Burnham Park Pond

[Hookmanski]

I got out of work at 4 on this beautiful day so I decided to hit a pond near my girlfriend's place and I happened upon Burnham Park pond. There were 2 ponds, but the top pond was more covered and looked less appealing than the lower one. Having never been there I didn't really know what to expect. I read they stocked trout in there, but as I asked around I was getting worried because everyone was saying they were getting skunked. I ended up fishing and talking to a guy I met, Jim, and I stayed at the pond for 3 hours without getting a single bite. Jim was telling me that in the spring the pond is alright to fish, but in the summer the plants and weeds get out of hand. I said to myself "Alright, 3 more casts," and on the final cast caught a little 1.5 pound largemouth 5 feet from the shoreline on a little Vibrax spinner on my 4'6" Fenwick rod. Great way to end a beautiful day!

[acaravaglia]

My old neighborhood. Grew up fishing these ponds. Lots of pickerel. State stocked 30 breeders there this year.

[23cardinal]

Was the water stained? I've noticed dirty water for stocked trout is a big technique change

[Hookmanski]

Was the water stained? I've noticed dirty water for stocked trout is a big technique change

It was a little bit stained but not too bad. I tried everything I had in my tackle box and nothing was biting. Spinners, spoons, jigs, swimbaits, you name it, nothing. But I didn't feel too bad because nobody else was catching anything either, and being able to watch a LMB choke my vibrax was just too cool!

[Skunk City]

Is that the pond on High Mountain Road in Haledon?

[Hookmanski]

Is that the pond on High Mountain Road in Haledon?

It's actually just outside of Morristown, right off Mendham Ave.

[njfish4life]

I have fished there for several years in the spring. The guy was 100% correct- in the summer that place gets really choked up with weeds. I used to catch a ton of pickerel there but that has decreased over the years. The top pond does have some nice bass too.

[youngdumbandfulloffish]

I work in Florham Park and fished it one day when I got out early. Caught 2 pickerel and saw a couple decent size bass cruising.

Out at 1 on Friday. May swing by with the warmer weather everything should be awake.

[baetis]

Is that the pond on High Mountain Road in Haledon?

That's Oldham pond.


Burnham pond has poor returns on stocked trout.

[Hookmanski]

Burnham pond has poor returns on stocked trout.

You're right about that, nobody caught any trout there yesterday. I'm considering hitting it again after work today, but I'm looking to see if there is anything better in the surrounding area before i do.

[23cardinal]

You're right about that, nobody caught any trout there yesterday. I'm considering hitting it again after work today, but I'm looking to see if there is anything better in the surrounding area before i do.

Where's work?
I do pretty well in chocolate milk with bait- some times power cheese or a marshmallow floater leading to a worm or meal worm. Also had a lot of luck on mid water fish in dirty water over the weekend with a mealie/waxworm down about 3 feet from a bobber

[Hookmanski]

Where's work?
I do pretty well in chocolate milk with bait- some times power cheese or a marshmallow floater leading to a worm or meal worm. Also had a lot of luck on mid water fish in dirty water over the weekend with a mealie/waxworm down about 3 feet from a bobber

I work up in Englewood Cliffs, but my woman lives in Chatham so I've been trying to find some good places near there I cant stop off at after work. If you have any recommendations let me know!

[23cardinal]

Are you opposed to a detour? Could take 80-287 and hit the rockaway in boonton.

If no the passiac runs all thru there and gets plenty of stockies.

The whippany river also has some decent areas and some wild trout streams attached to it

My area is def too far

[Hookmanski]

Are you opposed to a detour? Could take 80-287 and hit the rockaway in boonton.

If no the passiac runs all thru there and gets plenty of stockies.

The whippany river also has some decent areas and some wild trout streams attached to it

My area is def too far

Thanks for the tips! I get out of work at varying times, so some days a detour is doable and other days its not. I tried the passaic but the stretch near my girlfriends place is really fast moving and deep, I fished it once and got no bites, but I've heard its a great fishery in other spots.

[youngdumbandfulloffish]

Ketcham lake is another pond in the area. Havent fished it yet but its on my after work list for this year.

[Hookmanski]

Hit the pond again yesterday, got skunked. However the guy down the shore caught a little bluegill and a trout. While I was talking to him we both watched a GIANT carp jump out of the water, never seen that before!