Best bets for March fishing:

[AndyS]

From the F&W website:
Northern pike spawn in late winter and begin moving to spawning areas in late February to early March. In lakes, pike move into shallow areas near creek mouths and coves with decaying aquatic vegetation or flooded terrestrial vegetation. In rivers, they move upstream to flooded backwater areas and can concentrate below blockages such as dams. During the spawning period, large numbers of pike move in and around these spawning areas, making locating fish more predictable.
It is common in northern lakes to have baitfish or panfish that were in poor condition die during the winter and sink to the bottom. It seems that northern pike have adapted to utilizing these food sources. Therefore, using dead shiners or suckers fished on the bottom is also an effective method of catching pike during the winter.
Pike feed entirely in the daylight and are active all day, with the morning considered to be the better fishing period. Don’t feel left out of this fishery if you do not have a boat - during the pre-spawn and post-spawn period pike are on the move and many of the good areas are accessible to shoreline anglers. A prime example is Spruce Run Creek cove in the Spruce Run Recreation Area in Hunterdon County.
Good fishable populations with pike up to 20 pounds are present in the following lakes: Budd Lake, Farrington Lake, Cranberry Lake, Pompton Lake and Spruce Run Reservoir. Rivers such as the Pompton River, and especially the Passaic River, are targeted all winter long. Don’t overlook the less known Millstone River which gives up a number of nice pike but gets little fanfare.
March is a weird "tween" month, not cold but not warm either. Fishing can be good if you know where to look.
My logbook shows the Delaware river can be very good in March also. I did a charter trip near New Hope for walleye one year. We had snow squalls coming down the river while catching chunky walleye, I'll never forget it.

[Castaway]

Some great info. Thanks for sharing.

[FASTEDDIE29]

That spot at Spruce Run used to be a hot ticket. It was flooded with anglers from the end of February through April. Unfortunately there isn’t water there at this time and there hasn’t been in recent years. They still roam the area though!!! You can see em in the shallows with polarized glasses!!!

Everything can be caught all year long! It just takes some finesse and down sizing of bait occasionally. Go get em boys and girls!!!

[RyanMac14]

Is this the part where we all point and laugh at Farrington Lake being on the list?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Originally Posted by RyanMac14

Is this the part where we all point and laugh at Farrington Lake being on the list?

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Farrington, Cranberry and the Millstone should be on a list that starts with, “where to not catch big pike!!!!!”

[thmyorke1]

From what I hear pike dont reproduce in NJ, so will they attempt to spawn but their eggs just never successfully hatch?

[Troutfishing4life]

[QUOTE=FASTEDDIE29;502614]That spot at Spruce Run used to be a hot ticket. It was flooded with anglers from the end of February through April. Unfortunately there isn’t water there at this time and there hasn’t been in recent years. They still roam the area though!!! You can see em in the shallows with polarized glasses!!!

Even with the water coming up about 4 feet in the last week and still rising according to the USGS site? Water level is at 262ft now

[FASTEDDIE29]

[QUOTE=Troutfishing4life;502645]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

That spot at Spruce Run used to be a hot ticket. It was flooded with anglers from the end of February through April. Unfortunately there isn’t water there at this time and there hasn’t been in recent years. They still roam the area though!!! You can see em in the shallows with polarized glasses!!!

Even with the water coming up about 4 feet in the last week and still rising according to the USGS site? Water level is at 262ft now

I was there Sunday. SR is still super low.

[catfishonthelake]

Still no love for carp. The local ponds in Union County can turn-on quick after a two or three days warming trend.

Musky fishing can be good too if you put some time in. Fish are prespawn and will be fat.

[Troutfishing4life]

[QUOTE=FASTEDDIE29;502653]

Originally Posted by Troutfishing4life

I was there Sunday. SR is still super low.

What is the ideal depth then to be considered normal. If 262ft is still low and the highest record for SR is 272 ft?