Fishing Report For Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ
By Rick Seaman
May 15, 2025
Fishing Reports
Popular Fish Species Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ
Brown Trout
Current Report: Very Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good
Winter here was good for catching brown trout, especially for anglers patiently working jerkbaits. Anglers are still catching trophy-size browns with some frequency, many while fishing from the bank. Brown trout are much more aggressive than rainbows, and can be caught on larger spinners, jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared baits.
Rainbow Trout
Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good
The New Jersey Fish & Wildlife reports stocking over 3,500 rainbow trout in Merrill Creek Reservoir this Spring. This on-going stocking program continues to provide a good rainbow fishery for anglers. Their diet consists of insects, small fishes and crustaceans. They are being caught on flies and small lures, imitating their natural food. Small spinners, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching nice rainbows, as are nightcrawlers, salmon eggs and prepared baits.
Smallmouth Bass
Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good
There is a healthy population of smallies here, rooting around rocky shorelines, and amongst the standing timber throughout the lake. Mid-range crankbaits, jerkbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits are popular smallmouth lures here. Fishing is often good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days. After the spawn, look for these smallmouth to get aggressive and feed heavily. Early and late in the day topwater can be effective throughout the warmer months.
Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, white bass, white perch, yellow perch and chain pickerel at Merrill Creek Reservoir in New Jersey.
The lake covers 650 acres and has about 7 miles of shoreline, some of which is available to anglers for fishing from the bank. The lake is well known for big brown trout and lake trout. Bass, crappie, sunfish, perch, white bass and chain pickerel are also available. Options for fishing from the bank are limited.
Primary fish species to catch
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Today's Weather & Forecast
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.
Fishing License
Click here for a New Jersey Fishing License.
Map - Fishing & Access
Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".
Contact Information
Merrill Creek Reservoir
Merrill Creek Reservoir Visitor Center
34 Merrill Creek Rd
Washington, NJ 07882
908 454-1213
Fishing lakes in each state.
051525
Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ Report
NEW JERSEY
Information about fishing lakes in New Jersey
Merrill Creek Reservoir offers excellent fishing for lake trout as well as bass, crappie, rainbows, brownies, white bass, pike, perch and sunfish in northwest NJ.
