Passaic River Stocking: Two Bridges to Elmwood Park

[Mark B.]

In the fall, 84 acre Packanack Lake will be drained for dam repair, & its fish will be relocated.

Looking for access points where a truck with tanks can stock fish.

Thanks.

Mark B.

Mark Boriek, Principal Fisheries Biologist
Mark.Boriek@earthlink.net
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife
Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
P.O. Box 394, 1255 County Rt. 629
Lebanon, NJ 08833
(908) 236-2118 Fax: (908) 236-7280

Visit our website at www.NJFishandWildlife.com
<http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/

[NorthJerzyG]

That's sounds like awesome news!!!

I know of a few spots easily accessible with a truck. Will send pm....

[tycomps]

Snyder Ave Berkeley Heights boat ramp, with all the action going on down river we need as many fish as we can get up here!

[fishin4fun]

dump a truckload in the local lakes as well please, garfield and wallington...

[Skunk City]

Boat ramp on Camp Lane in Fairfield, 1/3 mile upstream of where the Passaic and Pompton join at Two Bridges Road. Easily accessible for a truck to back onto the ramp and unload fish.

Elmwood Park boat ramp across from Elmwood Park High School. Also safe/easy for a truck to back up to.

What type of fish does Packanack Lake contain Mark?

[lebanonsport]

Boat ramp on Camp Lane in Fairfield, 1/3 mile upstream of where the Passaic and Pompton join at Two Bridges Road. Easily accessible for a truck to back onto the ramp and unload fish.

Elmwood Park boat ramp across from Elmwood Park High School. Also safe/easy for a truck to back up to.

What type of fish does Packanack Lake contain Mark?


If I am not mistaken, it has a pretty good population of Largemouth, Channel Cats and I think Pike.

[Eskimo]

Snyder Ave Berkeley Heights boat ramp, with all the action going on down river we need as many fish as we can get up here!
I second this one!
Although it might be considered Bridge Avenue at that point on a map.
Either way, stock it!

[tycomps]

that's two for upriver, the further up the better, my digital camera is rusty from lack of use and besides if they're stocked up river they'll filter down to the other spots eventually too :D

[rutgersfan1]

make that three for up river !

[flyboy1]

In the fall, 84 acre Packanack Lake will be drained for dam repair, & its fish will be relocated.

Looking for access points where a truck with tanks can stock fish.

Thanks.

Mark B.

Mark Boriek, Principal Fisheries Biologist
Mark.Boriek@earthlink.net
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife
Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
P.O. Box 394, 1255 County Rt. 629
Lebanon, NJ 08833
(908) 236-2118 Fax: (908) 236-7280

Visit our website at www.NJFishandWildlife.com
<http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/

Aqueduct Park in lincoln park, nj would be your best, safest and easiest option as it has a fairly large concrete boat ramp.. and its fairly close to Packanack lake..

40.915049,-74.271532 (put these coordinates into google maps)

[AndyS]

Put 'em in the Raritan river !!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Im with Tycomps on this one. The Passaic river in the Berkley heights area has a lot of shore access a nice canoe launch and hiking paths. Theres bridges up and down that stretch of river and you can walk a long way. Theres nice fast water for trout in Millington wide deeper areas by camp riverbend. The possibilities are endless. Snyder ave bridge in Berkley Heights is an IDEAL area.

[ithaca10]

Thought they closed the Camp Lane ramp last year.

[tycomps]

camp ramp is still there at a point where the river is wide with just enough lily pads and several trees down in the area to provide structure, the fish would filter down through Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Chatham across swift rocky bottom, slow moving current, and wide areas of water and connect to the areas that are reported to have considerably more activity than up river. Stocking further up river would have positive results as well. Attached are aerials of Camp River Bend ramp at Gillette and Passaic River Park at Snyder Ave in Berkeley Heights.

[Skunk City]

camp ramp is still there at a point where the river is wide with just enough lily pads and several trees down in the area to provide structure, the fish would filter down through Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Chatham across swift rocky bottom, slow moving current, and wide areas of water and connect to the areas that are reported to have considerably more activity than up river. Stocking further up river would have positive results as well. Attached are aerials of Camp River Bend ramp at Gillette and Passaic River Park at Snyder Ave in Berkeley Heights.


