Northern Lakes

[Tigerhunter]

How about Hopatcong? Thanks!

[Chrisper4694]

Hopatcong is wide open. I did some recon there from shore and what I refer to as the real spring fishing transition has not started as of Friday afternoon. But these next few warm sunny days might do it.

[Chris_JC]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

But these next few warm sunny days might do it.

I got out late this afternoon - it looked like the sun got some of the crappie/white perch going. Nothing too crazy but not bad for first open water of the year. Even an eagle got in on the action.

[Tigerhunter]

Nice! Were they still deep or starting to move shallow? How was the water temperature and clarity? Thanks in advance!

[Rickhem]

I'm up a few hours north of NJ now, about 40 miles west of Albany. This past weekend I did little recon with my trail bike and rode past a few lakes and reservoirs up here, all of which still had almost no open water yet. Yesterday I took that same ride, and all the ice is gone. The water is still the weird grey-green color that it was last spring, but the ice is gone.
I'm pretty sure all the ice is gone from just about any body of water in NJ now.