Hopatcong State Park - 2/13/21

[SquidHound]

Arrived at the state park at 7:15 to find a closed gate and a sign that says open at 8 am. I guess this is something new. Went and got some gas and luckily the gates were open when I drove by at 7:30. A solid 6-8” of ice with about 4” of frozen snow/slush layer. Another 4” of fluffy snow on top. Walking wasn’t bad. Very slow day for me but managed a few fat gills and perch.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I can’t believe they won’t let people in early! What a friggin pain in the you know what! Glad you got out there and cracked a few. Nice catch man and thanks for the report!

[icebadger]

Yea i do not know what is up with the barrels that they had in the driveway in the other day when i drove by at 8:15 am there was a car in front of them waiting to get in. do not know if there is a new time to get in now.. They have problems getting people to leave at the end of the day we like to fish right up til 5:30 or so that is when the crappies get active, i thought that the hours were from sun up till sun down like state wildlife management areas. that place gets hit hard now those fish must have seen every jig and minnow known to man by now. glad to see you got something there.

[Bruce Litton]

Yeah, I was hoping to see a photo of a nice, big, fat pickerel to prove me wrong, but that State Park--besides perch and sunnies--doesn't seem to fish well. What else but pressure. At leas the way Musconetcong used to be, you could go out and catch a dozen nice pickerel and few largemouths, and it's the same sort of 5-foot flat.

[thmyorke1]

Nice fish especially that gill , hope to jig a big one like that myself