Yes, a saw many interesting places! Pickerel heaven!

Thanks again

How big is your boat ?

Bilgerat

I have a 10' jon boat, but the guy who had it before me built a deck on it, so it is very heavy. I also have a nice14' V hull. I   bought a plain jon boat with my friend. Used it on the little lakes by my house, car top launches. We kept at his house because he used more than I did. He got divorced, the boat was deemed part of the estate, and I lost the boat.

I wish I could find one of those little Crawdads (remember those?). I would keep it at my house!

Live and  learn, after 50 years you think I would have learned something!

God made pickerel so bass-fishermen don't get skunked.

(Moderators:  feel free to delete if this is deemed a religious post.  )

Micro, sometimes I can't even catch sunnies! Beats working!!

Here's a few I got friday. There's plenty in the lakes by me.

Spinnerbaits work great, and that's what I've caught most of them on when the water isn't frozen.

Great fish!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congradulations

Can't wait for loose water!

Peace

Smuth

Here's a few I got friday. There's plenty in the lakes by me.

Spinnerbaits work great, and that's what I've caught most of them on when the water isn't frozen.

Very nice chains D4!

Sure reminds me of ice-fishing on Budd Lake and Cranberry Lake.

Roger

Made it down to Chatsworth, can you put a boat in; I didn't see any parking, do you park along the road.

Unless the scenario has changed since I last fished Chatsworth, there are two spots where I put in.

Approaching the lake from the village of Chatsworth (Ocean Spray Cranberries)

the first clearing on your right (right front corner of lake) is a decent launching spot,

and the best spot for shore fishing, but the shoreline is wild and the going is slow.

        I typically fished Chatsworth with a 10-ft cartopper, and continued just past the Lake

then took the first nondescript sand road into the piney woods. The narrow sandy road

meanders through the pine trees and ends up at the lake shore. If you paddle to the left,

the first thing you'll encounter is a cranberry runnel entering the lake on your left (wooden frame).

If you continue north into the shallow-water arm of Chatsworth, you'll likely encounter

a drove of small chains (snakes under 18").

Pay dirt for us was the large center bay that's strewn with stickups and lined with wild rice.

Bring a portable depth sounder and locate the deepest holes in the middle bay.

You'll find that most food shelves are around 30" deep and the lake basin is about 7 ft deep,

plenty deep enough for pickerel.

In spring, you can enjoy an action-packed day with a 1/2oz Johnson Spoon with grub trailer.

Only once did we see any other anglers. It was two fellows in a canoe who were only there

about 20 minutes until they capsized their canoe. They immediately left the lake,

soaking wet and laughing.

Again, if you want to get into the big boys, it's Wading River and Mullica River.

Roger

Hi, stumbled across this forum and it's just what I needed! Was strictly saltwater, but have been thinking about getting started early with some pickerel. Use to fish for them locally when I was a kid, and I do miss them. I was out and about looking around yesterday around Lake Oswego and Harrisville lakes, look like good canoe spots. Do the pickerel start hitting artificials right after ice out? Or does the water need to warm up a bit? I don't fish any bait. Anybody ever try Manahawkin Lake for pickerel? I know there's bass in there. I'll be fishing mostly from canoe with the wife if anybody has any good suggestions as far as canoe access and of course pickerel! Thanks!

Here's a few I got friday. There's plenty in the lakes by me.

Spinnerbaits work great, and that's what I've caught most of them on when the water isn't frozen.

Very nice chains D4!

Sure reminds me of ice-fishing on Budd Lake and Cranberry Lake.

Roger

thanks, was a good time!!  The bigger one on top didn't fight much at all, came right out.  One of the smaller ones fought like crazy, I though for sure it would be a monster.

Hi, stumbled across this forum and it's just what I needed! Was strictly saltwater, but have been thinking about getting started early with some pickerel. Use to fish for them locally when I was a kid, and I do miss them. I was out and about looking around yesterday around Lake Oswego and Harrisville lakes, look like good canoe spots. Do the pickerel start hitting artificials right after ice out? Or does the water need to warm up a bit? I don't fish any bait. Anybody ever try Manahawkin Lake for pickerel? I know there's bass in there. I'll be fishing mostly from canoe with the wife if anybody has any good suggestions as far as canoe access and of course pickerel! Thanks!

Yes, I've fished Manahawkin Impoundments 1 & 2, as well as Lower Shannoc Pond,

Stafford Forge Pond and Turnmill Pond. But frankly, I utilized that area more for waterfowling,

a great place for black ducks, pintails and baldpates.

Harrisville Lake?   Now you're cooking with gas!

The Wading River is my old stomping grounds, which forms Harrisville Lake.

You can put in at Chips Folly near 542 (assuming it's still there) or at the canoe rentals

in Harrisville. You will likely be the only pickerel fisherman for miles,

and the Wading River is deemed the wildest river in the state of New Jersey.

I'm jealous already

Roger

Thank's Roger. Was out scouting around again today. The wife wanted to take up canoeing so I got her a canoe. I figure she can paddle me around and I can fish. As far as Lake Manahawkin, I was talking about the lake at the corner of Rt. 9 and 72. Looks like you can paddle up into some backwater there.Tom

Made it down to Chatsworth, can you put a boat in; I didn't see any parking, do you park along the road.

Unless the scenario has changed since I last fished Chatsworth, there are two spots where I put in.

Approaching the lake from the village of Chatsworth (Ocean Spray Cranberries)

the first clearing on your right (right front corner of lake) is a decent launching spot,

and the best spot for shore fishing, but the shoreline is wild and the going is slow.

I typically fished Chatsworth with a 10-ft cartopper, and continued just past the Lake

then took the first nondescript sand road into the piney woods. The narrow sandy road

meanders through the pine trees and ends up at the lake shore. If you paddle to the left,

the first thing you'll encounter is a cranberry runnel entering the lake on your left (wooden frame).

If you continue north into the shallow-water arm of Chatsworth, you'll likely encounter

a drove of small chains (snakes under 18").

Pay dirt for us was the large center bay that's strewn with stickups and lined with wild rice.

Bring a portable depth sounder and locate the deepest holes in the middle bay.

You'll find that most food shelves are around 30" deep and the lake basin is about 7 ft deep,

plenty deep enough for pickerel.

In spring, you can enjoy an action-packed day with a 1/2oz Johnson Spoon with grub trailer.

Only once did we see any other anglers. It was two fellows in a canoe who were only there

about 20 minutes until they capsized their canoe. They immediately left the lake,

soaking wet and laughing.

Again, if you want to get into the big boys, it's Wading River and Mullica River.

Roger

that sand road around the bend has a small creek feeding the lake, if you walk up it about twenty feet to the creeks edge you can launch rite there into the creek and motor up to the lake. just be nice to there sident duck who lives there.

Thanks for all all the good information, can't wait to fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!