Fishing Report For Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ

Current Report: Very Good

WINTER. Ice fishing is prohibited here, so Winter fishing is no longer viable once the ice forms. Early Winter here was decent for catching brown trout, in 40 feet of water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallower, warmer water. Annually, after ice-out, weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared offerings. Trolling, drift fishing and jigging spoons are popular methods. They congregate around inflowing creeks, backwaters and onto flats - 20 to 40 feet deep. Some browns will suspend 80 feet deep, over even deeper water. The most productive fishing is happening from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 50 to 120 feet deep, and deeper. They prefer the oxygenated water above the thermocline, but will go deeper for comfortable temperatures. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallower in these low-light conditions. Trolling around river channel ledges and structure, using downriggers or leaded line, or drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Anglers fishing from the bank are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig to get baits into deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. Brown trout spawn in late Fall. Successful anglers are catching them 40 to 80 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Decent catches are coming on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Once they have had a full summer to grow, it's a good time to catch a trophy. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait typically catch browns.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

The New Jersey Fish & Wildlife reports stocking over 3,500 rainbow trout in Merrill Creek Reservoir last Spring. This on-going stocking program continues to provide a good rainbow fishery for anglers.

WINTER. Ice fishing is prohibited here, so Winter fishing is no longer viable once the ice forms. Early Winter here was decent for catching rainbow trout, in 40 to 100 feet of water. Slowly worked offerings attracted bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water. They typically suspend in 20 to 80 feet of water. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Mid-basin drop offs around the thermocline, creek mouths, points, shallow coves, and flats adjacent to deep water are popular in Spring. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 50 to 120 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. In summer trout commonly suspend above the thermocline, above humps, deep channel edges and mid-lake structure. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with fairly heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 20 to 35 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, and flats. On deeper rocky structure, humps, and ledges rainbows feed in 30 to 80 feet of water, anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that these trout have had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 60 to 100 feet of water.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

There is a healthy population of smallies here, rooting around rocky shorelines, and amongst the standing timber throughout the lake.

WINTER. Ice fishing is prohibited here, so Winter fishing is no longer viable once the ice forms. Early Winter here was decent for catching smallmouth, in 20 to 40 feet of water. Slow presentations were effective in this cold water.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 10 to 30 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs 2 to 12 feet deep. Some of the better spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points around the boat ramp and off the north arm. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 15 to 20 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass typically feed shallow early and late in the day, in 10 to 15 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Popular Summer holding areas include rip rap at the dam, as well as rocky points, humps and structure near the thermocline. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 20 to 40 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action.

FALL. Once Fall arrives smallmouth move into coves and bays 8 to 30 feet deep. Popular areas include rocky points, flats and around the mouths of inlet creeks. They thrive in the cooler, shallow water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 30 to 40 feet deep.