Millstone's Norther Pike

[DanH]

The State no longer stocks Northern Pike in the Millstone. Any ideas on why this river wasn't as successful as other places ? Or do you think it was more because of the return of the American Shad?

[thmyorke1]

Their decision to stop stocking could be a mix between a lack of reports showing pike coming from the millstone + the return of shad.

I know they show up in the raritan, i think i can recall some reports from the millstone showing some big pike but dont have any links at hand.

Anyone who knows well about the pike fishing should definitely send some nice looking reports over to F&W and change their mind :D

[DanH]

Their decision to stop stocking could be a mix between a lack of reports showing pike coming from the millstone + the return of shad.

I know they show up in the raritan, i think i can recall some reports from the millstone showing some big pike but dont have any links at hand.

Anyone who knows well about the pike fishing should definitely send some nice looking reports over to F&W and change their mind :D

Lol!

[Skunk City]

Nobody ever caught any, that's why they stopped stocking lol. I bet if you emailed fish and wildlife they could give you some info.

[Mark B.]

Nobody ever caught any, that's why they stopped stocking.

That is correct.

[Jhunter1]

I wouldn't target the millstone for pike, pickerel are plentiful but we've had pike up to 36" + from Blackwell's Mills to manville.

[DanH]

That is correct.

Ah come on! You can do better than that! lol :)

[AndyS]

Didn't stop them from stocking the Muddysquan with brown trout after they went 10 years with no returns :confused:

[JDTuna]

Nobody ever caught any, that's why they stopped stocking lol. I bet if you emailed fish and wildlife they could give you some info.

I volunteered to electro fish with the state, and I got one about 12 inches, which is the first they'd seen in years!

[DanH]

I volunteered to electro fish with the state, and I got one about 12 inches, which is the first they'd seen in years!

Thanks for that response! Did the State have any ideas on why the Pike didn't do as well as some other areas?
Having said that I know some nice Pike have been caught there and some still reside there.

[JDTuna]

Thanks for that response! Did the State have any ideas on why the Pike didn't do as well as some other areas?
Having said that I know some nice Pike have been caught there and some still reside there.

Not really, just that they probably flushed out to the Raritan. They're better off putting them in the Passaic, imho.

[Mark B.]

Northern Pike were originally stocked in Pompton Lake (where the current state record is from). They swam out of there to the Passaic River, where they flourished. So, NJDF&W began stocking them directly in to the Passaic River.

For the confused (unable to think clearly; bewildered) Andy S.:

Those brown trout were leftover surplus from the spring stockings. Where could NJDF&W stock them? Not in Trout Maintenance lakes or inland TM rivers due to fears of overstocking on existing trout populations. Not in the lower Raritan River, as it is classified as Non-Trout water. That is, it gets too warm in the summer months for the trout to survive. And, no matter how many tires are removed, it will always be classified as Non-Trout. The Trout Maintenance classified Manasquan River was chosen because of past reports of sea runs. And, there were no fears of overstocking, as the increased population would push individuals farther down to the salt water. Right where you wanted them to go.

Hatchery-wise, there are no leftover surplus Northern Pike.

[Lard Almighty]

Northern Pike were originally stocked in Pompton Lake (where the current state record is from). They swam out of there to the Passaic River, where they flourished. So, NJDF&W began stocking them directly in to the Passaic River.

For the confused (unable to think clearly; bewildered) Andy S.:

Those brown trout were leftover surplus from the spring stockings. Where could NJDF&W stock them? Not in Trout Maintenance lakes or inland TM rivers due to fears of overstocking on existing trout populations. Not in the lower Raritan River, as it is classified as Non-Trout water. That is, it gets too warm in the summer months for the trout to survive. And, no matter how many tires are removed, it will always be classified as Non-Trout. The Trout Maintenance classified Manasquan River was chosen because of past reports of sea runs. And, there were no fears of overstocking, as the increased population would push individuals farther down to the salt water. Right where you wanted them to go.

Hatchery-wise, there are no leftover surplus Northern Pike.For a while I've thought that the Manasquan would actually be a good candidate for pike stocking. It's sort of like a mini-Passaic; lots of blow-downs, deep holes, and slow current. It can support trout year-round, so pike should be fine in there. There's a decent forage base of chubs, suckers, and sunfish. Maybe something for F&W to give future consideration to? Pike stocking would certainly give me a reason to actually want to fish that river.

[thmyorke1]

For a while I've thought that the Manasquan would actually be a good candidate for pike stocking. It's sort of like a mini-Passaic; lots of blow-downs, deep holes, and slow current. It can support trout year-round, so pike should be fine in there. There's a decent forage base of chubs, suckers, and sunfish. Maybe something for F&W to give future consideration to? Pike stocking would certainly give me a reason to actually want to fish that river.

id imagine the trout stocking would discontinue then. I totally agree it's better for pike than trout with how you describe the river, but I bet there's a bunch of anglers that prefer that river for trout. Maybe something F&W could survey with anglers of the river then make the change.

[DanH]

Northern Pike were originally stocked in Pompton Lake (where the current state record is from). They swam out of there to the Passaic River, where they flourished. So, NJDF&W began stocking them directly in to the Passaic River.

Mark , thanks for the response!

[Mark B.]

On the Millstone River, only 1 Northern Pike was captured during 10 days of electrofishing. See table on page 117 of:

https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fwfisheries/reports/annualreport18.pdf

[thmyorke1]

Caught a nice pickerel last night down by Rocky Hill. Water was stained but damn did it looks juicy. Like a combo of the lower south branch and the passaic. Will have to give it more chances this year.

[DanH]

Worked that same section today down to Black Mills. Caught a small spotted bass and lost something decent. The river was getting higher as I fished, switched to the Canal and caught 2 tiny pickerel.

[DanH]

On the Millstone River, only 1 Northern Pike was captured during 10 days of electrofishing. See table on page 117 of:

https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fwfisheries/reports/annualreport18.pdf

A lot of GREAT information there, my eyes got blurry ! lol Wish I had it in book form .
Thanks Mark!

[thmyorke1]

Worked that same section today down to Black Mills. Caught a small spotted bass and lost something decent. The river was getting higher as I fished, switched to the Canal and caught 2 tiny pickerel.

more elusive NJ spotted bass :eek: got more pics?

[DanH]

more elusive NJ spotted bass :eek: got more pics?

nah...he was only about 9 inches! lol