Central Jersey guys?

[Fish n Jeep]

Hey all, new to the site, really glad I found it.

Anybody from central Jersey?

I grew up in South Brunswick and recently moved back to the area (now in Hamilton/Robbinsville) after living in the midwest for 9 years. I'm getting reacquainted with Mercer Lake and the Assunpink collection and am encountering the same skunkings now as when I was a teenager in the '90s. Anybody have much luck on these high pressure lakes? I've heard rumors of muskies in Mercer Lake.

BTW, I'm always willing to drive north if anybody wants to fish, I'm currently using an old 14' vee... I hit Clinton Res twice last summer and I used to frequent Budd Lake, both with some success.

[kcritch]

Welcome to the site....

I have never fished either of those lakes but I have had a few good results at Carnegie Lake. There is a ramp on Route 27 north of Princeton. If you're not familiar with it...It is a long shallow river based lake electric only. Only fished it a few times but always caught something. I know it has LM and Crappie and I would assume some form of toothy type in there. The Princeton crew team practices there but that was the only other boat traffic I have ever experienced on the lake.

Just a suggestion in your general area if you haven't tried it. Good luck where ever you end up.

[Fish n Jeep]

Thanks, I fished it a few times back in the day and know the boat ramp you mention. I've also fished the canal along that stretch. The Millstone River both above and below Carnegie Lake has always intrigued me.

[AndyS]

If you want to drive a bit, RV, MC AND SR. ALL great places. Then all the trout streams and ponds in between, and the Raritan river and D&R canal. Go back and read over the past few years reports and posts if you get time.
I'm right here by Somerset.

[tautog]

I am further east, but in my opinion the way to fish is small out of the way ponds. Anything well known or large is usually overfished south of 287 in this state.

[GetANet]

Yo WHAT"S UP???? ALWAYS looking for somebody to fish with!!!
Welcome to the site - great people and great info!!!! PM me and we'll hook up sometime, haven't fished Mercer in a LONG time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fish n Jeep]

Originally Posted by tautog

Anything well known or large is usually overfished south of 287 in this state.

That's what I've concluded.

[NJ219bands]

I live in Trenton and made 59 fresh water ultralight jigging trips this year in Central NJ public fishing areas. The largest of the 1,300 fish that I landed from shore were 20" largemouth bass, 19" bowfin and 14" brown bullhead. I caught 106 warmouth and a green sunfish in a small pond a mile from my house. I tried carping with my homemade corn meal bait four times, but didn't catch one yet. My best fishing is where there are no people. Most fishermen ruin the fishing and don't even know it.

[Mjh609]

Originally Posted by Fish n Jeep

Hey all, new to the site, really glad I found it.

Anybody from central Jersey?

I grew up in South Brunswick and recently moved back to the area (now in Hamilton/Robbinsville) after living in the midwest for 9 years. I'm getting reacquainted with Mercer Lake and the Assunpink collection and am encountering the same skunkings now as when I was a teenager in the '90s. Anybody have much luck on these high pressure lakes? I've heard rumors of muskies in Mercer Lake.

BTW, I'm always willing to drive north if anybody wants to fish, I'm currently using an old 14' vee... I hit Clinton Res twice last summer and I used to frequent Budd Lake, both with some success.

The musky in mercer are not a rumor. The state stocks them there every year. They just aren't caught very often. As far as assunpink goes, the main lake is..... Ok. I always catch when I'm there and have seen some huge fish, just have to know where to look. I actually prefer rising sun and stone tavern more.

[lunkertaker]

Fish n Jeep

I frequently fish assunpink and have done well there over the years. This ole pond can get choked with weeds in the late summer so earlier or later is best. Expect lots of more smaller fish there but there are lunkers there that have seen a lot of pressure. Farrington is also a great pond early and late in the season, try the lilly pads past church street ramp, LMB, pickerel, and an occasional pike are there. One of my favorite stories from there is a pike exploding out of the pads to consume the last of a line of baby ducks...awesome.

Follow the advise of those on this site and you will pick up new ideas and locations, perhaps renewing the ole haunts as an added plus.