Kittatinny Valley State Park

[buzzbaiter]

Google Earth satellite maps r a Godsend. U can go back and look at old images and compare what lakes look like spring summer fall. It will save u wasting time hiking or driving to a place that looks good but is almost unfishable.

[thomaskgrosvenor]

Well over the summer I have had some fun catching bass and pickerel off shore in and around and through the lilly pads, grass, and weeds, etc. I also have had to go get a few untangled out of the water gardens which requires me going for a bit of a dip. Good thing there are no poisonous water snakes in NJ, or at least I think. But sometimes I ponder that this may be defeating the purpose of fishing being that if I have to go in and get them, then I might as well start noodling. Noodling for pickerel, anyone?

[buzzbaiter]

Originally Posted by thomaskgrosvenor

Good thing there are no poisonous water snakes in NJ, or at least I think.

No but given the rocky terrain surrounding the lakes, can't rule out rattlesnakes and copperheads being around.

That park is great if u have a small boat or kayak. Its one of the few spots I kind of wish I had one.

[thomaskgrosvenor]

Ended up going. Ended up parking at the Lake Wawayanda boat ramp area. A nice trip but also aggravating. Yes, there were a lot of dense lily pads. Not really planning ahead, I started on the east side of the lake. The trail was walk through-able, but fishing from the shore was difficult and I often found myself going out knee deep to have some space to cast or to unsnag from a lily pad.

Eventually (fairly soon) the trail on the east side shoreline becomes unmanageable and then the setting sun on the west side was pounding me and really warming the water on the east side. Anyway, I worked the lily pads the best I could with the texas rigged senko. I was also using a light steel leader in case of pickerel and started going barbless on the hooks. I only caught one LMbass (medium-small in size). Lost a little one when it jumped in the air and another who dove into the lily stems and got off (or maybe I was just stuck in the lily stems).

The first plane I saw coming in to land, I thought was going to crash in the water but it was fun to see the planes land and I cheered for them.

I saw people fishing on the opposite shoreline. When I was done, I studied the map and there appears to be a better trail on the west side of the lake. I may visit again in the afternoon and start on that side. The lake is close to a well used road and next to an airport with small planes. I didn't see any bears or snakes. When I got there, a lot of boaters were finishing their morning fishing.

I believe this lake is the deepest lake in NJ.