Split Rock, Saturday. - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

The Birdman · #1 06-14-2015, 10:44 PM

I was there today for the first time. really nice place, got some decent largies. next time I'm not bring do much stuff, man that hill is a bit** ! took the flat bottom all the way to the back of the res.
andy when did they stock smallies in there? i know they did way back 2000 and '03

briansnat · #2 06-14-2015, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Birdman

I was there today for the first time. really nice place, got some decent largies. next time I'm not bring do much stuff, man that hill is a bit** ! took the flat bottom all the way to the back of the res.

Wow, more power to ya for taking a flat bottom to the end. It's a good paddle in a kayak or canoe. Rowing a jon boat must have been tough. The grassy area at the north end (in your pic) looked very promising, but unfortunately fishing wasn't my chief reason for going there. I would have worked that section all day if fishing was my goal.

The Birdman · #3 06-14-2015, 10:57 PM

Thanks Bri yea that place is really beautiful. we even brought batteries and trolling motor no rowing . the group boy scouts looked at us like we were nuts!

AndyS · #4 06-15-2015, 12:00 AM

I know I read it somewhere that the State did stock a couple hundred smallmouth in there, maybe a few years ago.
I was in the back one time on a calm summer day and got destroyed by horse flies, BEWARE !!
I don't think a boat ramp will be installed. It took them 6 years just to clear a path to the water and remove the tree roots at the bottom.

briansnat · #5 06-15-2015, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

I know I read it somewhere that the State did stock a couple hundred smallmouth in there, maybe a few years ago.
I was in the back one time on a calm summer day and got destroyed by horse flies, BEWARE !!
I don't think a boat ramp will be installed. It took them 6 years just to clear a path to the water and remove the tree roots at the bottom.

Hoping you are correct, but when the state does stupid thing they tend to do them faster.

buzzbaiter · #6 06-15-2015, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briansnat

I know shore fishing was not allowed there. Since the state took over the area last year, I'm not sure if that rule changed.

Shoreline fishing is now allowed as of this year but the steep nature of it makes is very difficult and even dangerous in spots. I doubt you see many bucket brigades casting off cliffs there.

briansnat · #7 06-15-2015, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Birdman

Thanks Bri yea that place is really beautiful. we even brought batteries and trolling motor no rowing . the group boy scouts looked at us like we were nuts!

The Boy Scouts, the place was crawling with them. They were camped out on the islands. One scoutmaster told me they portaged the gear and boats from the nearby scout camp Friday night. I'm not sure how legal that was. I've encountered a few "stealth campers" there in the past and thought about it myself, but one one island I counted 18 tents. While I was hanging one one island I heard of the adults continually yell to the kids to beach the boats on the back side of the island, which was out of view from the main lake. I suspect that they were there illegally and knew it.

briansnat · #8 06-15-2015, 12:02 AM

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...97019149_o.jpg

The grassy area from shore.

AndyS · #9 06-15-2015, 12:04 AM

Must be quite a hike to get back there !

briansnat · #10 06-15-2015, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

Must be quite a hike to get back there !

Three and a half mile paddle, into the wind (for us). If you walk it, it is quite a hike. That grassy area is deep enough to get a boat in. We paddled well into it but turned around when it got too thick.