merrill creek
 

Can anyone tell me where the closest bait and tackle shop is to Merrill Creek that sells live bait.I have never fished this resevoir before but going to give it a try next week. Thanks

Re: merrill creek
 

Where you coming from? Live bait is probably going to be shinners, as far as I know there is no herring in the local bait shops.

Re: merrill creek
 

I am coming up RT 31 from Trenton to Interstate 78.

Re: merrill creek
 

No need to get on 78. Just stay on 31 all the way up. Hi way sports on 31 may have shiners. Give them a shout. If not, you'll have to detour to behres on rt 22 east. Not sure where else u can get live shiners. As flat creek said, you won't get herring locally unless you drive all the way to dows on the big lake!

Re: merrill creek
 

Thanks for the help guys.Ill let you know how we make out.

Re: merrill creek
 

Give Sportsman's rondezvous in Flemington a call they are right on 31 just before the hospital on the right if your going north. Only open 10 to 7 908 788 5828.

Re: merrill creek
 

Grab ur shiners the day before they will be fine w a bubbler overnite they are strong bait. Herring wont make it but shiners will. What are u targeting? With no herring avail the rest of the year i would be either jigging lakers, working tubes and plastics for smallies, or trolling spoons for trout. Shiners dont do squat for me in nj unless im standing on ice fishing thru a hole

Re: merrill creek
 

I fished there Thursday and like everyone said, there are no herring in the area. We drifted shiners and did pretty good with the smallies.

Good luck!

GG

Re: merrill creek
 

If you live in Trenton, there is a place over on Quaker Bridge Rd. in Hamilton that sells them too.
Linkage to web page
http://www.fishermanfreds.com/bait.html

Re: merrill creek
 

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Hi-Way Sport Shop always has strong bait, but I can't see how that's on the way. (But I'm really bad with directions. I need a GPS to leave my driveway)
I usually go on Rt. 78 and get off exit 4 an the reservoir is not far from there.

You'll pass Sportsmans Roundesvous on your way up Rt. 31. I've never bought bait there, so I can't vouch for what they have.

For me, Merrill Creek comes alive as the sun sets. The trouble with that is MC has a curfew and you have be be off the water, in your car and off the property by a certain time. I don't know what time that is after labor day. maybe 6:30?


[EDIT]
I just looked it up and the boatramp opens at 6:30 am and closes at 7:15 pm.
The gates to the park close at 7:45 pm.



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Re: merrill creek
 

Don't get on 78. Continue up Rt 31 and make a left at Rt 57 in Washington and a right on Montana Rd. Just before a fake dummy on a dirt bike.

You'll be coming in from the other side of the mountain.

Re: merrill creek
 

Thanks for the info.Ive never fished merrill creek before so its going to be trial and error..Gonna start by fishing the wood for largemouth and smallmouth.Then I am going to try looking for rocky ares that might be holding smallmouth.I also saw on the map of the lake that there is a 40 ft hump about one half of a mile out from the boat ramp gonna searh this area for suspended lakers.If all this fails Ill start trolling the shoreline with crankbaits and spoons.

Re: merrill creek
 

Sportman rendezvous SUX!! Dont go there they strait told me they dont really care about their fishing part of the store.. HI way is ok but who knows how many weeks the baits been sitting..plus a garbage selection.. Behre baits were 2go always fresh bait and is specifically set up for the type of lake and the type of fishing u will be doing!!! Sry guys thats how it is.