Split Rock is a typical North Jersey reservoir with a hard rocky bottom and shoreline. This is one reason why the smallmouth population caught on quickly after the water was stocked several years back.

The reservoir has a mix of shallow and deep-water structure. Some of the best fishing is found at moderate depth in the rocky areas. In spring, most of the better fishing is towards the back of the reservoir, where the shallow water makes for some good live-bait and spinnerbait fishing.

Anglers after smallmouth in the reservoir during the summer months report that the best fishing occurs for those using crankbaits and jig combinations in the rocky areas. Surface baits will also produce over the rocky areas early and late in the day.

Largemouth fishermen will find the better fishing on jig-and-pig and jig-plastic bait combinations. Most of the better fishing in the fall is on live-bait and jig combinations.

The main complaint from fishermen has been the cartop boat launch that gives problems for fishermen launching bigger boats. Split Rock is slated to get a new boat launch and parking lot sometime in 2008, which should solve the launching problems.

The reservoir is an electric-only body of water, and shoreline fishing is very limited.

LAKE ASSUNPINK
The 225 surface acres of Lake Assunpink continue to provide fishermen with the best bass fishing found in the central part of New Jersey. Last season was no exception. Located at the headwaters of the Assunpink drainage system, the lake offers one of the state’s more prolific bass-producing water systems.

Assunpink Lake annually gives up some of the best numbers of bass, along with numerous trophy bass each year. With an average depth of five feet and a maximum depth of 14 feet, it is a trophy bass water with special regulations.

One of the lake’s main strengths is its excellent forage population. The entire Assunpink drainage system -- which includes Lake Mercer, Stone Tavern Lake, Rising Sun Lake, Dam Site 19 and Whitehead Pond -- has good bass populations, thanks to a healthy gizzard shad population.

The fishing in the lake starts in the spring with a good spinnerbait bite in the upper, shallow end of the lake.

Summer fishermen will find very good action while using plastic baits throughout the lake, as well as a good topwater bite along the lake’s shallow north side and upper end.

Night-fishing is also excellent on constant-motion surface baits and plastic baits along the dam.

A recently built cement boat launch and dock, along with an ample paved parking lot, provides boat-fishermen with excellent access. This past year, the state paved the road leading to the boat launch. Shoreline access around the lake is also excellent.

CARNEGIE LAKE
If you’re looking for a real sleeper water in the middle of the state, Carnegie Lake is another impoundment that annually serves up healthy numbers of bass -- and some trophy fish, too. The 2007 season was one of the in the last 10 years on to the lake’s 237 surface acres of water. Excellent fishing can also be found in the Delaware and Raritan Canal, as well as the Millstone River, one of Carnegie’s two feeder streams.

Carnegie Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet with an average depth of four to five feet. The lake is a long, slender body of water that stretches out over two miles in length, but at its widest point is no more than the length of a football field. The lake is fed by the Millstone River, which passes via an aqueduct under the canal about midway down the lake.