Bridgewater, NJ bass pond help!!!

[maddhatterr]

Going to be driveing my wife to and from a "buisness social gathering" near the commons mall thursday evening and I wanted to do a little bass fishin while I waited to pick her...was gonna hit the old pond at the end of country club rd. but when I drove by it looks like that won't be happening...use to fish there as a young teen all the time...great bass pond but fisherman no longer appear to be welcome there....any suggestions...I will only have an hour or two to fish....got on google maps to search the area and could help but notice a pond right next to the commons mall....anyone know anything about it....it is just east of the mall....maybe I'll do some old fashion investigating......if you know this pond a heads up would be nice as to if its gonna be a waist of my time....:)

[Cuz]

North Branch Raritan River Rte. 22 & Milltown Rd. Trout, small smallmouths.

[Lard Almighty]

Check out Spooky Brook Pond in Colonial Park, about 15 minutes from the mall. The canal is near there too, which can be good for bass.

[GoIslanders]

Washington Valley Reservoir-Chimney Rock Road off US 22.

[Moz]

There's some drainage pond between the Bridgewater Commons Mall and the Commons Village but I don't think there are any fish in there. It was only built a few years ago, I suppose it could have been stocked, but I've never seen anyone fish there. It would be pretty wild if there's fish in it.

To the East of the Mall is Washington Valley Reservoir and the bass fishing there can be decent. Figure a 10+ minute drive to get to the main park's parking lot and a little under a 10 minute walk to the shore access on the other side.

Round Valley Reservoir Boatramp area is probably a 25 minute ride up 22 from there.

North Branch where Cuz mentions would be the quickest option for fishing but not really good for bass.

[maddhatterr]

Yeah...the canal looks like the ticket....I'm really not interested in fishin for bait in the rivers(trout)...and have never heard anything good about chimney rock....I had really had my heart set on the country club rd. pond but will have to settle for something else.....still might check out that pond over by the commons though....found an old map from the 80's and it showed a pond in just about the same area...what the hell, I'm just gonna be killin time anyway...

[Wilson]

Yeah...the canal looks like the ticket....I'm really not interested in fishin for bait in the rivers(trout)...and have never heard anything good about chimney rock....I had really had my heart set on the country club rd. pond but will have to settle for something else.....still might check out that pond over by the commons though....found an old map from the 80's and it showed a pond in just about the same area...what the hell, I'm just gonna be killin time anyway...
Washington Res. does have some fish, and is real close to Bridgewater.
http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35441

[kcritch]

Two suggestions:

1. Bedminster Pond - Straight up 206 N past the 78/287 junction in Pluckimen/Bedminster about a half mile you will see a small gravel place to park on you right. The pond is right there.

2. Just got back from Washington Valley and got 4 small bass in about 2 and half hours. If you go in the evening you will do better.

If you go I wouldn't take 22 though....
Take Prince Rogers road to N Bridge and make a left.
Then make a right onto Foot Hill rd (Green knoll Fire Dept on corner)
Take that to Steel Gap and make a left.
Bear right onto Newmans Lane and the parking lot for the park will be on your right.

Bedminster is closer and easier to walk around given the time you have. Good Luck.

[Lard Almighty]

1. Bedminster Pond - Straight up 206 N past the 78/287 junction in Pluckimen/Bedminster about a half mile you will see a small gravel place to park on you right. The pond is right there.
That pond sure looks good, but I have fished it several times and have caught nothing but dinks. It's decent for crappie and sunnies, but for bass I would look elsewhere. Plus, it's probably weed choked by now.

[kcritch]

That pond sure looks good, but I have fished it several times and have caught nothing but dinks. It's decent for crappie and sunnies, but for bass I would look elsewhere. Plus, it's probably weed choked by now.

True about the weeds.....I keep forgetting it's more than half way through June already....so you might be right that its weeded over by now.

[JoeLongo]

There's some drainage pond between the Bridgewater Commons Mall and the Commons Village but I don't think there are any fish in there. It was only built a few years ago, I suppose it could have been stocked, but I've never seen anyone fish there. It would be pretty wild if there's fish in it.

To the East of the Mall is Washington Valley Reservoir and the bass fishing there can be decent. Figure a 10+ minute drive to get to the main park's parking lot and a little under a 10 minute walk to the shore access on the other side.

Round Valley Reservoir Boatramp area is probably a 25 minute ride up 22 from there.

North Branch where Cuz mentions would be the quickest option for fishing but not really good for bass.



I work over there on Somerset Corp Bld. It is funny you mention this pond. For the first time today i drove past chipotle heading towards the mall and saw it. Looks fishy, wouldnt be surprised if there is anything in there. Not sure about getting down to it, but where there is a will there is a way

[Moz]

I work over there on Somerset Corp Bld. It is funny you mention this pond. For the first time today i drove past chipotle heading towards the mall and saw it. Looks fishy, wouldnt be surprised if there is anything in there. Not sure about getting down to it, but where there is a will there is a way

I parked back there in April when I went to get a birthday gift for the wife at Crate & Barrel and had a long look at it. I don't think the pond itself was there until recently, unless the property owners or some renegade stocking vigilante put fish in there I don't know how there could be fish in it.

Would be kinda nice, pull up and park, hit the Starbucks for a cup of coffee and then wet some lines. :D

[maddhatterr]

I parked back there in April when I went to get a birthday gift for the wife at Crate & Barrel and had a long look at it. I don't think the pond itself was there until recently, unless the property owners or some renegade stocking vigilante put fish in there I don't know how there could be fish in it.

Would be kinda nice, pull up and park, hit the Starbucks for a cup of coffee and then wet some lines. :D
Don't know about the starbusck thing but this pond is not new and has been there for a while...and holds fish.....as far as the park and fish yes it would be nice....however access is an issue.....Joe was right this pond is fishy indeed...:eek:

[maddhatterr]

Parked in the crate and stuff lot and rigged three rods with various weapons of choice as security drove by twice but never stop or said anything so I figured green light and began to make my way towards the water....Joe nailed it tight fishin....also signed no this and no that...will prosicute, So I decided to make my way back to the truck and see if I drew any attetntion...didn't so it was back to the waters edge....managed to make several cast despite the over grown brush....no takers but this is not a drainage pond....watch several fish bolt from the edge as I trampled brush to get to waters edge...after hearing alot of activity in the lot I decide I should beat feet out of there....gotts change my approach stradigy alittle....but it holds fish...what I can only guess...I'd say the pond is over an acre and has all kind of wildlife from sunnnys to frogs and I suspect bass!:)

[JoeLongo]

:p Glad you checked it out. Bring a machete next time, maybe a tube and just float out there. I would venture to say that no one ever really fishes it. Would kind of be like shooting fish in a barrel

[Moz]

Cool that there's fish in there. I may be thinking it's new only because the Village shopping center is new and I never noticed the pond in the 7+ years I have lived in Bridgewater until April. There is a concrete drain pipe I saw which is why I figured it was a drainage pool.

Not sure why they have the sign up but it would explain why you never see anyone fishing there.