sunny ponds for kids?

[lukenic]

gonna teach my kids how to fly fish this year. i was hoping to find some ponds that have good populations of sunfish and lots of room for them to cast. anything near jefferson would be helpful.

[buzzbaiter]

Unfortunately most places are lined with trees/bushes making back casts an issue. I end up wading into most places just to get room. I'm often standing in muck up to my knees casting parallel to shore. Its a lot of work but fun as I've caught numerous species from sunnies to bass to pickerel to crappie this way. Good fights no matter what especially on a light action/8 foot fly rod. I tried a dragonfly imitation last year and the bass/pickerel were all over it. I just need to figure out how not to have pickerel cut my very thin line. Those dragon "flies" are not cheap.

[saltfisherman]

Oxford lake in warren co, comes to mind. There is enough open area to the right of the ramp and around the lake to cast. Plus to the right is a shallow point of land that is hard bottom to stand out in. You can also fish off the dock there. Right in front of the dock are sunfish.

Small beadhead wolly buggers.

[Andrushkin33]

Not a pond but why not Hopatcong.

Try corner of Main Rd and Lakeside Blvd. More than enough room to cast and you will get pretty much all you looking for in that area. Sunnies, crappies, pickerels, bass and etc.

Andre

[saltfisherman]

Luke, if you have farms in the area I'd stop and ask if they have any ponds on the grounds. Explain you'd like to teach the kids to fish. You might get some access for them.

[americandesi]

Not a pond, but Hugh Force Canal Park in Wharton has a canal with sunfish in it, and a annual fishing derby for the kids. That spot on Lake Hopatcong that Andre mentioned sounds good too. Joan Wulff has a great video for learning how to roll cast in a pond that I recommend watching if you are worried about trees and back casts being an issue.

http://midcurrent.com/videos/joan-wulff-the-roll-cast/

[americandesi]

Also every year there are fly fishing classes at the Pequest Trout Hatchery which is roughly a 45-60 min drive from Jefferson. Might be worth your while to take your kids to a class. Dates will be posted on www.njfishandwildlife.com once they set them.

[briansnat]

Near Jefferson try Saffin Pond in Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and better yet, the pond at Camp Jefferson (a public pond owned by Jefferson Twp). The latter has a nice, little beach (hike a short distance to your left,facing the pond, from parking) that gives a novice plenty of room for practicing casts without worrying about trees on the back cast. I caught my biggest yellow perch ever off that beach (13") and there are some small bass and pickerel to be had as well. Plenty of sunfish action to be had there. There is also a dock that can provide unobstructed casting. Both are right off Weldon Road.

[Adrenalinerush]

Silas Conduct County Park, Kinnelon. Small body of water lots of bluegills in the cove area with plenty of room to cast. Pick nick tables and built in bbq's when you want to eat. Also, a nice short hiking path to takes the kids for a walk thru the woods. You can also rent row and paddle boats if you want to mess a round. It not that far from you.

http://www.morrisparks.net/aspparks/silasmain.asp

[birddog]

Ghost lake in warren county. There is a nice path that goes right down the middle. Lots of room to cast on both sides and loaded with sunfish!

[lukenic]

thanks for all of the info. i live near the canals between lake hopatcong and lake shawnee. fish have been scarce in the canals the last 2 years. the canals used to be a gold mine for everything and especially sunnies. both of my kids, nephews, nieces, etc. had tons of action any time we went. time to find new water.


andre, i'm having a tough time finding the intersection you provided?