Fishing Report For Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Alewife herring are the primary food source for hybrid stripers here in Lake Hopatcong. In addition to fishing live herring, anglers are catching nice wipers while trolling lures that imitate their food source. These wipers follow schools of herring to remain close to the food supply.

FALL. In late Fall, hybrid stripers return to deeper water, the main body of the lake, and around inflowing water if available. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into 10 to 30 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.

WINTER. In Winter, hybrid stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often 30 feet deep or deeper. Early in the season, warm afternoons occasionally draw wipers shallower, so look for them around the 25 to 35-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of gizzard shad. In Winter it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes as deep as 45 feet, by making slower presentations.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. There are plenty of hybrids averaging 2 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 5-pound plus fish being caught. In Spring, work 8 to 20 feet of water, on wind-blown points, creeks mouths, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn.

SUMMER. Reports by the NJ Fish and Wildlife, indicate the thermocline is generally about 18' to 20', and the schools tend to stay just above that depth. Use electronics and fish finders to locate both bait and wipers. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 15 to 25 feet of water, staying close to schools of bait. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, so look for them around the 5 to 15-foot range as they feed on shallow on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice wipers are being caught by casting, trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Good

At night, and during the cooler months, walleye are moving into the shallows, then out deeper as the sun gets on the water. During Summer these walleye will hang out around the upper portion of the thermocline.

FALL. Fall brought cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish back toward deeper haunts. Walleye continue to be a major draw for anglers. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points, flats along the river and creek channels, and structure off shore. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye this time of year. Early and late in the day finds them in 8 to 15 feet of water, mid day they hold 10 to 30 feet deep. Later in Fall, they move out slightly deeper. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs is catching walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good through the ice, as it has been for the last few years. Before, during and after the ice, anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 6 to 18 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. They primarily feed on small fish, staying close to the bottom. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.

SPRING. Early Spring brings warming water in the shallows, and draws walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. In Spring work points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, flats and flats adjacent to deeper water. Here, in 6 to 18 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they move shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 10 to 15 feet deep around creek inlets, shallow rock reefs, windblown rocky points and flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore. They often stay in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs are producing nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 5 to 15 feet of water. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, 25 to 40 feet deep , preferring the cooler temperatures. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

Current Report: Good

While bass are all around the lake, the area behind Pickerel Point, to the back of River Styx is known to hold lots of bass.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into 12 to 20 feet of water. Popular locations include points off Raccoon and Halsey Islands, Bertrand’s Island, Nolan’s Point, Pickerel Point, Barnes Ridge, Great Cove edges and Byram Bay. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in deeper water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 15 to 35 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 3 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 5 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their 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, around 8 to 18 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 12 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 12 to 30 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around deeper ledges off Bertrand’s Island, shorelines in the area of Hopatcong State Park, the shorelines by Nolan’s Point, and weed line edges.