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Mjh609 · #1 08-09-2012, 12:36 AM

Looking for a lake this weekend to launch the boat and catch some different fish. My buddy really wants to get smallmouth and I would like to catch my first pike. Dont necc need a lake with both we can compromise. any suggestions would be awesome.

Skunk City · #2 08-09-2012, 09:50 AM

Pompton Lake. Stocked with Pike, has great LMB fishing, and theres SMB's in there down by the dam.

Mjh609 · #3 08-09-2012, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. That may be our spot. But, what about the Passaic? Looking on the forum it seems like catching a pike or smallmouth is pretty easy there. Do you have to know exactly where you're going? Can we launch a boat? Should we be concerned leaving a brand new truck all day in some of those areas?

Skunk City · #4 08-09-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mjh609

Thanks for the suggestion. That may be our spot. But, what about the Passaic? Looking on the forum it seems like catching a pike or smallmouth is pretty easy there. Do you have to know exactly where you're going? Can we launch a boat? Should we be concerned leaving a brand new truck all day in some of those areas?

For the Passaic, its not that difficult. For Pike, just cast at every piece of structure you can find and eventually you'll pull one out. Go back and read the reports from January on and you'll get some good ideas for areas and techniques. Pretty much, if it looks "fishy" to you, it probably is. The Smallmouth are even easier, granted you're in an area with a rocky bottom and maybe some current/slack current. Most of the bridges from Garfield up to Fairfield are rocky and produce Smallies. We were catching them in Paterson

over the weekend from my buddy's boat.

As for launching and parking, theres a few decent (not the best) launches. None of them that I ever worry about. No tickets/break-ins/tsunami's to speak of yet.

Mjh609 · #5 08-09-2012, 05:04 PM

So start above Dundee dam and work north I guess. Or start in Fairfield and work south. Either way. Can this whole stretch be navigated with a bass boat and a 40hp or are there spots so low we won't get thru?

Skunk City · #6 08-09-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mjh609

So start above Dundee dam and work north I guess. Or start in Fairfield and work south. Either way. Can this whole stretch be navigated with a bass boat and a 40hp or are there spots so low we won't get thru?

You really can't go wrong with either section. I've caught Pike, Largemouth and Smallmouth in both parts within the passed week. There are low spots all along the river now because of the lack of rain. Some spots may be exposed boulders, others get to a foot or less then drop back off. Not the whole stretch by any means, but be aware. I've seen bass boats out there before though. Be ready to tilt up the motor to save your prop though until we get some heavy rains.

MaCe1 · #7 08-09-2012, 09:50 PM

You can't go from Fairfield to Dundee Lake/dam by boat. Waterfalls in Little Falls and Paterson.

Mjh609 · #8 08-11-2012, 12:37 AM

So, thought I had settled on pompton lake but now I'm not sure. Sounds like there are plenty of largemouth but smallies aren't common and pike are an extreme longshot. I'm so confused. We don't get out all three of us very often and these lakes are quite a drive so we want to make sure we set ourselves up for a good day.