As anglers sit in their house, waiting for winterÃs chill to subside and springÃs warm temperatures to return, many begin to suffer from Cabin Fever, a condition which haunts us all as we dream of being back on the water, rod in hand, trying to hook that big one. Those that are looking to begin studying New Jersey’s rivers, streams and lakes, finding new spots should look to the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Guides.
The Sportsmen’s Guides offer two publications, ‘New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide’ and ‘Discovering and Exploring New JerseyÃs Fishing Streams and the Delaware River.’
The 164-page stream guide contains more than 100 maps and 46 how-to stream fishing articles with 60 maps of specific stream locations. It also contains more than 40 maps of different Delaware River spots, including 14 how-to articles and pieces on shad fishing.
The stream guide covers over 77 pages of trout fishing articles on the stateÃs top rivers including the Big Flatbrook, Pequest, the South Branch of the Raritan RiverÃs Ken Lockwood Gorge, Toms and Manasquan Rivers. The publication also covers the Raritan, Walkill, Wanaque, Ramapo and Paulinskill Rivers. Smaller streams such as Van Campens Brook, Dark Moon/Bear Creek, Tuttles Corner Brook, Lubbers Run, and others are also discussed.
South Jersey anglers can use the articles on bass, stripers and pickerel on the Maurice, Menantico, Tuckahoe and South Rivers. There are also articles on smallmouth and largemouth bass, tidal river stripers and Delaware River muskie and walleye. These articles pinpoint hotspots on the tidal part of the river.
Lake anglers can use the 140-page ‘New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide’ which contains more than 100 illustrations of lake maps. These maps which show depths, aquatic vegetation, shoreline cover and types of substrate. The guides also provide information on types of fish present and recommended locations for each impoundment. There are also 119 lake-specific fishing ‘Quick Tips’ and ‘BassÃn Notes’ provided by well-known state fishermen.
The guides are available at many bait and tackle shops, sporting good stores, by calling 856.783.1271 or through the SportsmenÃs Guides website (www.njsportsmensguides.com).
