Oradell Reservoir

[Bergen Angler]

I finally caught a small SMB at the Oradell Reservoir last Thursday - about 8". Just a lot of white and yellow perch. Anyone has any luck at Oradell with Bass lately?

[Skunk City]

It's a start lol. Shows you were doing something right!

I had a bunch yesterday on the Passaic from 12"-17". They were hitting crankbaits and jointed rapalas. Try a wacky rigged Senko or a Strike King Baby Craw on a shakey head jighead.

[Bergen Angler]

Tried..
1. wacky
2. jointed rapala
3. crank bait
4. berkley power hawg
5. buzz bait
6. texas rigged power worm
and a few others

I am now more than ever inclined to believe that there are NO bass along the shore at this hot summer at the Oradell Reservoir.

[Skunk City]

Tried..
1. wacky
2. jointed rapala
3. crank bait
4. berkley power hawg
5. buzz bait
6. texas rigged power worm
and a few others

I am now more than ever inclined to believe that there are NO bass along the shore at this hot summer at the Oradell Reservoir.

That's crazy. They may be hanging out at the thermocline which is probably pretty hard to reach from shore. Are you fishing Magic Hour (sunrise/sunset)? I know they are probably pretty strict with the access in there...

[Bergen Angler]

Yep. Sunset, sundown, full moon, no moon, etc.

My feeling is that they are at the channel / deep water and I can't get to it from the shore fishing. No Boat.

[AndrewT]

As most lakes are, this time of year is very challenging on the oradell res. fishing is actually pretty good from April-may and October-mid November. I have recently caught some nice (2.5 lb ish) smallies in the spring using senkos casting along the shore

[Bergen Angler]

Hi Andrew,
I caught nice size smallies and LMB during spawning season as they are near the shore line. Fishing was tough after they sprayed the pesticide around middle of June. I had one good day in July (it was overcast and chilly that day - I guess Cold Front is not always bad?).

I will try my luck this week again. Crankbait has been working for me as well as spinner bait. Texas rigged Berkley power worm worked for me once.

[ScowardNJ]

Trying not to burn a spot here because it's not a favorite hole of mine, but because i work in the area often, i get a few mid week sessions in here and there. Try any of the bridge locations where one of the tribs flowing into the reservoir are. A little current in a shady channel has been offering up some dink smallies and perch on spinners for me during lunch time.

[fishfinder]

Most of these fish are probably on the deeper structure with all this warm summer weather. The water level is low too so I'm sure that has some impact on things as well. There are some really good fish in there they are just very tough to catch from shore this time of year as with most water around here. I over there the other day and threw everything, had one decent fish blow up on a buzzbait and that's about it. There was some small pods of bait around, cast through a them a few times with nothing to show for it. I have some spots (on other water) that I usually do very well at and my results are weak there too lately, fall is just around the corner.

[Bergen Angler]

As always, I just blame myself for not catching bass. After receiving a package from Cabela, I tried again - different color and size football jigs, stick baits, jerk baits, new buzz bait and spinner baits, Havoc, etc. (just catching yellow and white perch on spinner baits).

All I see is bunch of bait fish all over. Maybe bass are too full with so much bait fish around and not biting my FAKE baits?????

I always park at the Gate #1. Then I saw some people parking at the Gate #1 and walk down. I did the same. I walked towards West and get to the Big Stop sign (road block) with the gate next to it. My key doesn't work on that gate !!!

How does people get to the South of Gate #1? I am not referring to the Emerson Gate. Does anyone know?

Yes, Fall is around the corner. :)

[steve392]

Does anyone know how deep the Oradell reservoir is?

[Bergen Angler]

Trying not to burn a spot here because it's not a favorite hole of mine, but because i work in the area often, i get a few mid week sessions in here and there. Try any of the bridge locations where one of the tribs flowing into the reservoir are. A little current in a shady channel has been offering up some dink smallies and perch on spinners for me during lunch time.

I walked all the way from Gate #1 to the Bridge in Emerson. Caught yellow and white perch on spinners. No Bass. That location is a bit dangerous - fell twice since the small rocks/pebbles are not stable. I have scars on my legs to prove it. :) I threw texas rigged power worm all around the fallen tree but no Bass.

[Bergen Angler]

Does anyone know how deep the Oradell reservoir is?

Steve,
I did an extensive research on water depth or any topological map on the Oradell Reservoir. Found nothing. Water is pretty low (not as low as a few years ago when we had a draught) right now. Currently, I think we have less than a foot or two of water along the shore.

My guess is that deep Channel is in the middle of the Reservoir flowing from Harrington Park/Emerson side to Oradell Dam.

[steve392]

i live in new milford and have seen how low it can get, especially those smaller area's that completely dry up. Is the Woodcliff Lake reservoir deep?

[Bergen Angler]

Never been to the Woodcliff lake. I am in Closter. I was thinking about trying the Coopers Park Pond in Bergenfield. Have you been there yet?

[ScowardNJ]

There might be few bass in Cooper's Pond but it's a carp haven. There is a mulberry tree right by the little pedestrian bridge that crosses the feeder stream (Hirshfeld Brook I think). You can stand there with net and scoop em up certain times of the year...

[fishfinder]

I used to fish cooper's all the time when I was a kid...loaded with carp, gold fish, cats, etc. Don't recall seeing many bass but I went there knowing it was a carp haven and that's what I did. I fished it once this year and we were crushing small carp but I didn't see the big ones we used to catch. Never had massive fish there but plenty of nice fun ones up to the 10lb or so range. This year they were all like 1 or 2 lbs or so but again, it did it once only and early in the year. Not sure if its changed. If you bring a can of corn and a nice light rod you'll have a blast.

[fishfinder]

There's plenty of fish by the bridge. The gazebo can be very good or back in the corner too. It's loaded. There were days when were kids (maybe 10 years ago) 3 or 4 of us would go and catch fish none stop for hours.

[Bergen Angler]

There's plenty of fish by the bridge. The gazebo can be very good or back in the corner too. It's loaded. There were days when were kids (maybe 10 years ago) 3 or 4 of us would go and catch fish none stop for hours.

What kind of fish? mostly carp? or LMB or SMB?

[steve392]

I was at coopers pond a few years ago when they were still dredging it and it was partially drained. Saw a few massive carp in what little water they could swim in. A couple of large snapping turtles too trying to eat the goose's feet as they paddled around.

I didn't think you were allowed to fish in it though, i've never seen anyone fishing in it.

[fishfinder]

Carp and cats mostly...and yes there are a bunch of snapping turtles in there steve, caught a few by accident before. I have fished there countless times and no one has ever bother me, I never heard you can't fish there, I just don't think many people do.