Oradell/Tappan/Woodcliff/Deforest - Any advice for new permit holder?

[Bergen Angler]

Currently at the Oradell Reservoir, water is real high and still cold. Fishing is tough right now. For about two weeks during the spawning season, fishing is easy. Summer is incredibly tough as you can't boat nor wade. Late October can be fun for about two weeks when they are chasing baitfish.

There are a few great spots but sadly they are off-limit areas. A friend of mine was fishing at one of those spots and was caught. They threatened to call DHS on him. Needless to say, he never returned to that spot again.

For the past 20 years, I only caught 4 LM bigger than 6 lb but never caught anything over 7 lb. I caught 3 SM bigger than 4 lbs. I caught one Hybrid last year for the past 7 years. I have never seen Pic there. I did catch one 5 lb Smallie at an off-limit spot while volunteering to clean the reservoir last year.

I presume it can be a great place to fish if you can cast 100-150 yards to the middle of the lake from the shore. There are hardly any structures. I can count less than 10 people who fish there year after year, not counting the bucket brigades who have disappeared last few years due to poor fishing.

[logs22]

Looks like I have a meeting in Fort Lee Thursday afternoon, I am going to try and check out Oradell afterwards for the first time. I planning to park at Gate 1, 2 or 3, haven't decided which yet but if anyone has some inside information that might make my choice easier please send me a PM.

If anyone is looking to wet a line in the area Thursday around 5:30 let me know.

[logs22]

Well I only managed to hit up Oradell for about 20 minutes on my first trip but did manage to land this nice crappie on a shallow diving squarebill. I wish I had more time there was lots of splashing on the surface. Some may have been carp but def think there were some bass hitting topwater.