Interesting past articles regarding Hackensack River

[ScowardNJ]

Yea, I hear yea. I'm just blabbing about a conversation i had with the dude. I'm probably speaking out of school, but from what he told me, if they do another stocking, it will be based on what the DEP allows/tells them to stock, and F&G said no to hybrids, but suggested picks. It's not up to what UW wants to put in there.
Muskies would be nice!

[Bergen Angler]

Originally Posted by ScowardNJ

A few United Water contacts I know say the gizzard shad population is currently out of control in the Oradell Reservoir. There are times when they clog up their intakes. Herons, Bald Eagles, Ospreys all line up like opening day trout guys at the intake canal and do a whoopin on them but it's still not enough. The guy I know said they are looking into different biological controls. The DEP is saying NO to restocking hybrids in fear of them getting down river and cross breeding with native pure strains, there is some evidence of this at other parts of the country. Latest i heard they are looking into loading the lake with slime darts.
I have seen some huge white perch as well as monster gizzards in the stretches below the spillways. Monster carp also...

I think Threadfin Shads are out of control at Oradell. I only saw one person catching one large Gizzard Shad (about 10"-11") at Oradell.

[briansnat]

I grew up in Passaic, about a 10 minute walk from the river. We used to go down there and fish for carp and eels. I don't think there was much of anything else in there then. The water was filthy and smelled awful. I wouldn't even touch the fish to unhook them, I'd cut the line at the hook.

One day my friend's rod was pulled into the water by a large carp and he dove in after it. That was pretty disgusting. He went right home and said he showered for an hour.

As a young adult I lived in Caldwell and would drive down to the Passaic by Two Bridges Rd in Fairfield and fish for carp. Other than that I haven't done much fishing on the Passaic. Now that I see some of the pike coming out of there I may rethink avoiding the river.

[Denlon]

Originally Posted by Predator

Does anyone know if there are Gizzard Shad in upper Hackensack River?

Gizzard Shad can be a big problem no matter where they are. About 20 or more years ago, when the newly built Lake Mercer in Mercer County Park was filling, the Gizzards were thick. When they died off the stench in the air was so strong that it made you cough and gag.

The solution was to stock the lake with muskies, both pure strain and Tigers as I understand it. Now days the Gizzards are still there but in very reduced numbers. But now Lake Mercer is one of the very few lake in central NJ where muskellunge (huge ones) are available and doing well.

This solution seems to have worked here.

Denny

[AndyS]

"I wish the guys on this site dictated what should be stocked where"

Actually we can. TU got together and made rule changes. KDC club got together and told NJ F&G what to stock. RVTA told NJ F&G where to put their lake trout, so yes, we can dictate what can be stocked where, just need to band together.