Even though I worked in Berkeley Heights for almost 2 years, I am not familiar with the ramp you are talking about. The Camp Lane ramp I was referring to was an actual ramp on Camp Lane in the town Fairfield. Its right before the Passaic meets Pompton. Great area btw...

[tycomps]

here's a closeup of the ramp at camp riverbend off of hillcrest rd gillette/berkeley heights. it's paved, wide, and pitched gradually. might have to ask for camp permission to offload there but it would give the kids at the camp an excellent opportunity to catch good sized fish.

[Gatto1227]

Put 'em in the Raritan river !!
I second this lol

[The Dominator]

That is closest to Packanack Lake easy in and out..

[dboyd101]

Pompton Lake is right around the corner...

Passaic will turn into a feeding frenzy for the Pike. If they throw them into the Pompton Lake, they will at least eventually make it to the Passaic when it floods again this fall.

[iceehot6766]

I grew up in the area and local lakes could be Potash Lake,Pompton Lake/River,Pines Lake,Pequanock River(near Hershfield Park area),Ramapo River,Woodland Lake(Pequonnock),Lincoln Park off Ryerson Rd.(so many nice lakes but I don't know the names of them)......these places all hold nice fish and are very nearby if that's what they are looking to do is disperse the fish locally

[birdmanmike]

I agree with Ice. If they stock the Lincoln Park Community Lake (Open to anyone) or Pio Costa Lake behing the Community Lake, they will eventually make it to the Pompton and Passaic Rivers.

[danyeo]

Yes, the further upstream the better.

[aluislugo]

that's 3 for upriver...Snyder Ave Berkeley Heights boat ramp!!!

[Mark B.]

The fish salvage contractor considered all of your input, & thanks you.

Packanack Lake fish will be stocked in the Passaic River in the Borough of Lincoln Park, @ Boonton Tpk. & Pine Brook Road.

[Skunk City]

The fish salvage contractor considered all of your input, & thanks you.

Packanack Lake fish will be stocked in the Passaic River in the Borough of Lincoln Park, @ Boonton Tpk. & Pine Brook Road.

That intersection is actually on the Pompton River, Mark...about a mile or two upstream from where it meets the Passaic.

[beezer]

I'd love to see pictures of the river being stocked.

[Mark B.]

That intersection is actually on the Pompton River, Mark...about a mile or two upstream from where it meets the Passaic.


Thanks for the correction. Obviously, the fish salvage contractor chose the stocking point closest to the lake.

They began lowering Packanack Lake, yesterday. Fish salvage contractors usually make multiple passes with their electrofishing boats, as the lake gets shallower & shallower, & the fish get more concentrated.

Giving it their best effort, there are always some fish left, that can't be salvaged.

All carp are destroyed.

[Wilson]

Thanks for the correction. Obviously, the fish salvage contractor chose the stocking point closest to the lake.

They began lowering Packanack Lake, yesterday. Fish salvage contractors usually make multiple passes with their electrofishing boats, as the lake gets shallower & shallower, & the fish get more concentrated.

Giving it their best effort, there are always some fish left, that can't be salvaged.

All carp are destroyed.
Is anybody taking any pictures/video of the operation?
I'd love to see what they catch, and I think it would be good PR for the division:)

[NorthJerzyG]

What trout stocking, lol.

Roughly how long does it take to drain a lake that size? Couple days?

[KRONK]

Just a few questions
1.I believe these fish were stocked by the Packanack anglers club???

2.How does the lake get replenished with fish???

3. If the state restocks what and how many fish are reintroduced???

4. As of late there are largemouth,Hybred stripers pickeral,pike,yellow
perch,sunfish, crappie, and catfish.Too many white perch and carp.

[flyboy1]

Just a few questions
1.I believe these fish were stocked by the Packanack anglers club???

2.How does the lake get replenished with fish???

3. If the state restocks what and how many fish are reintroduced???

4. As of late there are largemouth,Hybred stripers pickeral,pike,yellow
perch,sunfish, crappie, and catfish.Too many white perch and carp.

There's Hybred Stripers in Packanack? I tried fishing there once this year and some pompous yuppie type with White hair and gay looking polo shirt walked up and asked if I had my Packanack permit, I sarcastically said no that I left it in my knap-a-sack! so i had to leave.... :mad:

[Mark B.]

