Seasonal Lure choices for Northeast New Jersey Fishing

[John Sheehan]

Seasonal Lure  choices for Northeast New Jersey Fishing

 I usually progress through the year something like this: Hard water into ice out through March into April ;mostly Jigs tipped with live bait progressing to spoons .Spinners ,Crankbaits , plastic worms and Topwater plugs in the warmer months and as late Fall/early Winter  appears ,I'm  back through spoons to Jigs again .

 This monthly list reflects what has worked in the past for me and will be added to and edited as I make it more helpfully specific . It also reflects seasonally what I may be targeting so it will appear incomplete to some anglers .  

 

January- February, ICE...tiny ice jigs with mealworms ,spikes ,wax worms, or mousies ; small thin gauged spoons tipped with bait  :Bluegills ,Trout ,small to medium jigs tipped with mealworms or wax worms,  Shiners or Fathead Minnows  on Tip ups :Bass, Pickerel , Perch ,Trout,Salted dead shiner head or tails on Flyer jigs ,or spoons tipped with fresh Perch eyes : Yellow & White Perch, Bluegill  and Crappie Rapala ice jig ,Perch

March- Ice out, 64th  -16th oz Buck tail ,Squirrel tail and Feather Jigs: Bluegills ,Yellow and White Perch , Crappie, Bass,Pickerel Spinner baits: Bass ,Pickerel

April-Tube Jigs dragged on Bottom : Crappie,  Bass, Rattletraps, Bass Slow retrieved Spinners and Beetlespins, Flutter spoons : Bass ,Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills, swimming jigs ,Bluegills, Bass Spinner baits, Bass and Pickerel

Small spinners, Trout magnets,beaded nymphs, : Trout Chub or Minnow chunk : Brook Trout

May-Spinners, Beetle Spins, Tube and Twister Tail  Jigs ,Spoons up to 3/8th oz. : Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills ,Crappie ,Big pre spawn Bass, Trolled Cranks and spoons, White and Yellow Perch ,Trolled Cranks ,Casting Spoons,# 2 Spinners ,Swim Baits :Pickerel, Bass, Crappie, Small spinners, Trout magnets ,Trolling Rebel Wee R Crawfish : Trout

June -Plastic Worms, Top water baits,#2 Spinners,Spinner baits, Bass ,Fly rod Poppers, sliders, foam spiders :   Bluegills, Pumpkinseeds and Hybrid BGXPS, Small Bass Crappie ,Bluegills, White and Yellow Perch,  Live Bluegill , Bass , Crayfish piece, :  Brown Trout, Weedless spoons with Tube trailers, Pickerel

July -Crankbaits in 1/8 oz-1/4 oz. size ,Swimming Twister Tail Jigs : Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills ,Crappie Crankbaits  in larger sizes , Hula Poppers ,Jitterbugs and Dual Prop Baits ,Plastic Worms,Bass ,Pickerel  Fly rod ; Poppers, sliders,ts, nymphs ,Bluegill ,Pumpkinseeds and Hybrid BGxPS, Red Breasted Sunfish ,Small Bass, Trolling deep Crankbaits  ,Bass ,Trout, Pickerel, Spinners, Twister Tail Swim jigs,  River and small Stream Smallmouth Bass and Red Breasted Sunfish, Split Shotted Plastic Helgrammites on a floating Jig head, Yellow Perch  Chicken Livers, Cut Hot dog Pieces, Bullheads ,Channel Cats

August , September - baited spoons in 10th-1/8th oz. sizes,  swimming jigs, Plastic swim baits, 1/8 oz- 1/4o z. Crankbaits, Beetle Spins/Jig spins, size 0-3 Spinners ,Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills ,Crappie Rubber worms ,Wacky worms ,three treble, floating Rapalas,Bass,Pickerel, Chicken Livers, Cut Hot dog Pieces, Bullheads ,Channel Cats

October - Countdown Rapalas, Spinners ,Hair , Marabou or Feather Jigs up to 16th oz. ,Tube and Twister Tail jigs Beetle Spins :Crappie ,Bluegills White and Yellow Perch, Bass ,Flutter spoons,rubber worms: Bass,Pickerel, Pop R's, Baby Torpedos , Bomber 4f crankbaits, F09 Floating Rapalas ;Smallmouths Live Herring and Shiners for bigger Fish

November -Tandem swim jigs, Hair ,Marabou or feather Jigs up to 16th oz., baited spoons up to 1/4 oz. Yellow Perch and Crappie Large deep diving Crankbaits ,Pickerel Live Herring and Shiners for bigger Fish

December -Open Water ,hair or feather Jigs,  small Spoons, Crank baits Crappie, Perch, Bass, Pickerel   Ice fishing; baited  small spoons and ice jigs Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills ,Crappie, Bass, Tipups with shiners or fathead minnows : -Bass, Pickerel 

[John Sheehan]

I hope it does Ben!

[Ben Seay]

That's one heck of a list John. I am nowhere near your league as far as lures go, but this list may help me out in the future.

[John Sheehan]

Glad you like Jim .I like the blog format ,one can keep it updated , edited and revised as time and fishing experience evolves!

[Jim Gronaw]

Outstanding info! Thanks as well!

[John Sheehan]

Glad you appreciate Jeffrey !This blog  is part of an  archive of my fishing history that I hope to use and pass on to family and friends .Not trying to sell lures here but would appreciate if folks bought as much as they can from American made sources and found ways to produce their own handmade fish catchers!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

John you're going to make some anglers in your region very happy.......You can go to Bass Pro......Gander Mountain......L.L. Bean.......spend all you want but information like this is priceless and in the case of Bigbluegill.com.......FREE......Thanks in advance John and Bruce!