About Us
We are the largest freshwater fishing guide service in the New Jersey and the surrounding area. With an incredible team of guides, multiple boats, and the amount of time that we spend on that water, we are the unrivaled leader for guided fishing trips on Lake Hopatcong and fly fishing trips on the top trout streams in New Jersey.
The Lake
Covering over 2,700 acres, Lake Hopatcong stretches 9.5 miles in length, boasts over 38 miles of shoreline, and is the largest lake in New Jersey. What makes this lake so special is how diverse of a fishery it is and the sheer quality of the fish that inhabit the lake. There are two main factors that have created this unique New Jersey fishery – a booming alewife herring population and wide array of different fish-supporting environments. With large expanses of deep water, sharp ledges, offshore humps, and massive schools of bait roaming it’s open water, the lake offers the habitat necessary to support thriving populations of Walleye, Hybrid Striped Bass, Musky, and Smallmouth Bass. The shallow water structure includes flats, weedbeds, docks, timber, lilly pads, rock piles, and just about anything else you could hope for. For most of the year, this habitat holds the more commonly seen New Jersey species such as Largemouth Bass, Pickeral, Perch, Crappie, Sunfish, and Carp. Simply put, there are not many places in our region where you can realistically target and catch trophy Walleye, Hybrid Striped Bass, Musky, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass all in once place. At Lake Hopatcong, you can!
A fishing destination like this sounds like it would be hours away in a remote location, right? Here’s the best part… Lake Hopatcong’s location (just off of Route 80 in the middle of North Jersey and close to all major highways) makes for an easy commute for those coming in from New York, Philadelphia, or anywhere in New Jersey.
The Fishing
Spring:
As soon as the ice is gone, arguably the hottest bite of the year immediately kicks off. Yellow Perch and Crappie fishing in March, April, and Early May is an absolute blast. 100+ fish days are possible. While they are not the largest fish in the lake, Perch and Crappie are a ton of fun and can offer some of the most exciting and memorable trips of the year. The walleye fishing typically heats up in early April and continues through late fall. Lake Hopatcong is an outstanding Walleye fishery and consistently produces trophy-sized fish all year. Largemouth and Smallmouth bass catch fire once the water warms up in April/May and the spring bass fishing can be phenomenal. Musky in excess of 50” inhabit Lake Hopatcong and these fish become active around the same time as the bass. April and May are also a great time to target stocked Trout. Hybrid Striped bass fishing kicks off around mid-April and these large, incredibly strong fish can provide a battle that you won’t ever forget!
Summer:
All of Lake Hopatcong’s gamefish are active during the summer. This is truly multi-species fishing at its best. You can expect to catch an array of different species during the summer. Morning and evening trips are a great way to avoid the high amount of boat traffic that the lake experiences during the summer. In addition to fast action from a variety of fish, these early and late trips are prime time for the lake’s trophy Walleye and Hybrid Stripers. These fish spend most of the day in deep water and can be tough while the sun is high. However, fishing with us early and late in the day will have your bait in the water during optimal feeding windows and the fishing can be outstanding.
Fall:
Fall is a great time to be on the water here - boat traffic is almost non-existent and the fall colors are beautiful. In addition, some of the largest fish of the year are caught in the fall. All of Lake Hopatcong’s gamefish go on a feeding binge in the fall to prepare for the upcoming winter, so you can’t go wrong booking a trip anytime from September through ice-up!
Trip Options & Rates
What to Bring
Valid NJ Fishing License for anglers aged 16 - 69 (a license is not required for children 15 and under and anglers 70 and older). A Trout stamp is required to keep trout for the dinner table. This should be considered if fishing in April or May.
You can purchase a license and read about the regulations here: https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishneed.htm
Snacks/Beverages (Ice and cooler are NOT provided – always bring the smallest cooler or lunch box available to save as much room as possible)
No glass bottles - plastic bottles and/or cans only
Please avoid all food/beverages that could stain if spilled
Bring plenty of water
Sunscreen
Sunglasses (polarized recommended)
Hat
Weather-appropriate clothing (layers are good)
Use common sense when prepping for and while on your trip – your safety is always the top priority.