Budd lake

[Mjh609]

Heading up tomorrow. Never fished it before. The thought of pike, tigers, largemouth, and smallies in a relatively small lake and unlimited hp excites me. Any recent reports guys?

[jimmythegreek]

Not much going on up there. I live a few min from Budd and its like Cranberry lake, state stocks various fish but u dont hear anything. I have heard that the bucket brigades have done their damage over the years and the fishing isnt what it once was. I would say hit it and give us a report. Personally I would either cast structure after studying the lakes topography or I would troll it w some big baits and cover water..

[Jenger]

I also live close by and never hear anything about that lake anymore. You used to see a bunch of guys out there fishing various spots, but lately I havnt noticed much, if any traffic on the lake.

The water is always choppy on that lake, it blows my mind. I pass by it all the time and I don't think I've ever seen it calm.

[Fish n Jeep]

I used to have pretty consistent luck fishing the lilly pads with soft plastics and the adjacent flooded brush with spinner baits, but that was back in the mid-to-late '90s. Caught pike, bass & a large crappie. No idea what's going on there these days. The only place to launch a boat is at Doc's Marina, $15 on the weekend. Good luck!

[WILSEA]

Heading up tomorrow. Never fished it before. The thought of pike, tigers, largemouth, and smallies in a relatively small lake and unlimited hp excites me. Any recent reports guys?

How did you today? im thinking about heading that way sunday morning for some nice pike action :D

[Fin Reaper]

Same here...grew up in Netcong and now I live in Andover. Always hear peeps talking about all the other local bodies of water but nobody seems to talk about Budd lake...Maybe the areas best kept secret? and I have also commented on how it always seems rough. Interested to hear an recent report

[Mjh609]

Got to budd around 6 this morning. Fished till about 12. Worked the entire shoreline. Then trolled deeper along the weed edges and fished the rock pile in the middle. Threw crank baits, buzz baits, frogs, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, Alabama rigs, and even a few musky lures. Not a sniff. Saw maybe two fish rise the whole time. I don't get it. At first glance the place looks great. Lots of shoreline structure, pads, weeds, rocks. I won't be going back until I hear some good reports.


Went to hopatcong at 12 since we were so close. Threw a bunch of stuff at that lake too with only a couple rock bass to show for our efforts. Water was really choppy and about 2 ft high. Had a really nice hit on an Alabama rig in 17fow in Davis cove, not sure what it was. This was more of a recon trip for our first attempt at walleye Friday night.

Ps hopatcong was much more weed choked than I remember it being last year. A lot of the docks I pitched last year with good results I couldn't even get to.

[AndyS]

I'd hit Aeroflex. Thanx for the report.

[SaltLife1980]

I grew up rite by that lake.. and there is some good fishing there.. Ive gotten some pretty big catfish out of there along with some big pike by the church.. The far side of the lake by the castle is another good spot.. some nice bass... I dont live in the area any more but my friend lives rite on sandshore rd and he takes his boat out there and picks up some nice fish.. Few weeks ago we sat out on his dock and had a few beers and fished for catfish at night... we did pretty good.. nothing huge but some good action