[Montauk Project]

Although I mostly fish saltwater now, I got my start fishing as a young boy on Lake Hopatcong. My grandmother owned a summer home on the lake, and every year when school let out my mother would ship my sister and I from the hot streets of NYC to the cool mountain breezes by the lake.
Our evenings would be spent at Bertrands Island, which the old timers on this board will remember was a great amusement park right on the water.

My days were spent fishing, starting out at about 8 years old. No kidding...I used a white string, wrapped around a short stick with a bent safety pin as a hook. I used dough balls as bait, and caught Bluegills on almost every drop. We called them "sunnies". I know now that there was a great variety of panfish in the lake then.
The water was so clear, you could see the fish venture out from under the dock and inhale the bait in about 6--8 feet of water.
I would catch an occasional yellow perch. Catfish too !
I remember the water was just teaming with all sorts of fish, we would use beach towels while wading in the shallows to trap and catch minnows.
As I got older, My uncle bought me my first real fishing pole, and I caught a big pickerel on a live minnow on the first day. I was "hooked"for life !
That was 40 years ago.
My last trip to the area shocked me. The small summer homes and bungalows were gone ! Replaced by Condo's and shopping centers. The dirt roads and trails were gone !. Replaced by busy roads and noisey traffic.
For me, I still have my memories...
I will never forget those lazy summer days on Lake Hopatcong.