Fishing Report For Spruce Run Reservoir, NJ

Current Report: Poor To Fair To Good To Very Good To Excellent

SUMMER. Bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, frogs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep. The best reports seem to be from anglers fishing early and late in the day, in the bay in front of the Clinton Wildlife Management Area.

FALL. As Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays, where spoons, swimbaits, vibrating jigs, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 20 to 30 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. They can be caught while ice fishing, but other species are more willing to bite.

SPRING. Once water temperatures in rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering spots to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are starting to get focused on the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. Deeper ledges, reefs, weedbeds, rock piles, islands and channel edges are the primary areas to find northern pike during the day, on warmer months of Summer. Some of the larger specimens may also suspend in open water, just outside these feeding areas. Trolling or drift fishing is producing some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners and deep diving crankbaits. Early and late in the day, they move shallow to feed and can be caught around mosy weedy shorelines. Noisy topwater lures, spinnerbaits and Johnson spoons with curly-tail grubs, are catching nice pike shallow - some up to 15 pounds.

FALL. As the weather starts turning cold, water temperatures cool fastest in the shallows. This brings baitfish and sunfish back into shallower water, and northern follow along with this food source. They hang around weedbed edges, main-lake points, reefs, and rocky shorelines to ambush prey. This is a prime feeding time as northerns prepare for winter.

WINTER. Pike remain active in Winter, often congregating in or near remaining weedbeds, especially along the edges. Other structure options include points, reefs, ledge drop-offs, and rocky humps, ideally nearby deeper water. Ice fishing is good here in winter. At times, when oxygen is depleted in deeper water, northerns suspend directly under the ice, where maximum oxygen is available. Other times they hold on weedbed edges, main-lake points, reefs, and rocky shorelines.

SPRING. After ice out, northern pike migrate to shallow, warmer bays and coves. Once water temperatures reach the mid-40's, they move into even shallower areas with vegetation, to spawn. After spawning they linger in the shallow bays for a short period to feed. Once water temperatures rise into the 50's, they move to deeper weedbeds and shallow structures adjacent to even deeper water. Bright colors, whites and flashy lures appeal to these predators. Noisy topwater lures can also produce some spectacular strikes. Alternate between baits until you identify which one triggers the most bites for the day.

Current Report: Fair To Good

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake draws catfish to feed, in mid depths. Now they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait or shrimp. Fishing from late in the day until midnight is producing some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

FALL. Fall is one of the best times of year for catching channel catfish. They migrate away from current to moderately deeper holes in the main channel of the lake. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets from 15 to 30 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration up river, often feeding in tailwaters. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to keep the bait close to the bottom. There are good numbers of 2 to 4 pound channel catfish being caught. Locals report an occasional channel cat over 10 pounds being caught.