Smallmouth Bass @ Duke Island Park?

[Drop the Bass]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking about visiting Duke Island Park soon. I was wondering if there were any Smallmouth Bass there? I checked around and apparently people fish for Smallmouth Bass at Duke Island Park. Can they be found around the dam? If not, then where?

And one more thing, I usually fish for largemouth bass. Is there a difference between fishing for smallmouth versus largemouth bass? What bait or lures should I be throwing to catch smallmouth? I have poppers and senkos, will those work? Spinners?

Thanks!

[Rybazłapać]

Don't know much about Duke Island and haven't caught any smallmouth from the Raritan myself so take this for what it's worth but I have caught smallmouth, usually in lakes, on similar lures that catch largemouth. As far as live bait all the same tactics work as with largemouth but smallmouth seem to love crawfish if you can find them. The crawfish shaped soft plastics have also worked for me. Effingers in Bound Brook carried crawfish last year but I don't think they do right now. You might want to call about them first.

[15FOOTER]

Smallies are everywhere in that river, the North Branch and the Delaware. PM me if you want some more info about some techniques. Live bait is the way to go now. Lures and plastics in about a month. Good Luck

[AndyS]

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44561

[jimmythegreek]

large fatheads or small shiners w a splitshot and drift them down the river, catches everything that swims. Can also use a float which is great also, but U need to adjust line alot to keep close to bottom, use the same bait. Lots of reservoirs and places like SW hold lots of smallies, the delaware has tons of em too, but getting some big boys out of the river is gonna be tough compared to whats swimming in some of the lakes around the state

[FASTEDDIE29]

Uh oh, don't sleep on NJ river Smallies. The winning fish of the SMALLIE contest might just come out of a trout stream! JUST SAYIN!!!:D

[Moz]

I caught a 3 pounder at the falls on Opening Day last year.

In 2012 a week after opening day in the same area we fished opening day I caught one around 4 LBS. Took me forever to reel that one in on my ultra-lite. Like Eddie said don't sleep on them, those river smallies are awesome.

I caught both fish on a 2" swimbait. Needless to say I'm bringing some of those for Opening Day tomorrow. :D

[Drop the Bass]

I caught a 3 pounder at the falls on Opening Day last year.

In 2012 a week after opening day in the same area we fished opening day I caught one around 4 LBS. Took me forever to reel that one in on my ultra-lite. Like Eddie said don't sleep on them, those river smallies are awesome.

I caught both fish on a 2" swimbait. Needless to say I'm bringing some of those for Opening Day tomorrow. :D

When you say the falls, what do you mean? Like that dam that is next to the rocks at Duke Island Park?

[SkillfulAngler908]

There are smallies everywhere in the Raritan. Throw a 3 or 4 in twister tail on a 1/8oz jighead with some light line and hold on.

[bowzonly]

This is my first ever smallie, its from Duke island park. I think I tossed a minnow and let it float through the rapids
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f218/bowzonly/130.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/bowzonly/media/130.jpg.html)

[bowzonly]

Sorry! forgot to re-size that photo.

[Moz]

Congrats on the first smallie. Hopefully he gave you a good aerial show too when you reeled him in.

[gspdark1]

Was at Duke Island Park today, both the main park and the east part, no bites. Had a few dudes that were there since 6 am and got not even a nibble and gave up.