Avoid Surprise Lake (Union County)

[Eskimo]

Just found this article on NJ.com.

In preparation of dam repairs, they are draining the lake. The fish are being electro-shocked and taken to other lakes like Best Lake, Seeley's Pond, and Nomahegan Pond.

Nick Healy, a senior wildlife worker with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, was on hand to transport the fish to other Union County ponds. He said the order called for 50-100 bass to be moved to Best Lake in Watchung, and the others sent to Seely’s Pond and Nomahegan Pond.

Here's the article:
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/20..._river_default


I grew up in that area and fished that lake a lot as a kid. Although it received an ungodly amount of fishing pressure, it was a very fertile lake that always managed to produce pickerel and mostly small bass.






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[jimcnj]

I hope it gets restocked after the work in done. Also, I hope they build an attractive stone dam not a concrete monstrosity;
I like going there. it is usually peaceful, except for the people who don't leash their dogs. Pickerel are fun.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I drove by there Wednesday or Thursday morning on the way to work. The boys were there getting ready to take the fish out. This place has problems, they just did a bunch of work on it 10-15 years ago. I hope it gets better after this project!!!

[Rybazłapać]

Anybody know how long this process is supposed to take or have experience about how long it takes for a water to be fishable for lack of a better word after something like this happens? When I got back into fishing this was a great little lake for me. It Ten minutes from home and despite all the pressure it does get I rarely came up empty handed.

[jimcnj]

Far more pressure at Echo Lake (Mountainside) ,in the spring anyway.

[buzzbaiter]

Anybody know how long this process is supposed to take or have experience about how long it takes for a water to be fishable for lack of a better word after something like this happens? When I got back into fishing this was a great little lake for me. It Ten minutes from home and despite all the pressure it does get I rarely came up empty handed.

Dam repairs generally only take a few months. The lake then has to slowly refill. Once oxygen levels reach adequate levels, the fish stockings can begin.
Small ponds post dam repair generally receive juvenile/adult bass in the 6 to 13" range 6 to 8 months after the pond refills. How many bass depends on the size of the water. Fishing will be good for a year or two until bass pops return to normal levels.

They may also stock adult Bluegill, Crappie & Bullheads as well.

[Setthehook]

When did this start? I was fishing there yesterday and didn't see anyone doing anything. We managed a couple small perch and had a nice bass spit the hook while it was stuck on some pads. Is this true?

[Billfish715]

Read the article in Sunday's Star Ledger.

[Eskimo]

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I'm really disappointed about this, too.

I was planning to take my nephews fishing there this summer. The abundant sunfish can keep a kids occupied because they are getting a bite on their line every five seconds. Just enough to maintain their attention.

Now I have to find another local pond with a lot of sunfish.




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[bigfishy]

Trying to find a local pond WITHOUT alot of sunfish may be more difficult