Where to fish tomorrow?

[RyanMac14]

So I know most will scrunch there nose and move along but maybe someone will give some advice. Im not lookong for a spot, just a general lake or river etc. Ive been skunked my last 9 trips and want to try somewhere new. Im from old bridge (middlesex county) but am willing to travel an hour or so. Looking to go tomorrow morning and will be using a 10ft jon boat with trolling motor. Will be targeting whatever (bass, pickerel, pike). Will be strictly catch and release. Any advice or tips greatly appreciated. If this rubs you the wrong way, I genuinely apologize. Thanks! And tight lines!

[briansnat]

Why not Merrill Creek? It won't be that long of a ride for ya.

[RyanMac14]

Ive thought about trying it before but the website says the boat must be atleast 11.5 feet and my boat is only 10 so I dont know how strict they are or what. Thanks for the tip though!

[AndyS]

Round Valley, but you have to be careful with the wind up there. Great place as you really do not need to go far from the boat launch in order to catch fish. All the rivers just got stocked with trout also, so it should be easy pickins in the low water.

[RyanMac14]

Have considered round valley but as you said, with the wind always a threat and having such a small boat I have never tried and probably will stay away just to be safe. Thanks though!

[Heronimo42]

Go drop your boat in the Millstone River at Wilhousky launch and head toward the Raritan. Should be good for Smallies, Pickerel and maybe a pike!!! If you head upstream (away from Raritan), smallies and pickerel galore. Good luck.

[buzzbaiter]

Ive been skunked my last 9 trips

I'd be on suicide watch if I was doing that badly :D

[Eskimo]

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Ive been skunked my last 9 trips and want to try somewhere new.

Wow - maybe make the trip to Cabelas and buy some new fishing lures! :D

I pulled up Old Bridge on the map and can see you live quite close to the lower Raritan River. I don't know what that section of the river looks like now with the drought occurring, though.

I personally don't like Round Valley. The water is too clean and it just seems to lack 'life'. It can be a daunting place to fish without a fish-finder type sonar.

There's always Spruce Run, but the launch is going to be challenging since the boat ramp ends 30 yards before the water's edge.


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[RyanMac14]

Lol jeez thanks for all the kind words guys:p yeah I never really catch more than a few at a time so my lack of expectations kept me off suicide watch. Well because I didnt want to go on a search of a place to launch in the raritan river and because I didnt know how my boat would hold up in it, I decided to hit davidsons mill pond. After fishing the pads with a frog with no luck, I decided to break out the ultra light and throw a hula popper under cover along the shore. Well good news fellas, the skunk streak didnt reach double digits!! Landed a small pickerel first, followed by a solid bluegill that was bigger than the pickerel. Overall they were lackluster so I wont post pics because I doubt ya care, but I wanted to thank everyone for their input and I am still taking recommendations for next week because I need a fix for bigger fish. If i can get more info on the raritan thatd be great. Thanks again!!

[Andrushkin33]

Finally the curse of the skunk has been lifted. Congrats man I know you been hunting them down for awhile ... It will only get better.

Andre

[RyanMac14]

Haha ya thanks andre.. finally got off the schnide. Just barely though since both fish didnt equal a pound. Hopefully I can get lucky sometime soon and land something with a little weight. I just need to get some knowledge and where what and how to fish better

[baetis]

Don't bother with Merrill Creek and a short boat, they won't let you launch.

I'd ditch the boat, grab a dozen crawlers and a dozen shiners and hit any local pond. Size 8 hook tied directly to the line for the worms and size 2 or 4 for the shiners. No weights, swivels or anything else. You should be able to pull out a variety of fish.

[RyanMac14]

Yeah im sure id get more fish that way and avoid the skunks ive been getting but I just enjoy "the hunt" of find a spot and tossing a lure and making it work in a way that it fools the fish into biting. Im not the sit back and relax type of fisherman. Also since I have trouble finding spots and I have a boat, I dont know what I would do if I had to find shore access spots lol

[phil]

Have you ever fished lefferts? I remember years ago doing pretty well as a kid from shore with shiners. Im actually thinking about taking my yak there tomorrow. Or farrington lol

[RyanMac14]

I have fished there before under the bridge on 34 and from the beach access with no luck. Maybe I will take my boat out there this week and try it out since ive never heard any reports from there

[RyanMac14]

Will be heading out tomorrow morning so wish me luck
In not starting another skunk streak. Not sure where im going yet. You guys get out at all this week?

[Andrushkin33]

Ryan,

PM sent. Hope that helps.

Andre