Maybe I'll try for Musky. W, Mt. You May be surprised at the awesome lake musky Fisheries Virginia holds, many of which are diamonds in the rough ! Muskie Fishing Adventure on the Mountain. Daily Rates only during Special Events. Switch things up by also using chartreuse and white variations, both straight and jointed versions. Prepare for success with accurate data about the type of fish that are caugh in Mountain Lake, learn what baits are used, and fish smarter with weather forecasts. Expect muskies in the 30- to 35-inch range, though some fish over 40 inches do show up. This story was first published: Spring, 1999, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Winter Tactics For The Delaware River Angler. Byllesby Reservoir 2*. The Musconetcong River starts in the northwestern Highlands region of New Jersey. Early April water is cold, high, and fast, but even the most severe conditions cannot deny dedicated fishers their place streamside on a Saturday morning in early April , when a fresh and feisty generation of stocked rainbow trout become fair game. Monksville Reservoir. YouTube, Permit Coordination & Environmental Review/EO215, Pesticides, Waste & Underground Storage Tank, Equal Opportunity and Contract Assistance, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit, Permit Coordination & Environmental Review, Science, Research and Environmental Health. Freshwater Fishing . Depending on the depth, the distance from shoreline for casts will vary greatly. Largemouths and crappies position among weeds, too, and especially the flats of the lakes two ends can be productive for bass this time of year. Once you have made the same cast twice, focus on casting to new pieces of water. But it's the best that can be done with a 20 year old pic. On that special day, many key variables were in alignment. Loved docking and going for lunch to break up the day.[tasty][drinking]. 3 bds; 2 ba; 1,478 sqft - House for sale. Most anglers in New Jersey abide by an unwritten law of catch and release for muskies, but in any case, Mountain Lake does have a March 20 to May 20 closure on harvest. Carpet Cleaning Iowa City| In-state destinations include the Delaware River, Greenwood Lake, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake Reservoir, Lake Hopatcong, Mercer Lake and Mountain Lake. Concentrate your efforts during the warm spring rain its a great time to target active muskies. Making a clean figure 8 is kind of tough especially when you can only sit in the `Yak. %PDF-1.6 % Tijuana Garage Menu| Muskellunge, however, was one fish he had no experience with until recently. It is a cool water lake with an average depth of 15 with holes up to 60 deep. The Pequest facility also includes a Natural Resource Education Center for environmental education, where visitors develop the behaviors and skills necessary to become stewards of wildlife and natural resources through programs for families, scouts and other groups. Good luck fishing and see you soon at New River Trail State Park. Click to enlarge The hatchery is open year-round for visitation, although the best time to see the actual fish-raising operation is from October through May, when the nursery building is open. Lewis was fishing in Mercer Lake, Mercer County, when he reeled in the fish, unmistakably beating the previous record, caught in 2005, by 13 ounces. A century after the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway built the station and long after passenger trains on the line . That turned out to be the one and only Musky Ive ever caught in my life forty-four inches long!, Muskie tackle is specialized; lures can cost $30-40 each, and the rigs are heavy duty. Known mostly for muskies, the lake is also a largemouth bass hotspot, and according to Pat Hamilton, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist, Pequest River watershed, black crappies here are well-established. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Mountain Lake gets its name from Jenny Jump Mountain overlooking its glacial 122 acres. Lake Hiawatha Homes for Sale-Whippany Homes for Sale-Fairfield Homes for Sale . Fish deeper water and drop-offs associated with these structures in mid-summer as the fish move to cooler water. The junction of feeder streams will also hold muskies. We have had a few Musky close to the 50-pound mark caught and released but Musky that big are rare anywhere. 