Water level is down about 1 foot. Fish salvage contractor plans to start later next week,…..when the water is down 4 to 5 feet,………..estimates 3 to 4 days of fish removal.

The State only stocks lakes that are open to the general angling public. Packanack Lake is private,……….they will have to purchase fish from a commercial hatchery.

[buzzbaiter]

Water level is down about 1 foot. Fish salvage contractor plans to start later next week,…..when the water is down 4 to 5 feet,………..estimates 3 to 4 days of fish removal.

The State only stocks lakes that are open to the general angling public. Packanack Lake is private,……….they will have to purchase fish from a commercial hatchery.

Good. Let them spend their own money on fish. In the mean time, please thank them for fish they gave us:p

[KRONK]

It seems Pacanack Anglers club missed the boat on this one.
It appears that they could have come up with a better solution than
dumping them in the Pompton River.

[Skunk City]

Any updates on this?

[Mark B.]

Any updates on this?


They are looking to start salvaging fish next week, depending on the water level (still need to remove 2-3 feet from the basin). If everything goes well, they will start on Tuesday 10/23, but it is weather dependant,...plan to be on site 3-4 days.

Packanack lake has largemouth bass, white perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, brown bullhead, and common carp. White perch and the sunfish are the most common species.

A NJF&W stocking truck will be on site to obtain some fish for the Hackettstown Hatchery. The remainder (carp will be destroyed) will be stocked in the Pompton River.

[Skunk City]

They are looking to start salvaging fish next week, depending on the water level (still need to remove 2-3 feet from the basin). If everything goes well, they will start on Tuesday 10/23, but it is weather dependant,...plan to be on site 3-4 days.

Packanack lake has largemouth bass, white perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, brown bullhead, and common carp. White perch and the sunfish are the most common species.

A NJF&W stocking truck will be on site to obtain some fish for the Hackettstown Hatchery. The remainder (carp will be destroyed) will be stocked in the Pompton River.

Thanks for the update, Mark. So no truth to there being Pike and/or Hybrid Striped Bass in there I guess?

[Mark B.]

Thanks for the update, Mark. So no truth to there being Pike and/or Hybrid Striped Bass in there I guess?

Correct, neither of those,...just the above.

[acabtp]

too bad it's not closer to bear season or there would be guys lining up for those carp for their piles

[KRONK]

Correct, neither of those,...just the above.

The anglers Club stocked 100 Hybred Stripers two years ago 8 to 10 inches
It is possible that the PIKE ate them.
Check the Pacanack news about a year ago 36 inch pike caught near the foot bridge (Picture of the fish alive near the bridge)

JUST THE FACTS
KRONK

[Skunk City]

The anglers Club stocked 100 Hybred Stripers two years ago 8 to 10 inches
It is possible that the PIKE ate them.
Check the Pacanack news about a year ago 36 inch pike caught near the foot bridge (Picture of the fish alive near the bridge)

JUST THE FACTS
KRONK

Very good info Mr. KRONK. I tried doing some research on the lake but didnt come up with much.

[KRONK]

Very good info Mr. KRONK. I tried doing some research on the lake but didnt come up with much.
I did not need much research,I have a relative that lives on the lake and read the Packanack news that gets delivered to the house.
I only fished it one hot afternoon,not a productive time in July.
I mostly Trout fish but the Salmon River takes up most of my time.
I have Fished the Salmon river about 40 days this year since late August.
I live near the Passaic river and would love to try Pike fishing but the
Trout and Steelhaed keep calling.

[NorthJerzyG]

Have all the fish been removed and restocked already? Guess with the storm coming they'll all make it down to the Passaic sooner than later.........

[KRONK]

Correct, neither of those,...just the above.
SURPRISE..... How many pike and hybred stripers did they find

[Mark B.]

Have all the fish been removed and restocked already? Guess with the storm coming they'll all make it down to the Passaic sooner than later.........


Before the storm, they spent Thursday and Friday salvaging about 900 fish (mostly Largemouth, black crappie, sunfish..… mostly bluegills, and yellow perch. Very few white perch….they may be hanging near the bottom and brown bullheads. They did get a channel catfish and a tiger muskie...….~40 inches! So yeah, I could see some calling the tiger a n. pike. But no hybrid stripers. A few of the locals were not surprised by the tiger muskie. Hackettstown Hatchery took about 250 fish on Thursday.)

