Passaic River Pike Questions

[ALK11]

Hello everyone. I'm looking to catch my first northern pike sometime this week and trying to go out tomorrow. I figured the Passaic River would give me the best chance close to home. I've never been and have a few questions. First, I'd love it someone could recommend a publicly known location where I could bank fish? Not looking for anyone's secret spot and I understand if I get no responses to this question, but it was worth a shot. Second, is the river currently fishable? Not what the water conditions are and I don't know if the water level is too low or anything. Would I be able to wade it? Third, any recommendation for lures to use? I had planned on throwing a size 8 xrap and some 1/4 or 1/2 Oz inline spinners. Finally, I see there's some debate on leaders. I was planning on using an 18" 45 pound wire leader that I have from targeting bluefish, would that be viable? I know this is a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any help you can give to this noob trying to catch his first pike.

[Esox Luciano]

The river's fairly high right now. Might be a bit rough to hit with such high water. Lures sound good, you can also grab a pack of 5-6" paddletail swimbaits & throw them on a ned rig with about 1/2 or 3/4 of an ounce jighead. Definitely make sure you have a good pair of needle-nose pliers or something longer to get the hook out from the pike's mouth. Those leaders are great, but for smaller presentations try using some fluoro-carbon leaders for better lure action. As for location, where are you coming from?

[thmyorke1]

Never wade it, unless you can actually see the bottom, and you can see stones, it's usually just mud. You can be stepping on sunken wood on the bottom, get confident, then next thing you know step into mud in deep water.

I do the same size swimbaits as Luciano but on a 1/8 oz jig. The gentle fall if you kill it can get strikes.

I roll with a net, pliers, and barbless hooks on those jigs, and wire leaders.

Look up how to chin pike too, can help with unhooking them if you hold em that way. Something im still rough at (maybe cause i just catch small ones lol)

[ALK11]

Thanks for the tips. I'll stick to staying on the bank. I'll be coming from Bayonne, but I'm open to traveling to any area of the river. Whatever gives me the best chance to get some pike. I've found a handful of parks along the entire stretch, but they all seem pretty small. I'd like to be able to walk the bank for some distance looking for spots if possible.

[june181901]

55 years ago the USAF sent me from Bayonne to the upper peninsula of Michigan to a now defunct base. Northern pike abounded and most of the folks were catching them on red and white but sometimes black and white Daredevles. That was the lure of choice and I hear that they are still effective. Might want to consider a 6 inch black steel leader.
Good luck! Still love Bayonne, just don't get there very much anymore.

[ALK11]

After 4 hours of fishing today in Paterson all I was able to pull up was a dink smallmouth and an average sized redbreast. It was near impossible for me to find shoreline access in the spots I looked at in Paterson. Maybe next time.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by ALK11

After 4 hours of fishing today in Paterson all I was able to pull up was a dink smallmouth and an average sized redbreast. It was near impossible for me to find shoreline access in the spots I looked at in Paterson. Maybe next time.

Nice, keep it up, smb are rare for me. should be hungry pike around looking for those sunnies

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by ALK11

After 4 hours of fishing today in Paterson all I was able to pull up was a dink smallmouth and an average sized redbreast. It was near impossible for me to find shoreline access in the spots I looked at in Paterson. Maybe next time.

https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ar...e_update20.htm

And, I sent you a PM.