were me.
Many places on the Musky and SBR are posted. So beware of that.
Best of luck