New to freshwater fishing, need some suggestions!

[miso]

Hi
I live in bergen county, and wanted to try out freshwater fishing on June 16/17 for the free fishing days and pick up the hobby permanently if all goes well. My experience is limited to party boats along the jersey shore where they do everything for you except bait the hook.

I was recommended Hopatcong and Swartswood, Swartswood being a bit too far for me. I wanted to do some shore fishing in lake hopatcong, but the shoreline looks so big from google maps, i don't know where to start. Do i need to rent a boat? or can i fish just fine from the shoreline? I'd prefer not to spend a lot of money renting if this becomes a regular hobby. What time should i go there?

Thanks

[SkillfulAngler908]

I've never fished Hopatcong from shore, but that is a huge body of water to try and fish from shore. I would recommend at least renting a boat if you have the cash or else look for a smaller body of water in your area. If you are in Bergen county you are not too far from a nice stretch in the Passaic river, which is an excellent fishery and should give you a way better chance of catching some fish from the shore. Good Luck!

[FASTEDDIE29]

A lot people on this site fish the Passaic river, I can't give you specific spots but its a start. Also try Monksville res, Green Turtle pond, Pompton lake. Bergen county has a lot of lakes but I think there all private. Bring up the Nj state map and look a little bit west. TONS of lakes within 20-30 minutes of where you are located. Start with live bait shiners, worms. Bring hooks floats weights. Start off with lures like the original rapala black and silver, black and gold, a couple of spinner baits white, black, and chartreuse. Get a couple small spinners like Panther Martins, Rooster tail and my personal old school spinner the thomas spinner found at walmart. Get yourself a little tube grub kit, mister twisters etc. blakemoore roadrunners catch everything. Let us know how you do, GOOD LUCK!!!

[AndyS]

You can try this for starters.....

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fishplc.htm

and ......... http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fishstrm.htm

Watch out for LH on a sunny hot weekend, many a time I had big 26ft. boat bearing down on my in my 14ftr, like I wasn't even there. If you think Sandy Hook bay is nutz in the summer, LH can be much worse. Sad part about LH is it's NJs biggest public lake with very, very little shoreline access.

[miso]

Thanks for the suggestions folks! I think I'll try a smaller pond like turtle pond. Or recruit a buddy and rent a boat. For bait I had some leftover froz shrimp. Anyone use them in freshwater? Kinda expensive for bait but its what I've got on hand.

[dboyd101]

if you're going up to gtp, go to franks on wanaque ave for bait.

and i think there a place between the monkville south and north boat ramps that sells bait too. they are a motorsports shop but they sell bait. i THINK. don't go there first though b/c if they don't, you'll have to backtrack to franks.

[Capt. Lou]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

A lot people on this site fish the Passaic river, I can't give you specific spots but its a start. Also try Monksville res, Green Turtle pond, Pompton lake. Bergen county has a lot of lakes but I think there all private. Bring up the Nj state map and look a little bit west. TONS of lakes within 20-30 minutes of where you are located. Start with live bait shiners, worms. Bring hooks floats weights. Start off with lures like the original rapala black and silver, black and gold, a couple of spinner baits white, black, and chartreuse. Get a couple small spinners like Panther Martins, Rooster tail and my personal old school spinner the thomas spinner found at walmart. Get yourself a little tube grub kit, mister twisters etc. blakemoore roadrunners catch everything. Let us know how you do, GOOD LUCK!!!

Good advice, except for suggesting Wal - Mart to shop for tackle. They have supported catch shares proposals for saltwater fisherman, which if comes yo past would cripple Sportfishing as we know it today!
So I personally will not step foot in a Wal Mart ! Check this out on the RFA info !

[FishFriend]

If u do wanna fish lh from shore theres quite a few spots bradys bridge can produce well or if u want a little more space theres a stone peer next to barnes brothers marina that is good lots of space and benches to boot some days i find lots at either and theres also those days u cant buy a bite