Passaic River Walleye 3/15

[Skunk City]

Got out today after work for a little river fishing. As usual, was targeting the toothy guys tossing lures and drowning shiners. After landing a few Pike, I hooked into something that when it came up, I knew it was no Pike. Got a quick glimpse of a WALLEYE before it spit the hook...ughh. I stayed in the same spot, hoping for some reason this guy was really hungry or was rolling with a few friends.....and I was right. After landing another Pike, I hooked up again with the elusive Walleye AGAIN about 20 minutes later. There was no way I was losing this fish lol. Got him to shore, snapped a few pictures, giggled like a little girl, then quickly released him. Fish was healthy, fought nice and yeah, came out of the PASSAIC! A few of my buddies have landed a couple over the years, but this was my first from the river.

[FASTEDDIE29]

AH-HAAAAAAAAA, 3 THUMBS UP!!!! Big river up that way, let's stock it with the EYEBALLS and let nature take its toll. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

[stevejordan]

Nice!!!

[NorthJerzyG]

[basspilot]

Pretty cool I must say. I've heard a few reports over the years and have seen a few photos as well. I have to ask though was it above or below the dundee and did you wind up picking it up on live bait?

[AndyS]

again, nice HEALTHY looking fish ya got there !! I think FE is gonna blow a chip !!

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by basspilot

Pretty cool I must say. I've heard a few reports over the years and have seen a few photos as well. I have to ask though was it above or below the dundee and did you wind up picking it up on live bait?

Above. Hit a shallow running jerkbait in 2ft. of water.

Hoping Mark B. chimes in a bit here. Are they known to successfully spawn in NJ?

[RJHooker]

Sounds like a great day out on the Passaic, gratz!

I'm not an expert, but I've read they will spawn in clean shallows, and feeder creeks attached to their north jersey homes.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

AH-HAAAAAAAAA, 3 THUMBS UP!!!! Big river up that way, let's stock it with the EYEBALLS and let nature take its toll. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

Only problem is this.. walleyes are prolific... They can outcompete other fish.. They are active year round and feed day and night.. In a few years there would be a lot less pike , crappies ,and bass in the river. They usually do well in bigger systems like the Delaware or Susquehanna.. We have a lake up here called Whitney Point Reservoir.. It had some of the best crappie fishing around.. Walleyes had some good spawning years in the lake and feeder streams, and in a short time the good Crappie fishing was ended.. There are more Walleyes now, but at the expense of another species.
Perhaps thats why the state doesn't manage the Passaic for Walleyes.. They simply don't want them in there in any numbers.. There's no doubt they CAN survive, and probably would breed..
In big lakes, Pike and Walleyes can co exist because they utilize different areas of the lake.. Walleyes are usually on rocky substrates, and are generally more of an open water fish, and Pike are ambush feeders prone to weeds and cover in shallower water.
In the Passaic they would be in direct competition, and it would be interesting to see which one would win.. Here in NY state, rivers that have a lot of Walleyes don't have a lot of Pike,and vice versa . I see where you are coming from however.. Given the choice, I personally would rather have a river full of Walleyes than a river full of pike...bob

[MaCe1]

Very nice. The Passaic River continues to amaze me with the variety of fish, and you are catching all of them.