They plan to be back salvaging next week for 2-3 days. As of today, the water level is back down to pre-storm levels (about 4 feet down). That still leaves about 6 feet left in the basin. Lowering can continue until Nov. 15 & they may contract a pump service to speed up the lowering. But given the current situation in NJ, the company might not be available.

[NorthJerzyG]

So I imagine the hatchery wouldn't have kept the tiger, right? Man would I love a shot at that beast!!! Any size to the channel, largies?

[Mark B.]

So I imagine the hatchery wouldn't have kept the tiger, right? Man would I love a shot at that beast!!! Any size to the channel, largies?


The tiger is in the Pompton River.

The fish salvage contractor will keep logs of all the data and will send it when complete,....................I will post then.

[Wilson]

Hey Mark,

How did you guys fare in the storm?

[Mark B.]

Hey Mark,

How did you guys fare in the storm?


Pequest Hatch. was out of power & running on diesel generators, but power has now been restored.

I didn’t hear that Hack. Hatch. lost power, but a tree fell & damaged a citizen’s car, there.

Here @ the Lebanon Fish Lab, near RVR, power was restored Thursday. So, as I did during Hur. Irene, I brought all the perishables from my powerless home,..........& my toiletries (“sweet spots” sponged down in the men’s room)….to aka’s: “The Alamo”,…….The Bunker”.

An angler, who lives on a western arm of Deal Lake in Asbury Park, called to report dead carp. Also, distressed carp, LMB’s, N. Pike, Blk. Crappies,…………….due to salt water inundation.

[Skunk City]

The tiger is in the Pompton River.

The fish salvage contractor will keep logs of all the data and will send it when complete,....................I will post then.

Definitely intersted in seeing this.

[Rickhem]

The tiger is in the Pompton River.

The fish salvage contractor will keep logs of all the data and will send it when complete,....................I will post then.


Me too!

Thanks Mark.

[Mark B.]

To date, the fish salvage contractor has been on site 4 days. Obviously, they lost a week due to the hurricane, and had to work around the Nor’easter last week. Below is a the short summary of fish removed:

10/25: 361 fish
10/26: 566 fish
11/5: 731 fish
11/12: 1381 fish

Total Fish: 3039

Most fish were bluegills, with a larger than expected number of black crappie. They were also surprised at the number of LMB removed (~190), but many less white perch than expected (~ 450)

At this point, there is only about 2 feet of water left in the basin, yet still 25 acres of surface area for the fish to move around. They were able to launch yesterday OK, but at the end of the day, they had to winch the boat over ~100 feet of mud to get it out. Short of using a crane, they can’t access the water at this point. The fishing club is insisting they spend a day in the east finger removing any fish that are held by a 2.5 foot weir. That will likely occur on Wed. 11/14. Based on the rate of water removal, the lake should be empty by the 15th, depending what this storm dumps.

[Skunk City]

Great info. Of the fish caught already, were there any Pickerel or Pike...or any more ever-so-common 40" Tiger Muskies? :p

[Mark B.]

They went back to Packanack yesterday,...& spent the morning electro-fishing the north east finger which still had 1-2 feet of water. There were very few fish, and their unit kept tripping, probably due to a metal pipe (or something) under the water. Very frustrating. They pulled out ~160 fish.

Then they mobilized extra crew and one of their Argos to attempt to get into the main lake basin. Before they even tried to pull the boat through the mud, they got their Argo stuck in the mud, still ~50 feet from the water’s edge. It took them about 3 hours to get out of the mud, at which point they abandoned any further attempts to access the remaining water.

Will post total fish #'s / species when I receive them.

[The Kayak Fishing Store]

Fascinating thread. Sorry the lake had to be drained but glad most of the fish were salvaged. As one who fishes the Passaic I'm glad they found a home there.

[Rickhem]

Happened to be in the area over the weekend and I stopped by the lake to see what it looked like.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/Rickhem/Lakeon11-17-12.jpg

Saw a bunch of strange marks in the mud, and finally figured out that they were from crawfish that were left without water. Here's one that was still looking for it.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/Rickhem/Mudbug.jpg


Finally got to where the lake emptied into the little stream that runs by the golf course, and found a few dozen large carp that probably won't make it. Don't really know if much can be done about the carp and catfish out in the lake a bit further, and outside of this picture, but these looked like they could have been scooped with a net.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/Rickhem/StrandedCarp.jpg

[Mark B.]

