Stocking Newark Watershed:

[AndyS]

Do you think it is good practice for the State to stock an area where a permit is required ? It was brought to my attention after a fellow fisherman pointed out that they stock walleye in Canistear Reservoir that closes at sunset. Well, if you are any type of a walleye fisherman you KNOW the best time to catch walleye is 1 am. Do you think it is fair to the general public to stock an area where you have to obtain a permit and the Newark Watershed can open and close or change allowable fishing times at any time they want ?

http://www.newarkwatershed.com/

[shucker]

Put em in the raritan!

[Tony Cav]

There are many options for the angler.......so this is just another option.

Is it fair to stock a fly / artificials only stretch? Is it fair to close a river that has plenty of other types of fish on a stocking day? Is it fair to stock sub-legal sized fish?

Having numerous options is one of the things that make NJ special (considering the salt water options as well).

[AndyS]

All good points, that is what I like to hear, feedback !! Thanx.

[Lard Almighty]

I don't have a big problem with this for three main reasons:

1) The permit fees go to the watershed authority, that maintains fisherman access
2) Walleye will still bite during the day
3) The majority of people fish during the day anyway

[ChaosStarter]

My buddy and I just bought a permit to the watersheds this year after talking about it for quite sometime. I like the way they run things (with the only exception being open/close times). It's not that expensive and the 4 lakes offer tons of different opportunities. For bass fisherman, I also like that only 1 tournament is allowed per weekend, on all 4 lakes. So if there's a tournament on Clinton Res, all the others are free without bother.

What I don't like is when the state stocks waters that are completely private with no outside access or stocks places that receive numerous complaints and won't change locations.

[AndyS]

I heard they cut back the number of tournaments because the parking and such was getting totally out of hand.

[ChaosStarter]

I heard they cut back the number of tournaments because the parking and such was getting totally out of hand.


Even better. But it makes sense. So far, I've only been to Clinton and Echo but both have small parking lots (esp. Echo). As someone a few weeks ago posted, there are some good smallie in Clinton, and they stock Musky in Echo. As long as you go enough, it's worth the cost of the permit.

[MCRanger]

Having to get a permit far outweighs not be able to fish it at all.

[Wilson]

There are many options for the angler.......so this is just another option.

Is it fair to stock a fly / artificials only stretch? Is it fair to close a river that has plenty of other types of fish on a stocking day? Is it fair to stock sub-legal sized fish?

Having numerous options is one of the things that make NJ special (considering the salt water options as well).

The state also stocks the Musky, Black River, So. Branch and the Pequest, rivers that have posted sections where rod and gun clubs or lake communities own the water. This has been the case for quite awhile. No one is complaining about that, except me!

[Capt. Lou]

No issues as long ad you can get fishing access, like stated , plenty of private non accessible water that is on stocked streams !

[Michael82929]

Pequest doesnt stock any way waters on posted property...

You see a stocking sign - you can fish it..

[Wilson]

Pequest doesnt stock any way waters on posted property...

You see a stocking sign - you can fish it..
What I mean is those fish don't read the signs, and can go where they like. When you fish the Black River at Hacklebarney for example, if you fish down stream far enough you will hit the cable with the posted sign.
Same with the KLG.

[Michael82929]

Works both way....

When you fish the BFB - when you get into Flatbrook - a private club stocks above flatbrookville, where you cant get access to..

I have a caught a number of there fish. I can tell. They get there fish from a hatchery in PA and they are a different strain of the pequest hatchery fish

There fish (rainbows especially) - are much shinier and cigar looking..

They stock there club three times a yr and within a week, I have club fish down in some of the holes..

However, I understand your point of view.

[Webstersigam]

I don't think it's that big a deal, the state gives you the opportunity to fish the locations, you just need a permit. I can live with that. I do take exception with the state stocking bodies of water that do not have public access to the areas at all.

[Fishon1982]

I fish the watershed and love it great smallmouth and trout my only complaint is that is the times they have the same amount of guards on around the clock it should be a set time like 4 to 10 I also fish Harriman state park in new York they let you stay til 10 other than the times great fishing permit is not much money and most goes back. Should go back to making the launches deeper but it's a wish and I still go

[FISHOFF]

The trout stocked in Clinton are being eaten by the pickeral and my guess the largemouths. I saw a picture of a fileted pickeral and inside of him was a stockie.

On another note, saw a picture today of a Water Moccasin or Copperhead dragging a smallie out of the water on Clinton. A fisherman wacked the snake with a paddle and the smallie swam away. I have the pic, on my email, don't know how to post.