237 views 0 comments. With over 30 years' experience fishing the freshwater rivers, lakes and streams of New Jersey, New York state and Eastern Canada, Captain Dave Vollenweider of Live to Fish Guide Service invites you to join him for an eduactional experience in pursuit of a variety of species of fish in New Jersey's waters. It would be shameful not to mention the 55-inch, 47-pound muskie that was found by fishermen in 1996. | services Muskies, Inc. (national) They're in there make a left out of ramp go to back corner by weeds and hang on! I live in Central NJ and I have a canoe. This photo shows Adam Faatz of Hawthorne, NJ with his state record in the archery category caught at Greenwood Lake on May 19, 2014. We either rented or I brought my Jon boat. Muskie Fishing Guide Service Mountain Muskie Lodge on beautiful Cave Run Lake Kentucky. 10752 Highway 1274 Wellington Ky 40387 2 miles east of Long Bow Marina on KY Route 1274 (606) 768 - 3911 or (606) 768-2319 . $425,000. Lawrence Jopko, then 14 years old, was fishing for catfish with his uncle in the Delaware River near Washington crossing in 1990 when he caught the NJ State record tiger muskie. Related Sportsmens OrganizationChapter 22 Muskies Inc.Penn-Jersey Chapter Muskies Inc.Knee Deep ClubMuskies, Inc.(national), Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2020(pdf, 85kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2019(pdf, 65kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2018(pdf, 75kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2017(pdf, 90kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2016(pdf, 27kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2015(pdf, 23kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2014(pdf, 24kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2013(pdf, 16kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2012(pdf, 11kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2011(pdf, 11kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2010(pdf, 14kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2009(pdf, 12kb)Muskellunge Stocking Summary, 2008(pdf, 10kb), return toFantastic Fishing in New Jersey, Twitter The lake covers 929 acres and is located near Meadville in Crawford county. Inline spinners like the traditional gold and silver Mepps Aglia Spinners 3 inches in length or greater will also work well. Below is a list of lakes in VA that hold musky populations as well as a rating of their population health from 1-3 Stars. Work back slowly with lots of soft twitches. The trout was 23 inches in length with a girth of 17 inches. The Fisherman The maximum depth is 12 feet, with an average depth of 7 feet. Keep in mind that fishing when multiple variable conditions are in play is much more important than the amount of time you put in, or how many casts you make. 602. Call (606) 776-6567. . Brook Trout tend to over-populate and stunt (become short and skinny) which creates an . Never been enough muskie in SML to actually muskie fish there. Jim Stewart of Rollie & Helens, a Northwoods fishing supply shop that bills itself as "the world's largest musky shop," says people can spend anywhere from $200 to $2000 outfitting themselves to . Angler feedback has been mostly positive - please send comments on our programs to staff at NJFWFISH@dep.nj.gov. Related Gallery: He caught it on a homemade bucktail jig. This section of the river is composed of long slow pools interconnected by shallow riffles and rapids. (source: NJ DEP), Bowfin are sometimes mistaken for the notorious invasive snakehead. Used to trout fish it as a kid during the stocking season. The same can be true for muskies; focus on that magic time. He caught the fish casting from his boat on Pompton Lake on May 16, 1996. JavaScript is disabled. 330 Passaic Street. All of this flashy bling can be too much for a Muskie to resist so be ready for a long follow and a strike close to your rod tip at the very end of the retrieve. and why did u paste a link to my boat jerseyhunter? | dep Good Friends. Smith Mountain Lake is a 20,600-acre impoundment located near Roanoke in Bedford and Franklin counties. Js Carpet Cleaning| We will continue to post stories, profiles and scheduled events and hope you'll subscribe (for free!) For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Cory Ramsey was working 6- to 8-inch gizzard-shad baits along a rocky bank in the upper . Lake trout were introduced into the state in 1977 when the state stocked them in the reservoir. But I have to admit, while I almost always fish by myself, but it sure was nice to have couple of extra hands out there today. Last Updated: Jun, 05, 2022 Recent TWRA Reports shed more light on this unique body of water. Supernatural Big Baits 12" Headlock Crankbait. The . Usually I generally shy away from wetting a line for a few days right after a cold-front moves in, but this time of year, I take advantage of any window of opportunity when I can to fish. In Region 4, Canadarago Lake is once again stocked with tigers. While we fished for several hours thereafter, no more Muskies made it in the `Yaks. Since then more resources were added to the list of stocked waters or occupied by both stocked and self-sustaining