The contractor gave it his best effort,............salvaging 3,200+ fish,..........providing some to the Hackettstown State Fish Hatch.

Inevitably, there are some casualities. And, it is illegal to stock carp in NJ

waters.

[Rickhem]

The contractor gave it his best effort,............salvaging 3,200+ fish,..........providing some to the Hackettstown State Fish Hatch.

Inevitably, there are some casualities. And, it is illegal to stock carp in NJ

waters.

I wasn't commenting negatively Mark, hope that isn't how it is interpreted.

The picture doesn't show it, but there are a couple of very large Koi in that school still, so I guess someone got tired of their goldfish and liberated it, or someone's little pond overflowed. The seagulls are just waiting like buzzards for the inevitable to happen too. Thankfully, this isn't happening in the heat of July and August.

Pretty neat to see all the Christmas Trees that they anchored in that deep section, all still there providing structure for when the lake refills.

[Mark B.]

I wasn't commenting negatively Mark, hope that isn't how it is interpreted.

The picture doesn't show it, but there are a couple of very large Koi in that school still, so I guess someone got tired of their goldfish and liberated it, or someone's little pond overflowed. The seagulls are just waiting like buzzards for the inevitable to happen too. Thankfully, this isn't happening in the heat of July and August.

Pretty neat to see all the Christmas Trees that they anchored in that deep section, all still there providing structure for when the lake refills.

No, I didn't take your comments, negatively.

I posted that,.......in case someone did.

[Mark B.]

Packanack Lake Fish Salvage Project
By Chris Doyle, CLM

Packanack Lake is an 88 acre lake located in Wayne, New Jersey. In the fall of 2012, the lake needed to be drained to access and fully repair a damaged valve at the outlet structure. As part of their lake lowering permit, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife required the salvaging of as many fish as possible, a task routinely conducted by Allied Biological using its custom-designed electro-fishing boat. Allied Biological had conducted a fish population study in 2010, and our study revealed an overabundance of white perch and common carp, plus a lack of forage species that were detrimental to the game fish population, and likely contributing to persistent phytoplankton blooms in the water column.
As usual, the project presented numerous difficulties. It took weeks to find a nearby site to restock the fish, due to the presence of the nuisance white perch. It was ultimately determined the Pompton River would be suitable, as the local population of northern pike would happily add stunted white perch to their list of prey items. Two sites needed to be used to access the lake with the boat as the water receded, and equipment was dragged over the mud on the final days before boat access became impossible. Add Superstorm Sandy and an early season Nor’easter snowstorm in the middle of the project, and delays required special extensions to our collecting and stocking permits.
All told, over 4,200 fish were salvaged from Packanack Lake. Several hundred of the fish were turned over to the Hackettstown Fish Hatchery for future brood stock, including largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch and bluegill
sunfish. It was surprising how many black crappie were salvaged (~500) and how few white perch (~400), based on our population study data. But even more shocking was the common carp abundance at Packanack Lake.
Over 800 common carp were removed, with most of them between two and three feet long. At an estimated 20 pounds each, approximately 16,000 pounds (or close to eight tons!) of biomass were tied up in benthic feeding common carp. It is well documented how destructive carp can be to a fishery, and the general ecology of a lake. Coupled with the presence of a stunted white perch population (also a benthic feeder, and detrimental to a healthy game fish population), it seems clear that the previous fish assemblage was working against many of our lake management goals at this site. On a pleasant note: pulling a healthy 40 inch tiger
muskie provided excitement for the netters.
Packanack Lake has a rare opportunity to “hit the reset button” on
its fishery in 2013. With a sensible re-stocking program, we are hopeful that in a few short years, the game fish population will be robust, and a reduction in the duration and intensity of phytoplankton blooms will create a suitable environment for the establishment of desirable native plant communities.

[acabtp]

neat! thanks for the update mark

[Skunk City]

Very cool. Good read.

[NorthJerzyG]

Nice!! Sounds like there'll be some nice FAT pike in the coming months. Plus the opportunity for some better lmb fishing in the river is a bonus........