[urbnimports]

I think it's unfair that they stock the watersheds and have so many restrictions, no kayaks, no night time fishing, no shoreline access. Why should tax payer money be spent on a place that the public is not allowed to fish?

[acabtp]

I think it's unfair that they stock the watersheds and have so many restrictions, no kayaks, no night time fishing, no shoreline access. Why should tax payer money be spent on a place that the public is not allowed to fish?
there is shore access and it is open to the public

[AndyS]

I don't see how permit fees make their way back to F&G to help pay for stocked fish.

[urbnimports]

if it were PUBLIC then you wouldn't need to buy a permit to fish there, and shoreline access is only for the permitted anglers. Also there wouldn't be rules that ban kayaks, canoes, etc. Public meaning any person with any type of water vessel can fish there...Monksville is Public, you don't need a permit and you can take anything there to fish.

[Skunk City]

if it were PUBLIC then you wouldn't need to buy a permit to fish there, and shoreline access is only for the permitted anglers. Also there wouldn't be rules that ban kayaks, canoes, etc. Public meaning any person with any type of water vessel can fish there...Monksville is Public, you don't need a permit and you can take anything there to fish.


This is what bothers me about there. Boats are allowed, but no kayaks or canoes. Anyone have any sort of insight on this?

[acabtp]

This is what bothers me about there. Boats are allowed, but no kayaks or canoes. Anyone have any sort of insight on this?
since the reservoirs are pretty big they can get a decent chop on them with the wind it is a safety issue... they want boats big enough to not get tossed around out there. this is more of an issue at the newark reservoirs than at state owned reservoirs, because the newark watershed owns the land instead of the state, so if something happened to someone, it is likely that newark watershed would be sued. so, thank ambulance chasing lawyers and our overly litigious society for you not being able to take your kayak out there.

[urbnimports]

the best part is the watersheds are not even that big compared to other lakes which kayaks are allowed.

[urbnimports]

just did some measurements...not a single one of the watersheds is over 2.5 miles long...Hopatcong is around 7 miles long and kayaks are permitted...just saying

[acabtp]

if it were PUBLIC then you wouldn't need to buy a permit to fish there, and shoreline access is only for the permitted anglers. Also there wouldn't be rules that ban kayaks, canoes, etc. Public meaning any person with any type of water vessel can fish there...Monksville is Public, you don't need a permit and you can take anything there to fish.
well, i disagree.

NWS reservoirs are public because anyone can get the permit to access it. by your definition, i guess the entire state is private, since you need a fishing license?

plenty of other public places also have restrictions that ban different types of water vessels. you mentioned Monksville... there are two very big restrictions on vessels there: no PWCs and nothing over 10 horsepower. by your definition of public being "any person with any type of water vessel can fish there", Lake Hopatcong, Budd Lake and a handful of others are the only public lakes in the state?

[acabtp]

just did some measurements...not a single one of the watersheds is over 2.5 miles long...Hopatcong is around 7 miles long and kayaks are permitted...just saying
it's owned by the state, there's hundreds or thousands of houses directly on the lake to see/hear and report any problem, multiple fire departments and the NJSP marine division have boats in the water 24/7...

[ChaosStarter]

it's owned by the state, there's hundreds or thousands of houses directly on the lake to see/hear and report any problem, multiple fire departments and the NJSP marine division have boats in the water 24/7...


This.

[danyeo]

The trout stocked in Clinton are being eaten by the pickeral and my guess the largemouths. I saw a picture of a fileted pickeral and inside of him was a stockie.

On another note, saw a picture today of a Water Moccasin or Copperhead dragging a smallie out of the water on Clinton. A fisherman wacked the snake with a paddle and the smallie swam away. I have the pic, on my email, don't know how to post.


Here it is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/danyeod/Fishing/snakebass.jpg

[ChaosStarter]

Here it is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/danyeod/Fishing/snakebass.jpg


Aren't those snakes incredably poisonous? Even if that smallie swam away, I bet it didn't live too much longer unfortunately.

[lunkertaker]

I thought I purchased my permit to freshwater fish...including trout, when i bought my fishing license? There couldn't possibly be more fees, taxes, and hidden expenses here in NJ for us to overcome now really?

[Jerseydix]

Looks like a northern watersnake to me.. but I'm no expert

[danyeo]

Aren't those snakes incredably poisonous? Even if that smallie swam away, I bet it didn't live too much longer unfortunately.

This site here says that they are poisonous but rarely fatal to humans, but a small fish or mammal probably won't do too well after a bite.


http://www.wildlifecontrolexperts.com/poisonous_snakes.htm

http://www.wildlifecontrolexperts.com/images/poisonoussnakes.jpg