Manasquan Reservoir 7/29

[Pfishingruven]

Well, started today at the Reservoir a little later than I had planned.  I was fishing by 10 this morning with my brother-in-law, his girlfriend and my wife went to the park with my 2 little ones.

Started fishing by the Main Entrance/Parking Lot.  We hit the main dock, the old boat launch ramp, the rocks closer to the Dam on the Water Company Property and the trees past the old boat ramp.  We had shiners and worms for bait.  Fished there for 2 1/2 hours or so with a couple of hits.  I had something(my guess is a bass by the way it hit) on a Texas rigged watermelon seed 7" worm next to the old boat launch landing in the trees.  It was a good hit and good fight, however he got back under the stump he was on and got me snagged!!

Stopped for lunch and then started back up on the Georgia Tavern Rd side of the Reservoir by the small dam and the trees on the rocks.  The water level is about 3-4 or more feet low.  We were able to stand in the tunnel that goes under Georgia Tavern Rd and connects to the water in the Wildlife Preserve.  It was bone dry.  we had no hits on shiners over there.  Lots of sunnies and some nice size crappie and then we had a couple of very small perch, small largemouths(1-2 lbs if that) and really small hybrids all on worms in the evening hours.  I also had a nice size largemouth(couple of pounds) follow my Texas rigged watermelon seed worm in to the rocks, from the tree stumps, but wouldn't bite.  By the time I saw the fish it was too late to try and entice it.

All in all, it was a great 10 hours or so of fishing, but nothing to even post pics of.  Seemed to be the same concensus from everyone fishing...even by boat.  Nothing much was biting.  I tried everything I had in my tackle box at some point during the day.  I even tried the grassy/weeded area on northwest side of Georgia Tavern Rd hoping for some tiger muskies and no takers there either.  The Reservoir was alive with plenty of other wildlife though today.  Saw several endangered corn snakes looking for food in the shallow water.  Also seems like a boat is the key.  The people who were fishing by boat had a better report, but still nothing great!

The rocks along Georgia Tavern Rd were just full of garbage...lots of garbage and fishing debris.  It was pretty bad.  I cleaned up everything I could, but some of it was out of my reach in rock crevices.  Please, if you don't clean up after yourself, please try and remember to.  All you need is a bag on the rocks.  After you get off of the rocks there are plenty of garbage cans around.    Also, be careful on the rocks!!  Some of the ones that are usually underwater are very unstable and look and feel like they will hold you until you put all of your weight on them!   Found that out the hard way, !!

It was a great day out, not the best fishing, but I enjoyed it as always!!

[ped579]

Thanks for the report.  I might have to get my license next year and give fresh water another go.

[Pfishingruven]

I love freshwater fishing!!  Heck, I love all fishing.  BUT, I like pickerel fishing and really want to go muskie/northern pike fishing in the near future.  Freshwater is nice with my son over saltwater simply due to locations. 

I have been to the Reservoir two times and I am not overly impressed by the fishing.  My type of fishing place is very quiet and not too populated with fisherman...my brother-in-law loves it there so.  Next trip, I am going to adventure out to a different spot.  Haven't decided where yet!

I haven't had a freshwater license in years, but it has been worth it this year!

 

[surfrocket]

i can set you up on some quiet local spots, i will send you a pm.pickeral and bass. i got my sweetwater licence this year also, first time in over ten years, it is eaiser with the lil ones.

great report   

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[Pfishingruven]

Thanks Surfrocket...look forward to your PM!

 

[Luna Sea 5]

i can set you up on some quiet local spots, i will send you a pm.pickeral and bass. i got my sweetwater licence this year also, first time in over ten years, it is eaiser with the lil ones.

great report   

I did the same thing with my fresh water licence.  I picked up a 14" aluminum boat for that reason.  I did some Prospertown Lake fishing.. I tried the Manasquan, but the rules there are killers.  You need to have life jackets on at all times, you also need your saftey ID card on you, even though you can't use a gas engine.  I never heard of needing the Saftey ID for a non gas engine.  That lake is like the ocean.. HUGE..

[Pfishingruven]

Yeah that lake is big and they get some good wind across it.  Sometimes I wonder how the little electric motors handle it.  During they day they also have the Pontoon Tour Boat and the Sailing Safety Boat that are gas powered they don't care about making wakes.  Makes it kind of hard when there are smaller boats out there.

They do have crazy rules too.  It is a nice place, but not my favorite.  I used to fish Prospertown years ago and it was great.  I hear it is a weed and grass nightmare now, although that doesn't bother me at all.  Haven't ventured out that way yet, but I just mentioned last night while we were fishing.

 

[surfrocket]

believe it or not prospertown holds big fish. it doesnt get alot of pressure, cause of the no electric motor rule.i have also fished the great adventure ski pond,my buddy has permission monster bass and pickeral in there.he is on the b.a.s.s tour havent seen him in a while. back to the motor thing, there is a small pond in new egypt, right in town. its unlimited horse power, never seen anything in there its too small but go figure.

[IrishAyes]

Nice report. Good effort on the fishing. As you said, great time whether you catch or not. 

[Capt -Jerry P]

Nice report and day on the water

[ped579]

I use to do Security out at Great Adventure while in college.  Some of the back lakes are killers.  We use to fish them before the park would open for the day and in the off season it was fantastic.

There are some monster bass beck there.  I took my brother-in-Law back there and before I could put the boat in the water he had a 5+# bass on.

If you get the chance to fish back there do not turn it down.

Paul