Early Season Boat Ramp Reports

[acabtp]

Finally getting some real melts going on around central/north NJ. I figure that we could save each other some time by posting when the boat ramps/parking areas are ice/snow free and ready for use.

I am itching to splash my boat to see how the new plotter/finder works but everything around here is still iced up... No idea what the closest ice free boat ramp is or how far south I'd have to drive to find it though.

So, what's open?

[Jigman13]

Riva rd and church lane area of farrington was pretty open on Friday. Saw people fishing the bridge and putting back some suds lol... Gotta be much more wide open now.

From what I was able to see from rt 1 in the Princeton area, Carnegie looked predominantly open on Sunday, but that's a limited area considering most of Carnegie is north of there.

[Chrisper4694]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't even need a ramp, just plop my Jon boat in, just looking for open water enough to fish. My buddy is looking into some central nj places that might be open but I've never fished fresh water much further south of 78 so it'll be a shot in the dark this weekend I guess.

[jimmythegreek]

round valley is usually the first major body to open up when it does freeze over like the past 2 years. not sure the conditions now but Id bet next weekend it will be wide open if not sooner

[bigfishy]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't even need a ramp, just plop my Jon boat in, just looking for open water enough to fish. My buddy is looking into some central nj places that might be open but I've never fished fresh water much further south of 78 so it'll be a shot in the dark this weekend I guess.

Theres really not much need to fish south of 78 if trout is ur target.....The large majority of of quality NJ trout water is at or north of 78....Bass is another story;)

[Chrisper4694]

i target everything, right now i just want to fish from my boat in open water, that's my target right now. I was told as of yesterday rvr still iced over (not safe ice, but covered). i was looking at merc, assunp, carneg, and manasq...never fished any of them and don't know if any of them are open yet enough for fishing. bass, crappie, anything i don't care haha.

[huntcountypussbuck]

This is what RV looked like on 3/17/15 in the late eve. Starting to open up.

[Chrisper4694]

thanks for the pic...def not fishable by this weekend by boat i'd say...still trying to figure out what's opened up south of there.

[CMJeepster]

From what I was able to see from rt 1 in the Princeton area, Carnegie looked predominantly open on Sunday, but that's a limited area considering most of Carnegie is north of there.

It's about 95% open, including the Stony Brook feeder. There's still some spots along the shore frozen, but those aren't reachable except by boat. The D&R right next to it is clear, but since it's trout-stocked waters, there's no fishing allowed until 4/4/15.

Lake Mercer was still locked up earlier this week as was Grovers Mill Pond.

[acabtp]

It's about 95% open, including the Stony Brook feeder. There's still some spots along the shore frozen, but those aren't reachable except by boat. The D&R right next to it is clear, but since it's trout-stocked waters, there's no fishing allowed until 4/4/15.

great reports thanks everybody http://www.njfishing.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif keep them coming guys

[CMJeepster]

UPDATE: Carnegie is over 99% clear as of noon today. The boat ramp at the northern (Kingston) end is clear.

The D&R canal is clear from Alexander Road to Kingston.

The Millstone River at Route 1 is clear as far as I could see, but running a bit higher than normal.

[Fishinfire]

D&R Canal in the South Bound Brook/Somerset area is wide open and not trout stocked. Electric or manual only though.

[Tigerhunter]

Anybody been by Greenwood lately? Thanks!

[ScowardNJ]

Anybody been by Greenwood lately? Thanks!

I was up there Saturday looking out from the Jersey end. We are still weeks away from ice out. Guys are still ice fishing it. Monks is still locked up also.

[Tigerhunter]

Darn- I was looking to make the 3.5 hr trip April 18th for some toothies.

[Andrushkin33]

Farrington Lake is open to some degree from Riva Ave Bridge going toward the correction facility.

Boats cam be launched at the riva bridge launching area.

St Johns bridge is still has some ice but mostly slush and launch area there is not ready yet.

Andre

[yumasdad]

I was @ the big SKUNKY yesterday, found a few spots that had a few inches of open water along southern exposed shores. Enough for my dog to get his nose wet. The dam side is still solid, that usually opens up first where the sun gets full exposure.

GREENWOOD still locked up solid on the southern end.

Yanda still completely frozen as well.

Looks like another w/e to get more winter work done on the boat...when will this dam wind end already...enough!

[Tigerhunter]

Does Echo Lake typically open up earlier than the bigger lakes?

[UglyStick]

Does Echo Lake typically open up earlier than the bigger lakes?

Typically... nope... and Echo's still solid

[acabtp]

still got a ways to go up here fellas
this is indian lake, one of the residential lakes in denville. still totally locked even at the dam.
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/indian_lake_iced.jpg

anybody had an eye on RVR yesterday or today who can give an updated report on the main lake?

[Chrisper4694]

My friend told me yesterday Rvr still ice covered and not enough shore line open to fish from shore

[EliasV]

Anyone been down to Spruce Run? Saw some stuff that said it's partially open...aiming for Thursday or Friday to do a shakedown cruise.

[The Birdman]

POMPTON LAKE
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag96/jsels/IMG_9524_zps2gfgzehy.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/jsels/media/IMG_9524_zps2gfgzehy.jpg.html)

[Chrisper4694]

Wow someone told me pompton was still locked up...that looks fish able to me!

[lets_go_rangers]

was at spruce yesterday there is some open water not quite enough to launch yet but getting pretty close this week in the 50's should do it but i fished a little from shore but it was really windy so i didnt put in much time

[huntcountypussbuck]

RVR was still Iced in as of yesterday 3-29-15 @ 3:30pm