Splitrock-Great News

John and I were discussing this earlier this evening...could be a nice opportunity for anyone in the area to fish a totally unpressured lake for the last so many years......

remember how good Croton was after the ban on boating was lifted??

It is rumored that a certain individual used to sneak in this place as a teen[many moons ago] and caught bass and pickerel then...Not sure WHO I could be talking about though....lol....he was much thinner then, and could hide easily behind trees...

"Fishing Pressure"

While the Fish and Wildlife Division and Jersey City duked it out for years over the easement access, several individuals were known to camp out on the island in the reservoir and canoe. jon and kayak were carted and dragged down to waters edge as no patrols were being performed for years. It may not be the "pristine" "unpressured" fishery that many think!
But I still here stories of BIG largemouths coming out of there in the 6 to 8 lb range(just haven't seen any pictures to back the story up)

Can anyone provide me with directions from Central Jersey??

I MUST try this place! I, too, have heard MANY good things about this place.

Is there any kind of a map available??

Thanks guys,

VRap

Been years since being there but............

VRap,

I'll try to give you some directions, maybe HugeFish or someone can refine them if I forget something.

Rt 287 north to Rt 80 west to exit 37 Green Pond Rd.(county Rt 513), take a left onto Green Pond Rd. right onto Darlington Dr. left on Upper Hibernia Rd. and a right onto Split Rock Rd. that should put you over by the dam, but I am not sure where the parking is from there.

There is also a way in from Rt 23 through Kinnelon, but not the easiest for you to go or for me to explain

Thanks Scott.

I just heard that there is no boat ramp whatsoever on the lake. Car toppers only. Oh well, guess I won't be fishing there after all. Bummer. I heard its LOADED.

VRap

I'm going to check it out Sunday

I have driven by Split Rock Reservoir many times but have never fished it. My buddy and I are going to take our 12 foot boot over and drag it down and see what we can come up with. I'll post the results if we make it out this weekend.

Looks like the masses are all over this opening!

http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/report_followups/97554.html

I agree with one poster on there

That ramps on the lakes in NJ are horrible. When I travel around to different states to check out lakes they always seem to have decent to excellent access ramps. New Jersey is seriously lacking in this area. One of the most popular lakes in the state (Greenwood Lake) doesn't even have public access. It's a shame we will have to wait 2 or more years to get a good ramp on Split Rock....to me....it's like the lake is still closed. Very disappointing.

If you can find the dam you will find the parking lot. The "launch" is at the end of a fairly narrow path that is "paved" with wood chips. There is a two foot drop at the water's edge at this point which is full pool. They can draw it down 3 or 4 ft from here. The lower part of the path is quite steep and if your boat weighs much more than 100 #'s you'll have little difficulty getting down but that's the easy part. The lake is almost 6 miles long and the dam is at the southern end. It is electric motors only.
The fishing has been quite good at times but the skunk shows up on occasion. Overall the pressure has been relatively light but the locals have fished it for years.

Don't be too disappointed

MarkNJBass said:

That ramps on the lakes in NJ are horrible. When I travel around to different states to check out lakes they always seem to have decent to excellent access ramps. New Jersey is seriously lacking in this area. One of the most popular lakes in the state (Greenwood Lake) doesn't even have public access. It's a shame we will have to wait 2 or more years to get a good ramp on Split Rock....to me....it's like the lake is still closed. Very disappointing.

Click to expand...

Mark,

I know how tough at times it can be to launch a car toppped boat, especially if you have to drag or carry the boat over some rough terrain but the same disappointment you are feeling many others are too and it tends to deter many from fishing such a place, thus you get a place that gets little pressure from many boaters.

If you don't have one get youself a small 10' jon, 12' semi-V or canoe and discover those waters less fished, I am sure you will be suprised more than disappointed.

Trust me my 12' semi-V has the scares to prove it, dents, dings scratches and gouges all from places like Island Pond in Harriman SP, the Walkill River and another place near Washingtonville, NY, none are easy places to launch.