Eyes on the Passaic

[Esox Luciano]

Hit the river 2night but was kinda defeated by our timing/weather. Lured in my second river walleye!! I don't catch many of these on the river, but when u pull a nice gamefish through the polluted, enviromentally neglected, chocolatey surface of the Passaic.....it's worth that much more! So this being my 2nd in a week, wuz wonderin if any of u fellaz target them on the Passaic @night? Gotta b some bigguns out there. If u got pics lets see em!!

[bigfishy]

is that a size 5 shoe??
j/k nice work!!!
scarce fish are ALWAYS more rewarding

[tjc76]

Nice eye! Not trying to pry your spot, but did you catch them in the tidal or non tidal section?

[AndyS]

Start a clean up committee on the Passaic, the area you fish. Don't say it can't be done because it is happening on the South Branch. Write many letters in your spare time to all the towns and local environmental groups. We just got this out of the lower South Branch.

[Esox Luciano]

@tjc, it wuz in the new Dundee preserve in Clfton. Tidal n brackish, but get around 2 the falls n theres some pools wit decent depth. WATCH OUT 4 SNAGS!! Roll wit topwater lures or shallow swimmin cranks unless u luv losing tackle.!!! Also, the depth in the river also runs wit accessible preserve closer 2 shore..but. Theres bums that stay there starting under the outwater bridge n on upstream for about 100yds. So do wut u do you buddy, I kno I do! Can't stop a fisherman wit an itch! Good luck!

[15FOOTER]

What kind of topwater are throwing at them?

[Esox Luciano]

Not really sure the brand name of the lure, seeing as 2 cuz I picked it outta tree, lol. But its about a 4in firetiger lookin lure wit rattle. Max crank's probly 6 or 7ft deep.

[buzzbaiter]

Passaic gets a bad rap but its a fairly clean river. Most of the contaminants are in the bottom sediment in the lower urban/tidal sections from years of that stuff washing down. Upper/mid sections are much cleaner. Sure it runs turbid most of the year but that's because of all the carp. In the winter, early spring and late fall, it runs pretty clear. The variety of fish species alone shows its quality. I think only the main stem raritan and delaware can claim more species.

No I wouldn't swim in it but I have fallen in it - including face plants - and survived!

[TheDreamCatchers]

How do walleye get in the Passaic? Do they come from Monksville or something? I think there are some in Pines but that doesnt connect to the passaic

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by TheDreamCatchers

How do walleye get in the Passaic? Do they come from Monksville or something? I think there are some in Pines but that doesnt connect to the passaic

Old post, but yes, they make their way down from Monksville is what I was told by Mark Boriek from NJ F&W when I contacted them a few years ago inquiring about it. Go on Google Maps and start at Monks, you will see how it connects. That, or illegal bucket stocking. They are super rare, not worth targeting in my opinion. Just need to be lucky, I've landed 1 in God knows how many trips lol.

PS: Pines dumps into Pompton, which dumps into the Passaic. EVERYTHING ends up in the river!