Merrill Creek Resevoir 5/29 - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

AJFISH13 · #1 05-30-2011, 12:38 PM

Despite the dismal reports, we decided to hit Merrill Creek on Sunday. Water shot up to the mid 70s after being only in the mid 50s according to the guy who unlocks the gate. We had decent fishing for bass and panfish. Started out around 5:20 am and got off the lake around 12:20 pm. We managed 38 bass, panfish, pickeral and brown trout(only pickeral and one brown trout though). Brownie was a throwback and hit a shad rap meant for bass. Big fish of the day was a 3.5 lb largemouth caught on a shad rap by my dad. Bass were feeding early and then died an hour after sunrise as usual on there. Mostly panfish in all honesty. Bass were a mix of smallmouth and largemouth, good to see the smallies, they seemed to have dissapeared last year. Shad raps were working for the bass and inline spinners worked for the panfish. Saw some fish attacking herring, some were bass and some were probaly trout. Not a bad day at all at MCR.

AndyS · #2 05-30-2011, 12:58 PM

Thanx for the heads up from MC. How was the water, dirty ? Were there alot of boats ? Where were the fish blowing up on the herring, deep or shallow ?
Looks like you guys had a good day, seems like the smallies are here to stay, thanx for the report.

AJFISH13 · #3 05-30-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS

Thanx for the heads up from MC. How was the water, dirty ? Were there alot of boats ? Where were the fish blowing up on the herring, deep or shallow ?
Looks like you guys had a good day, seems like the smallies are here to stay, thanx for the report.

Water is defintely not as clear as usual, bass around sunrise were attack herring close to shore, there were some swirls out deep but they didn't last long. Boat traffic was what you would expect for Memorial Day weekend or in other words ridiculous.

lunkertaker · #4 05-30-2011, 09:44 PM

Hey AJ

Nice report. Where is Merrill Creek Resevoir? Always looking to try something new.

AJFISH13 · #5 05-30-2011, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunkertaker

Hey AJ

Nice report. Where is Merrill Creek Resevoir? Always looking to try something new.

Stewartsville New Jersey or in other words northwest NJ. If you live near Farrington, it shouldn't be that far of a ride.

AndyS · #6 05-30-2011, 09:51 PM

You'll get the lost the first time, trust me. The gem on the hill.

lunkertaker · #7 05-30-2011, 09:57 PM

Looks like a deep pond? I have most of my experience fishing shallow lakes in the south (NC, TN, Ga, and NJ) so deep water fishing...is ...well...new

thanks for the tip and will give it a try.

AJFISH13 · #8 05-30-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunkertaker

Looks like a deep pond? I have most of my experience fishing shallow lakes in the south (NC, TN, Ga, and NJ) so deep water fishing...is ...well...new

thanks for the tip and will give it a try.

There are 2 things that most people do there. You can fish near the shoreline and in the coves and catch bass and panfish or you can drift or anchor and fish live herring for brown trout and bass. AndyS and some others on here specailize in the later, they could help you with that. Fishing in the coves and the rock shoreline will yield both smallmouth and largemouth. Any lure that imitates a herring or sunfish/ rock bass will work(crankbaits and rattle traps, soft plastics work well for some in there). It is deeper so deeper diving lures or soft plastics with weight will work better. Inline spinners will catch panfish and the occasional smallmouth. If you get some really small sunfish try livelining in the timber and the weeds, some guys get BIG bass in there doing that. There are some truly big bass in there, especially of the largemouth variety. Big smallmouths too. Good luck.