populations. But the Delawares kindest gift from the ocean is shad, when each spring millions of fish enter the Delaware Bay to begin the long and arduous upstream swim to their fresh water origins where they will spawn. Muskies? Kyle Fronrath of Fontana Guides netted in late September measured 52 inches and weighed in at a whopping 32 pounds. i was down there this weekend for the 4th of July and it was insane with all the traffic on the lake. Chapter 22 Muskies Inc. Listed here are public boat launch ramps and boat landings, free to the public. Started by limit-out, March 30, 2006. Wed, 07/14/2010 - 14:07 -- jmaslar. Offset shank, extra wide gap, or hybrid style hooks will work equally well. During April when most anglers at Mountain Lake are interested in trout, the possibility of catching the biggest bass might interest you. We will continue to post stories, profiles and scheduled events and hope you'll subscribe (for free!) Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, muskellunge in New Jersey do not stick by that standard and are routinely caught with less effort. Packages Include: Guided Day Fishing, Boat. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, gear, troubleshooting, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! They will provide cover for sunfish and should bolster that population. Northern Pike, Tiger Musky, Muskellunge* Northern Pike. New Jersey fish stocking efforts is more much more than just trout! This is the time to break out the largest lures in your tackle box. 3,000 Furnace Lake in Oxford. New River Trail is located at 176 Orphanage Drive, Foster Falls, VA 24360. Stop the retrieve all together two or three times during each retrieve. No matter how large the body of water that you are fishing, 90% of the fish will occupy depths of approximately 1 to 3 feet in these coves. Shoreline stretches on both sides of the lake feature steep weedy drop-offs where muskies take refuge along the bottom edge of the green stuff, possibly snatching a sucker on occasion, and rushing up from below upon sunfish highlighted above. It could not have been easy to haul through a hole in the ice. The warming water increases the muskie's metabolic activity and has them on the lookout for their favorite prey. Mountain Lake chart image courtesy of Navionics Boating app. 760 8 oz. Six-hundred-thousand of them, to be more precise, each born and bred at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center which lies on a 5,000-acre state Wildlife Management Area between Route 46 and Pequest Road in Oxford. Beyond that age growth slows with many variables coming into play, including available forage base and sex (males are always smaller than females). And if we find a new print format for the Skylands Visitor magazine, youre on the mailing list! Click to enlarge 4 - City of Passaic Department of Recreation. And if we find a new print format for the Skylands Visitor magazine, youre on the mailing list! The reservoir was constructed in the early 1960's and is owned by American Electric Power Company and is managed . 973-428-2500. Ahhhhhh Autumn is here. the PA Fish and Boat Commission recently changed to only holdover Spring stocking to grow a bigger fish) we are stocking muskies in both spring and fall. General FactsThe muskellunge is the largest member of the pike family, a highly prized sportfish and a true trophy. Stick baits by the likes of Rapala or Yo-Zuri are a good choice. Home Depot Parts And Accessories| Ron remembers, To thank us for the work we do, they took some of us from the hatchery out in two groups to Furnace and Mountain Lakes. Keep informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey and get a year-round supply of great things to see and do! %%EOF To Top New Jersey Fishing Lakes Best Fish. One productive method to entice a strike is to swirl the lure around in the water in a figure eight along side the boat at the end of the retrieve. His daughter Sarah is pictured holding the mount of the fish, which is still displayed prominently and proudly in the family home. Staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed this year's stocking of fall fingerling (10") and yearling (12") muskellunge in nine waters: Other productive areas are rocky points, ledges, outcroppings, and fallen and standing timber. What Kind Of Paint To Use In Garage| But they grow large Then move to a fresh piece of shoreline and repeat. The hatchery works closely in developing and protecting local fisheries with New Jersey Chapter 22 of Muskies, Inc., the national organization that works to improve the sport of catchingand releasing this largest, and relatively uncommon, member of the pike family of fish. Sinai, NY 11766 Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Weve even supplied six neighboring states with fish, including New York which has thirteen hatcheries of their own, explains hatchery superintendent Craig Lemon. Finally I got a strike that almost pulled me out of the boat. A medium to heavy spinning or bait casting outfit with a 7-foot or so rod and 20-pound braid will do the trick. Today, many musky . Thanks to the efforts of Muskies Inc. NJ, a non-profit conservation organization and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Game, quality muskie fishing can be found in many Garden State waters. Jopko died in 2009. endstream endobj 397 0 obj <> endobj 398 0 obj <. In no way does thathipsterlife.com claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner. New Jersey's stocking sizes and rates are recommended by Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries regional biologists to create and maintain fisheries. . If you are considering a guide, be sure he is licensed and has a reputations for being a good instructor as well as being able to put you on the fish. Muskies, Inc. (national) March 20-May 20 are Catch & Release only for Echo Lake Reservoir, Mercer Lake, Mountain Lake, Monksville Reservoir. Passaic, NJ 07055. Nothing quite as enjoyable as taking the `Yak out on a nice, crisp, cloudy Fall day and having a go at the fish of 10,000 casts. However, more recently established fisheries inLake Hopatcong, Mercer Lake and Mountain Lake are coming on strong. $29.99. In New Jersey, the state record was caught by Bob Neals at Monksville Reservoir in January, 1997, and weighed in at 42 pounds, 13 ounces. (source: NJ DEP), John Viglione of Ringwood made his way onto the state record fish list in 2009 by landing a state record Northern Pike. $23.99. Prices include up to two people. This is the most popular and best bass fishing lake in the state. Tiger Muskie, as you would guess from their name, are agressive predatory fish. | search, Copyright State of New Jersey, 1996-2020 Department of Environmental Protection P.O. Manasquan Reservoir. man made structures such as bridge abutments and wing dams can also hold muskies. As I wrestled with the mighty Esox, I yelled to the guys, I could use a little help please! with that, they quickly jolted over to me. Where you fish is one of the very most important variables. And while Newfoundland (locally pronounced New-found-land) lies by road and track about forty miles from Manhattan and is roughly bisected by busy Route 23, civilization is not what defines it.Actually, the opposite. Low Country House Plans With Wrap Around Porch| I bowfished it before and always saw giant muskys..[up]. Our and other states' stocking programs are constantly evaluated for success, so changes aren't surprising. Tuna Time Off the Delaware Coast, Finding Fluke: The Other Reef Structure, WMIT Turns 50! Open year round . However, night fishing can also be productive. Using the visible clue of other anglers, you can also then see what structure is in that immediate area on your GPS/sonar unit or map, and start probing the deep water while respecting the space of the other fishermen in the area. Then when I got older we did some musky fishing there. Muskellunge are generally a shallow-water fish, preferring areas of weeds, logs, and other cover in both lake and stream environments. The data they gather will determine whether DNR officials will recommend a 40-inch muskie . lots of musky there, and good bass, it can be tough though. These, along with dozens of streaming tributaries, offer fishers endless delights, although some prefer the solitude of spring fly fishing along a handful of tiny creeks designated as wild trout waters. Parksville Lake Musky. Living in Mountain Lake offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. Hamilton also suggested muskies feed on stocked trout, but more important, shes working with Muskies Inc., planning on installing log/timber crib structures within the coming year. Mountain Lake is in Warren County. Deep trolling the cooler waters near points and drop-offs in late summer and early fall is also productive. These are available in many bait shops and tackle stores along the river. Known mostly for muskies, the lake is also a largemouth bass hotspot, and according to Pat Hamilton, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist, Pequest River watershed, black crappies here are well-established. Look for them on the downstream side of islands, below shoals and particularly downstream of rocky points and bars which deflect current flow. Trolling bucktail spinners just below the surface along the top of submerged vegetation, a short distance beyond the prop wash, is an effective method for covering large areas and triggering aggressive fish. The leaves are turning color, the nights are getting cooler and the Muskies are fired up! This elusive fish is seldom abundant, and in lakes one adult fish per acre is considered a good fishery. 2. 100 Only show this user. While Tennessee has a few more musky waters up it's sleeve it's hard to pass up any of the waters listed above. Clayton Lake 1*. I used to go there at least 3x a month with my buddies. Lake Hopatcong Simply because it`s the middle of October and there are only a matter of several weeks before it`s time to pack the `Yak away for the year. 37 posts in this topic. Hamilton said, Scott Collenburg, another biologist, sampled all the lakes we stock muskies in. A Next Gen Offshore Classic, Summer Surf: Fly Casting for Cownose Rays, Tuna Terminal: Offshore Rigging Perfection, Pot Hopping Mahi: Offshore Action Hits Close to Home, Jetty Work: The Ins and Outs of Rock Hopping. All Hackettstown Hatchery fish are fed live forage before they are stocked so they acclimate to feeding in the wild. What's your most epic catch? Since the hatchery doesnt raise them, Hamilton hopes they get them from another water body and move them. Suckers exist in the lake as likely forage, however, and soon the state will stock golden shiners. endstream endobj startxref The recent survey lists 14 musky 28-41 inches and 52 northern pikes 20-38 inches. They are effecient eating "machines" that survive well in Idaho lakes. Whether you're tossing your line into the surf on the Jersey Shore or hitting the Garden State's back bays, inland streams or rivers, you'll find plenty to satisfy your fishing yen. Muskellunge Distribution Map For now, muskies dont grow quite as large here as elsewhere. home | about Caught a handful over the years but that's all. Prev; 1; 2; 3; Next; Page 1 of 3 . Unlike some other states (e.g. Sunny days help to increase water temperatures but fish dont typically like to strike until sunset or after. Use these boat ramps, launches and landings for easy boating access. Once temperatures push into the 50s, focus your efforts on the 5- to 10-foot flats. There is plenty of evidence to back up this statement. Gamefish like to move along the steepest drop-offs in cold water, where they dont have to burn many calories to rise from depths to shallows if a rise in temperatures occasions some activity. Noida, India 17 miracles snake story +91 9313127275 ; contraction de texte en ligne neeraj@enfinlegal.com In addition to being positively identified by freshwater fisheries biologists, the fish was also verified by the curator of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (ANSP). 150 Parksville Lake in Polk County was the final water within the historic musky range to be targeted for establishing a musky fishery. Angler feedback has been mostly positive - please send comments on our programs to staff at NJFWFISH@dep.nj.gov. Iowa is home to a lot of really good fishing, and Spirit Lake in particular is very well known for some monsters. | business Mang Iings on March 17, 2020 March 17, 2020. as an active member. Also, an often overlooked tiger muskie fishery is found in the Mohawk River/Barge Canal from Rome downstream to Lock 16. This elusive fish is seldom abundant, and in lakes one adult fish per acre is considered a good fishery. Located in Liberty Township, Warren County, its maximum depth is 38 feet, mean depth 17 feet. Share your photos and stories in the comment or email me at bdonohue@njadvancemedia.com for possible inclusion in this gallery. You can review the latest newsletter here, and of course you'll be able to unsubscribe anytime. Cranberry Lake has a reputation for its quality brook trout fishing, stocking 20,000 brook trout annually. Warren County is flanked by the river valleys of the Musconetcong and Delaware, and traversed by the Paulins Kill and Pequest. Crank baits, surface lures, and spinners are all good choices, but a special muskie lure called a "jerkbait" is probably the best type of lure to use. . You'll receive our weekly e-news "This Week in the New Jersey Skylands" which will keep you up to date on special events, new profiles, stories, and things to do. In New Jersey? If any of these areas contain downed timber, they are particularly attractive to fish. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Nice place for Bass anytime and Trout early. Timonty Jako of Monroe Township holds his state record white catfish caught on August 14, 2004 in Dallenbach Pond, East Brunswick. . Went there once last yearhad a musky follow a bass- sized crankbait back to the boat and follow three turns of the figure-eight movementwhen it looked like he was hitting it, I set the hook prematurely and missed. The park is four miles off Exit 24 . Unlike some other states (e.g. W, Mt. Mercer Lake Olive NJ and was once a small pond in the middle of a sand and gravel pit. Muskies are notorious for following baits right up to your rod tip so be ready for a strike at any time from when your lure hits the water until when the retrieve is complete. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. Burnsville Lake features good numbers of muskies, but the lake's best attribute is certainly growing trophy fish. We are using a few pike in mountain lakes in south-central Idaho to reduce brook trout numbers, but we really don't want them to be harvested (some lakes have less than 10 pike stocked). While many lures will do the trick, there are a few go to patterns that are the most consistently effective. Ryker Lake. Echo and Mountain lakes also are trapped for muskellunge. By fall 2021 they should be 16-18 inches, approximately 24 inches by fall 2022, and 30 inches after four years of growth. Mountain Lake The Fisherman. These same areas are also productive during the fall. (source: NJ DEP). Cave Run Lake is one of the top 10 destinations to catch a trophy muskellunge. Statewide (exceptions below) Tiger Musky & Muskellunge: 40 inches. Mountain lake used to be one of the best largemouth bass lakes in Northern NJ. Slack water areas are the key. The leaves are turning color, the nights are getting cooler and the Muskies are fired up! 15 days on Zillow. The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google Translate. We quit stocking lake trout because natural reproduction had taken over so we had some room and started bring the salmon back here to raise bigger to fourteen inches, says Lemon. They kind of float on top of the water, just swimming with their mouths open. For prize largemouth bass, Delaware Lake in Knowlton Township is one of only three lakes in the state designated as lunker bass lakes, where there a fifteen-inch minimum size regulation assures the availability of more quality-sized fish. Swamp fishing for Snakeheads in South Jersey, Night Time Kayaking for Flatheads on the Delaware River. The annual Open House and Fishermans Flea Market is the perfect tune-up for fishing season, with all kinds of outdoor activities, demonstrations and instruction. The record still stands, 21 years later. . For general park information about Virginia State Parks click here, contact the park office at 276-699-6778 or email New River Trail at NewRiverTrail@dcr.virginia.gov . This photo is posted on the bulletin board at the reservoir boat launch, but the DEP website lists little other information on the catch. Warren County anglers can now hunt salmon averaging eighteen inches in Tilcon Lake, near the Musconetcong River at Waterloo Village, and perhaps Merrill Creek Reservoir later this year. COMPASS NEW JERSEY, LLC. whag news team; enfield planning application database; dina superstore autistic; bohr was able to explain the spectra of the; mountain lake nj musky fishing. 1000 Rt. (source: NJ DEP), The New Jersey state record channel catfish caught by Howard Hudson in 1978 in Lake Hopatcong. Posted July 7, 2009. i think all the recreational activity on SML in the summer affects the fishing. (source: NJ DEP), There are two categories of records for striped bass, one each for salt and fresh water. The Essentials to Getting Started. i . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. By fall 2021 they should be 16-18 inches, approximately 24 inches by fall 2022, and 30 inches after four years of growth. I have fished there many times stop at Hiway bait grab a few trout snip top dorsal fin and have at it!!! Tennessee Musky Guide. before it was a muskie lake i trout fished their it was a great trout lake and they killed it would go in july august and get decent browns on live bait. on his own scale in May 2012. Sign in to follow this . They quickly pinned me in with their kayaks for stability as I unhooked the beautiful Muskie. It broke the old record, taken in the Delaware River by Mark Kronyak in 2008, by 1 lb. Yet this all can change during the magic time beginning at sunset and continuing until last light. Ron Jacobson has worked at the Hackettstown Hatchery for fifteen years. With over 500 miles of shoreline as the 2nd largest lake in Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake is one of the premier places for fishing on the East Coast. I've fished the lake hard for 39 years, and have caught 2, and my bro-n-law 1. Pickerel are present among the flourishing varieties of aquatic vegetation, too. That record fish was also from Curlis Lake. When targeting muskies on the fly, either a floating or slow sinking line will work, with a tapered 6- or so foot leader and 6-inch wire leader on the terminal end. My strategy is usually to paddle up-wind and drift back along spots that I want to target. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. mountain lake nj musky fishingwilliamson county sports complex. This monster cat must've tasted great blackened with some cajun seasoning.