Located on 120 acres of preserved farm in Warren County, the rehabilitation center provides treatment to orphaned, sick or injured wildlife including fawns, raccoon, skunks, opossums, squirrels, rabbits, woodchucks and other small mammals. Making a clean figure 8 is kind of tough especially when you can only sit in the `Yak. While Tennessee has a few more musky waters up it's sleeve it's hard to pass up any of the waters listed above. With the exception of those grown by private facilities, every stocked fish in the state was born and raised in clean, fresh water from Warren County ground. Chapter 22 Muskies Inc. 37 posts in this topic. They were very successful, took plenty of pictures, practiced catch and release and kept their favorite spots with more care then the secrets kept by the CIA. The fish shattered the previous record that had stood since 1976 by 3 pounds 15 ounces. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. 522 as an active member. Cave Run Muskie Guide Service & The Muskie Lodge 10752 Highway 1274 Wellington, KY 40387 Ph: (606) 776-6567 tonygrantoutdoors@gmail.com During the fall, these flats remain productive, and as the weeds die off in October, action while casting spinnerbaits can be arm-yanking any time of day. Nothing quite as enjoyable as taking the `Yak out on a nice, crisp, cloudy Fall day and having a go at the "fish of 10,000 casts. Little Swartswood Lake In many waters, 30- to 40-inch specimens are common. Living in Mountain Lake offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. Forty-five inches of muskie hitting on twelve inches of line is something no angler can ever forget. Fishing at Mountain Lake? All Hackettstown Hatchery fish are fed live forage before they are stocked so they acclimate to feeding in the wild. In the spring of 2014 the lake was stocked with landlocked . Lawrence Jopko, then 14 years old, was fishing for catfish with his uncle in the Delaware River near Washington crossing in 1990 when he caught the NJ State record tiger muskie. If you are fishing a body of water where depth drops off sharply, then the target zone might only be 20 or 30 feet from the shoreline. (source: NJ DEP). Freshwater Fishing . They will provide cover for sunfish and should bolster that population. Fly lengths should vary between 3 and 6 inches. Staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed this year's stocking of fall fingerling (10") and yearling (12") muskellunge in nine waters: Location Martinsburg, WV. And while Newfoundland (locally pronounced New-found-land) lies by road and track about forty miles from Manhattan and is roughly bisected by busy Route 23, civilization is not what defines it.Actually, the opposite. Fall Fingerlings (10") Thanks to the efforts of Muskies Inc. NJ, a non-profit conservation organization and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Game, quality muskie fishing can be found in many Garden State waters. Iowa is home to a lot of really good fishing, and Spirit Lake in particular is very well known for some monsters. Its close to the hatchery, so it tends to be the recipient of surplus. General FactsThe muskellunge is the largest member of the pike family, a highly prized sportfish and a true trophy. In either case, be sure to keep your drag nice and loose, and if you do hook up dont muscle the fish. s Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries and Muskies, Inc., the Watershed stocks a small number of true strain Muskellunge (muskies) into the Echo Lake Reservoir. limit-out Member; BST Users Sterile (unable to reproduce) Tiger Muskie have been introduced in mountain lakes to remove Brook Trout. Many young professionals and retirees live in Mountain Lake and residents tend to be conservative. . the PA Fish and Boat Commission recently changed to only holdover Spring stocking to grow a bigger fish) we are stocking muskies in both spring and fall. The month of August is always productive for smallmouths, although we have not always caught big ones. Hamilton noted that during recent electroshock samplings, sunfisha musky forage stapleare lacking in number and small. Hamilton says samplings dont assess alewife herring populations, but she believes from reports they are present. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), the muskelunge that Capt. Lake Hiawatha Homes for Sale-Whippany Homes for Sale-Fairfield Homes for Sale . My mounted NJ Jurassic River Monster The Bowfin! I retrieved the jointed lure slowly, working the drop-off, then finishing up with my version of a figure 8 in a kayak. Located in Liberty Township, Warren County, its maximum depth is 38 feet, mean depth 17 feet. | contact Spit Fire Triple Barrel Buckshot Alabama Rig. No matter how large the body of water that you are fishing, 90% of the fish will occupy depths of approximately 1 to 3 feet in these coves. 