Indian Lake Little Ferry Report 5/19/19

[steve392]

Originally Posted by BergenBassin

Hey steve, I know it's a few months late to the reply but during the summer the township came in and chopped down some of the reeds along the turnpike bank section for better fishing access, we also had two surface aerators break which were immediately fixed a day or 2 later, if the town can fix that they probably can control the aquatic vegetation, I'm in the same boat as you as I have no clue who to contact. Over this pass season though I have learned the fish absolutely love the grass, specifically the largemouths. It's called hydrilla and it's bass candy, I've fished some other lakes around the upper new jersey/new york area that has it and I use punching gear to get down past the mats. In Indian Lake so far I've caught nice size bass and catfish. The grass isn't everywhere though. It's only really along the immediate bank and the shallower side. I've caught fish in deeper water free of that stuff, along the side with the black fence and turnpike side.

I've also learned the lake used to be a brick pit, it also has an average depth of 10ft with a 20ft hole in the middle near the main fountain. It is free of grass down there.

The town's dpw has cut down area's along the banks but this stuff just spawns new offshoots and grows back again. The area around the dock is now becoming infested with this stuff a good 20 feet out from shore.

The whole area were brick pits. The old valley fair which is now H mart was one and filled in with trash. Alll the apartments along the area were small pits too.

[BergenBassin]

Originally Posted by steve392

The town's dpw has cut down area's along the banks but this stuff just spawns new offshoots and grows back again. The area around the dock is now becoming infested with this stuff a good 20 feet out from shore.

The whole area were brick pits. The old valley fair which is now H mart was one and filled in with trash. Alll the apartments along the area were small pits too.

A week or two ago I reached out to a NJF&W north jersey regional biologist about the problem, a week later I recieve an email back from him thanking me for reaching out and that he attempted to call the township to discuss treating the weeds and will continue to reach out until he has an answer. I also sent him pictures of the condition there.

I also brought up with him the possibility of the state stocking a species like grass carp that can naturally control the aquatic vegetation, before the fish kill I believe the pond had a fair population of common carp that got in from the hackensack river.

If you also wish to reach out and put more pressure for the state to clean the pond up his email is Justin.Rozema@dep.nj.gov

[steve392]

Originally Posted by BergenBassin

A week or two ago I reached out to a NJF&W north jersey regional biologist about the problem, a week later I recieve an email back from him thanking me for reaching out and that he attempted to call the township to discuss treating the weeds and will continue to reach out until he has an answer. I also sent him pictures of the condition there.

I also brought up with him the possibility of the state stocking a species like grass carp that can naturally control the aquatic vegetation, before the fish kill I believe the pond had a fair population of common carp that got in from the hackensack river.

If you also wish to reach out and put more pressure for the state to clean the pond up his email is Justin.Rozema@dep.nj.gov

The lake was in great shape prior to that kill off. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to them.

[BergenBassin]

Originally Posted by steve392

The lake was in great shape prior to that kill off. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to them.

Received an email from the regional biologist a few weeks back regarding the situation at Indian Lake.

The email below
"Hi there,



I spoke with Little Ferry’s DPW and am glad to report they have heard anglers’ suggestions and are already currently taking steps towards hiring an aquatic consultant to begin treating the weeds in Indian Lake next year. They are still in the early stages of the process, so they were unable to provide me with a more detailed plan as to when or how the weeds will be treated yet."

[steve392]

Originally Posted by BergenBassin

Received an email from the regional biologist a few weeks back regarding the situation at Indian Lake.

The email below
"Hi there,



I spoke with Little Ferry’s DPW and am glad to report they have heard anglers’ suggestions and are already currently taking steps towards hiring an aquatic consultant to begin treating the weeds in Indian Lake next year. They are still in the early stages of the process, so they were unable to provide me with a more detailed plan as to when or how the weeds will be treated yet."

AWESOME NEWS!!!

[RAMMFISH66]

That is great news..was a good local pond back when and it needs to be put back into a "fishing" pond.
Overgrowth gotta go!!!

[steve392]

DPW was using a backhoe and digging up the weeds/reeds or whatever they are along the banks yesterday. Hopefully its a start to keeping it clear.