Passaic

[NJD Bassman]

I tried to fish the one spot I know has a nice stretch of shoreline to walk. When I arrived today it was flooded still. Left there with no bites to try a new spot for me that I found in Chatham, by a dam. No luck there so went back to water close to home and caught 1 lmb, little over 1lbs, and a crappie before calling it a day.

So I could use a little help. I have found some other spots with Google maps and some research. Problem is some of the spots I'm not sure if I will be able to walk the shore. I'm about 1hr away from spots and don't want to get up there to find out I cant explore. I have found potential spots from Chatham to Elmwood. PM if you can help. Thanks and fish on!

[briansnat]

There is easy access by Two Bridges Rd in Fairfield, or is that Wayne?

[msgdan]

The conditions so far this year have been the worst since I started kayak fishing for pike in the Passaic, 10 years ago. I may be missing a few fish, but it's not even worth my time trying to get out with the way the river looks.

It looks like my time trying will be in August and September, which are usually my two best months for pike.

Danny V

[NJD Bassman]

Yea water was chocolate milk and super high. Guess we need a long dry spell

[Eskimo]

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The water is high and turbid, but it's still early in the summer. We have plenty of time.

I don't bother fishing as far upstream as Chatham and I live in that area. Although a few local experts have landed some big pike in that area, they don't stock pike up that far and I've never caught any. They also don't seem to have any Smallmouths in that area either, although there are some smallish Largemouth Bass.

When the water levels come down, you won't have any problem with shoreline access. The problem you'll have is BUGS. Those muddy floodplains grow intolerable clouds of mosquitoes.



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[buzzbaiter]

The problem you'll have is BUGS. Those muddy floodplains grow intolerable clouds of mosquitoes.

what he said.

plenty of walking access but your walking in and along a flood plain which means lots of stagnant puddles perfect for mosquitoes. twice last year I gave up after only five minutes. the headnet i wore was tough to see through. not because of the netting itself but because of all the mosquitoes on it! that and the perpetual bzzzzzzzz in my ear made me leave. there were thousands not dozens or hundreds of them. it was like a horror movie.

river has to drop another two/three feet to be good for shore fishing. check the USGS gauges.(Millington/Chatham/Pine Brook) you want the gauges to be BELOW normal if you go. if its normal or above, forget it.

mid july to late sept is best

you have to go midday to late afternoon because even if its not rained for awhile, the carp will stir the mud up so much so the river is brown.

skeeters are terrible right now: worse on humid days and early/late. best days/times are low humidity, breezy days early afternoon. tough to combat. i prefer a light rain jacket they can't bite through along with a headnet but in july and august, i come damn near heat stroke i'm so hot. its going to be bad until all those flood water pools dry up and less breeding areas for them. it really is a great river to fish with a nice variety but the bugs are brutal.

[NJD Bassman]

There were plenty of the puddles your talking about. I believe control had been out to spray, water looked real yellow. I have seen there trucks before in that area.

[buzzbaiter]

All those pools & puddles need to be addressed. They are mostly along used trails and created by the township trucks/bulldozers themselves when they go back there to clear the river. Their tire tracks make perfect breeding pools. Fill them in with rocks. Next would be clearing out all the canals that feed the Passaic. Most are jammed with fallen trees from Sandy/Irene and block water. Clear them out!

[NJD Bassman]

Exactly right buzz, but they are just concerned about the river being clear. Feel like some of the puddles have been there since I found this spot 2yrs ago. Laziness..... Thanks for the help guys. Maybe Ill see you out there.

[buzzbaiter]

I bought a half-body bug netting just for the Passaic. It covers head, torso and arms. I will be trying it out next week after work as it looks like the river is dropping nicely and no substantial rain in the forecast. River is already in good shape upstream of where Canoe Brook comes in.