0 Same thing with walleye. Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, muskellunge in New Jersey do not stick by that standard and are routinely caught with less effort. You can review the latest newsletter here, and of course you'll be able to unsubscribe anytime. Muskies are often referred to as the fish of a thousand casts. This is not true by a long shot; dont believe it. New Jersey offers a wide array of fishing opportunities, both for those starting out and for the most experienced angler. Since the hatchery doesnt raise them, Hamilton hopes they get them from another water body and move them. Suckers exist in the lake as likely forage, however, and soon the state will stock golden shiners. Our 2014 family vacation on Long Pond, Mount Desert Island, Maine, seemed to promise better smallmouth bass than any my son and I had caught, but although we paddled and cast likely locations along the lakes seven-mile length, no bass weighed more than any we had caught in New Jersey during previous summers. It seems counterintuitive but your lure selection is much less important than all of the other variables involved. No yellow perch turned up during these efforts, either, though historically they have existed here. Penn-Jersey Chapter 50 Muskies Inc. Staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed this year's stocking of fall fingerling (10") and yearling (12") muskellunge in nine waters: The Fall Fingerlings were hatched April 1, 2020, growing to 10 inches in 6.5 months. Mountain Lake First of all, that magic time can become even more so. There are special events throughout the year as well as programs for schools. (source: NJ DEP). You learn something new every day! This section of the river is composed of long slow pools interconnected by shallow riffles and rapids. This 48-inch muskie, caught by Cory Ramsey, created quite a bit of excitement at Smith Mountain Lake. I bowfished it before and always saw giant muskys..[up]. This is the most popular and best bass fishing lake in the state. Gamefish like to move along the steepest drop-offs in cold water, where they dont have to burn many calories to rise from depths to shallows if a rise in temperatures occasions some activity. There are a few guides who specialize in muskie fishing on the Delaware River. Echo Lake Reservoir f&w department: njdep Sold Out. | search, Copyright State of New Jersey, 1996-2020 Department of Environmental Protection P.O. 1000 Rt. Hamilton said, Scott Collenburg, another biologist, sampled all the lakes we stock muskies in. Over the years DWR staff shifted to collecting . At 2,500 acres, it has grass and plenty of docks. Spool up with thirty-pound test, low-stretch line and you will be ready to go. Largemouths and crappies position among weeds, too, and especially the flats of the lakes two ends can be productive for bass this time of year. Keep in mind that fishing when multiple variable conditions are in play is much more important than the amount of time you put in, or how many casts you make. Spring Holdover Yearlings (12") The Fall Fingerlings were hatched April 1, 2020, growing to 10 inches in 6.5 months. Angler feedback has been mostly positive - please send comments on our programs to staff at NJFWFISH@dep.nj.gov. Merrill Creek, the county's largest impoundment, which reaches depths of two-hundred feet, already contains an impressive population . Catching a trophy muskellunge - or muskie - is one of the greatest thrills that can be experienced by any freshwater angler. 760 Brian Donohue | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Going fishing this summer? Muskie Fishing Adventure on the Mountain. Clayton Lake 1*. Yet this all can change during the magic time beginning at sunset and continuing until last light. This lake a a public boat ramp, picnic area, disabled access, shore fishing access, restrooms, and allows power boats. Keep informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey and get a year-round supply of great things to see and do! Muskellunge, however, was one fish he had no experience with until recently. By fall 2021 they should be 16-18 inches, approximately 24 inches by fall 2022, and 30 inches after four years of growth. But it's the best that can be done with a 20 year old pic. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This story was first published: Spring, 2018, Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, Winter Tactics For The Delaware River Angler. Lake Hopatcong. On that special day, many key variables were in alignment. Concentrate your efforts during the warm spring rain its a great time to target active muskies. