SM spawn.
 

Does anyone now when the smallies will begin to spawn. I'm thinking that with the warm weather it will be soon. Probably going to hit Oakridge next week and want to see if it will be worth it.

Re: SM spawn.
 

Hard to say, even with the warmer weather.. but i can tell you that it will happen soon as long as the water temps are right

Re: SM spawn.
 

The magic number is 62 degrees water temperature.

Re: SM spawn.
 

we are in the 50s already and tomorrow temps are supposed to be in the high 70s so that water should be ripe soon enough!!

Re: SM spawn.
 

Some of the shallower weeks are gunna start any day now been on a few smaller lakes that have 60degree water

Re: SM spawn.
 

Oakridge is open? I thought the watersheds are still closed.

Re: SM spawn.
 

Why Oak Ridge, it's better for Largemouth? Clinton is a way better Smallmouth lake ;)

Anyway the smallies and largemouth are feeding up and you can bet if the temps are up the smallies will start to bed this coming full moon on April 6th. ;)

Re: SM spawn.
 

I'm hitting up Merrill Creek res. this Friday. I'll let you know. ;)

Re: SM spawn.
 

i threw several different lures right in front of a small mouth today at spruce run. it wanted nothing to do with any of them

Re: SM spawn.
 

THanks for the heads up, I didnt realize that they would be closed. Just called and told that they are all closed till the 7th. I have had great success for smallies on Oakridge. My only time on Clinton, we didnt do well at all. I believe the state record smallie came from Oakridge, tied with another fish.

Re: SM spawn.
 

I believe the state record smallie is from Round Valley like most of the major state records, having fished Clinton, Oakridge, and Cannistear, they all have major supplies of smallies, with Clinton doing the best. Cannistear has a nice walleye population.

Re: SM spawn.
 

So we went and got there for first light....and caught 3 fish in 6-7 hours. 1 laker, 1 smallmouth, and 1 pickeral. Completely random areas. Water was 47* in the back coves and 52-53* in main areas. No signs of spawn just yet. Nothing happening yet and this coming week will definately delay anything with the low night temps.

Re: SM spawn.
 

Yes, RVR produced the state record SMB. The Dellaware River has 6 of the state records, RVR in second place with 4.

NJ Freshwater State Records.