Stocking Newark Watershed:

[AndyS]

Do you think it is good practice for the State to stock an area where a permit is required ? It was brought to my attention after a fellow fisherman pointed out that they stock walleye in Canistear Reservoir that closes at sunset. Well, if you are any type of a walleye fisherman you KNOW the best time to catch walleye is 1 am. Do you think it is fair to the general public to stock an area where you have to obtain a permit and the Newark Watershed can open and close or change allowable fishing times at any time they want ?

http://www.newarkwatershed.com/

[shucker]

Put em in the raritan!

[Tony Cav]

There are many options for the angler.......so this is just another option.

Is it fair to stock a fly / artificials only stretch? Is it fair to close a river that has plenty of other types of fish on a stocking day? Is it fair to stock sub-legal sized fish?

Having numerous options is one of the things that make NJ special (considering the salt water options as well).

[AndyS]

All good points, that is what I like to hear, feedback !! Thanx.

[Lard Almighty]

I don't have a big problem with this for three main reasons:

1) The permit fees go to the watershed authority, that maintains fisherman access
2) Walleye will still bite during the day
3) The majority of people fish during the day anyway

[ChaosStarter]

My buddy and I just bought a permit to the watersheds this year after talking about it for quite sometime. I like the way they run things (with the only exception being open/close times). It's not that expensive and the 4 lakes offer tons of different opportunities. For bass fisherman, I also like that only 1 tournament is allowed per weekend, on all 4 lakes. So if there's a tournament on Clinton Res, all the others are free without bother.

What I don't like is when the state stocks waters that are completely private with no outside access or stocks places that receive numerous complaints and won't change locations.

[AndyS]

I heard they cut back the number of tournaments because the parking and such was getting totally out of hand.

[ChaosStarter]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I heard they cut back the number of tournaments because the parking and such was getting totally out of hand.

Even better. But it makes sense. So far, I've only been to Clinton and Echo but both have small parking lots (esp. Echo). As someone a few weeks ago posted, there are some good smallie in Clinton, and they stock Musky in Echo. As long as you go enough, it's worth the cost of the permit.

[MCRanger]

Having to get a permit far outweighs not be able to fish it at all.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Tony Cav

There are many options for the angler.......so this is just another option.

Is it fair to stock a fly / artificials only stretch? Is it fair to close a river that has plenty of other types of fish on a stocking day? Is it fair to stock sub-legal sized fish?

Having numerous options is one of the things that make NJ special (considering the salt water options as well).

The state also stocks the Musky, Black River, So. Branch and the Pequest, rivers that have posted sections where rod and gun clubs or lake communities own the water. This has been the case for quite awhile. No one is complaining about that, except me!