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Lake X Lures Xtoad Shallow. Fish when as many of the desirable variables are present at the same time. This story was first published: Spring, 1999, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Winter Tactics For The Delaware River Angler. She says muskies might feed on them among weeds where herring spawn during spring. Known mostly for muskies, the lake is also a largemouth bass hotspot, and according to Pat Hamilton, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist, Pequest River watershed, black crappies here are well-established. These strong salty soldiers offer some of the best battles on the river, especially on light tackle. Tuna Time Off the Delaware Coast, Finding Fluke: The Other Reef Structure, WMIT Turns 50! Traditional tackle consisted of short, stout baitcasting rods, heavy braided lines, wire leaders, and baits, which included a variety of large bucktail spinners, jerk baits, diving crankbaits, or live suckers. %%EOF $425,000. Muskie and their hybrid tiger muskie cousins have been called the fish of 10,000 casts due to the patience and determination required to catch them. Its only over for a month; so cheer up, gear up and prepare for April togging! Some favorites are the Harasser, Grandma and the Reef Hawg respectively. The current New Jersey State record weighed in at a whopping 42 lbs., 13 ounces. All rights reserved (About Us). But I have to admit, while I almost always fish by myself, but it sure was nice to have couple of extra hands out there today. 670e \^:|-p F 0224k0Ow5(C\lxrKs_s>mau,N+0=` *aet?PG(Dne p!j Y~ Inline spinners like the traditional gold and silver Mepps Aglia Spinners 3 inches in length or greater will also work well. Chandelier In Master Bedroom| Start out by casting into a depth of a foot or so and keep casting parallel to the shoreline until reaching a depth of 3 feet. Lake Hopatcong Bill Schmidt was fishing in Culvers Lake in 1999 when he caught a 16-pound, 4-ounce hybrid striped bass. Bowfin! Prepare for success with accurate data about the type of fish that are caugh in Mountain Lake, learn what baits are used, and fish smarter with weather forecasts. A medium to heavy spinning or bait casting outfit with a 7-foot or so rod and 20-pound braid will do the trick. Shoreline stretches on both sides of the lake feature steep weedy drop-offs where muskies take refuge along the bottom edge of the green stuff, possibly snatching a sucker on occasion, and rushing up from below upon sunfish highlighted above. Try a 6-inch black wire leader attached via a barrel swivel (20 pounds or greater) on the terminal end of your rig. Musky Shop is a retailer of Musky Fishing Tackle and Equipment. Expect muskies in the 30- to 35-inch range, though some fish over 40 inches do show up. As soon as we started stocking them, the anglers started catching them. Warren County anglers can now hunt salmon averaging eighteen inches in Tilcon Lake, near the Musconetcong River at Waterloo Village, and perhaps Merrill Creek Reservoir later this year. (Source NJ DEP), One of the requirements for being certified with a state record fish should be having a proper fishing nickname like "Bumbo." Hamilton says this means the public is protected against ingesting Tricane, technically named MS222, although Mountain Lake isnt used for broodstock. 2,685 (source: NJ DEP), Bowfin are sometimes mistaken for the notorious invasive snakehead. Swamp fishing for Snakeheads in South Jersey, Night Time Kayaking for Flatheads on the Delaware River. Offset shank, extra wide gap, or hybrid style hooks will work equally well. We have had a few Musky close to the 50-pound mark caught and released but Musky that big are rare anywhere. 3,000 Good luck fishing and see you soon at New River Trail State Park. The park is four miles off Exit 24 . All fishermen must be 18 years of age. Ahhhhhh Autumn is here. So remember: "Let 'em go and let 'em grow!". Strip the fly in with a constant and erratic retrieve. It broke the old record, taken in the Delaware River by Mark Kronyak in 2008, by 1 lb. As I pulled in the lot, I recognized my good friend Andrew Hunter Yutko with a few other guys loading up their kayaks. To Top New Jersey Fishing Lakes Best Fish. Once it gets to warm their tough to find, even in the hole. When targeting muskies on the fly, either a floating or slow sinking line will work, with a tapered 6- or so foot leader and 6-inch wire leader on the terminal end. dep | index Mountain Lake was one of the hottest spots in NJ at one time. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada.