Clinton is much different
Clinton does not have nearly the amount of shoreline cover that Canistear has. There are big bass in Clinton and an excellent smallie population but they are often difficult to get on late in the year. Since the hurricane last month Clinton has been dead. Canistear also has some good weedbeds and shallow water coves to fish...Clinton has almost no weeds anywhere and the one big cove is only productive in the spring. As a rating system goes I would rate the lakes like this:
1. Canistear - Good structure, fish can be caught shallow and deep, nice mid lake hump with defined weedlines, lots of wood and rocks to fish, ramp and parking are poor.
2. Oak Ridge - Used to be an excellent smallmouth fishery but too many have been taken out over the years. Still has good fishing though...especially LM bass. Lots of shoreline wood and buckbrush...some humps and holes...old roadbed still produces fish...back creek is fun sometimes too. Good ramp...limited parking.
3. Clinton - Big and healthy LM and SM when the conditions are right. Offshore structure is the key in the summer due to limited shoreline cover. If you see some wood...fish it!!! Good spinnerbait lake when th wind is right. Hit or miss type lake, but which lake in NJ isn't? Good ramp...decent parking.
4. Echo Lake - Sometimes this lake is much better than Clinton and easier than Oak Ridge. No coves...just a big, long circle, with limited wood structure. Lots of chunk rock, some weeds by the ramp and in the back. Big musky's roam these waters and many people say that has hurt the bass population. I can't completely disagree...look whats happened to Greenwood Lake. The back marshy part can be fun with a topwater...good jig lake but be prepared to lose a few...to rocks...and muskys....best ramp and best parking of the 4...open until November while the rest have shut down for the year.
Enjoy...Mark
