Long weekends mean that you\’ll finally have time to get out on the water. However, your not the only one with this idea, and by the time you get out there people are lining the banks and every boat is fishing your favorite spot. It seems that more and more of your favorite holes are being over run.
photo: James Burkhardt caught this huge Largemouth bass in April at Martins lake Johnson Blvd and Baynes Avenue, Gloucester City.
In situations like this you have to get creative, and do a little research. It\’s true that you will never find a lake in South Jersey that has never been fished, but you can find a few of the more remote lakes that see fewer people. You have a couple of options that will help bring back the peace and quiet of a day on the lake.
Fishermen are creatures of habit, and as such we tend to fish the same spots frequently. However, this practice causes us to overlook other great fishing opportunities that may be right under our noses. That is why it\’s smart to turn to outside sources of information to expand your horizons. Utilizing the internet and flipping through the \”New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide,\” will help you on those days when your favorite lake is teaming with your fishing brethren.
There are many useful fishing websites on the Internet, but few offer great resources for those of us fish the lakes and streams of South Jersey. \”The Bass Fishing Homepage\”, has a section for lake reports. There are lakes reports from the most famous, as well as those smaller fishing holes all over the country. You can search these reports individually by state and date. Pick New Jersey from the drop-down menu, and put in the dates for last week and you\’ll likely find lakes close to your home where people are catching fish. Most include effective lures, water clarity, and the top producing colors for that day.
Need even more information? Head out to the local sporting goods store and pick up a copy of the \”New Jersey Lakes Survey Fishing Maps Guide.\” The maps in this guide provide information on well over 50 lakes in New Jersey. Many of the lake maps also list the types of lures and the most effective colors to fish the waters successfully. The maps clearly outline depths, underwater structure, channels, direction of incoming and outgoing streams, and where boat ramps can be found.
Don\’t get stuck in a routine. You can improve your tactics and strategy by fishing different lakes. Adapting to new locations can be difficult, but that is what fishing is all about. reprinted with permission of South Jersey Outdoors
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