Avoid Surprise Lake (Union County)

[Eskimo]

Just found this article on NJ.com.

In preparation of dam repairs, they are draining the lake. The fish are being electro-shocked and taken to other lakes like Best Lake, Seeley's Pond, and Nomahegan Pond.

Nick Healy, a senior wildlife worker with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, was on hand to transport the fish to other Union County ponds. He said the order called for 50-100 bass to be moved to Best Lake in Watchung, and the others sent to Seely’s Pond and Nomahegan Pond.

Here's the article:
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/20..._river_default


I grew up in that area and fished that lake a lot as a kid. Although it received an ungodly amount of fishing pressure, it was a very fertile lake that always managed to produce pickerel and mostly small bass.






.

[jimcnj]

I hope it gets restocked after the work in done. Also, I hope they build an attractive stone dam not a concrete monstrosity;
I like going there. it is usually peaceful, except for the people who don't leash their dogs. Pickerel are fun.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I drove by there Wednesday or Thursday morning on the way to work. The boys were there getting ready to take the fish out. This place has problems, they just did a bunch of work on it 10-15 years ago. I hope it gets better after this project!!!

[Rybazłapać]

Anybody know how long this process is supposed to take or have experience about how long it takes for a water to be fishable for lack of a better word after something like this happens? When I got back into fishing this was a great little lake for me. It Ten minutes from home and despite all the pressure it does get I rarely came up empty handed.

[jimcnj]

Far more pressure at Echo Lake (Mountainside) ,in the spring anyway.

[buzzbaiter]

Anybody know how long this process is supposed to take or have experience about how long it takes for a water to be fishable for lack of a better word after something like this happens? When I got back into fishing this was a great little lake for me. It Ten minutes from home and despite all the pressure it does get I rarely came up empty handed.

Dam repairs generally only take a few months. The lake then has to slowly refill. Once oxygen levels reach adequate levels, the fish stockings can begin.
Small ponds post dam repair generally receive juvenile/adult bass in the 6 to 13" range 6 to 8 months after the pond refills. How many bass depends on the size of the water. Fishing will be good for a year or two until bass pops return to normal levels.

They may also stock adult Bluegill, Crappie & Bullheads as well.

[Billfish715]

The biggest intrusion in Surprise Lake was and is the silt. It started with the construction of Route 78. The depth became much shallower and the lilly pads began choking the oxygen out of the lake. An effort was made to remove the pads but the silt remains. Many years ago, it was a Mecca for giant panfish. After the pad removal, a private donor stocked the lake with crappies and other fish. Drain it and dredge it. That won't happen, I suppose. At one time, the area around the dam was deep enough to attract swimmers at what was a swim club which was open to the public. Look it up!

[Matt A.]

"Many years ago, it was a Mecca for giant panfish"

this stinks, I caught tons of crappies to 15" this spring and the sunfish
are huge. I've also seen pickerel caught in excess of 24".

Thanks for the heads up OP won't waste my time there for a few years

[Setthehook]

When did this start? I was fishing there yesterday and didn't see anyone doing anything. We managed a couple small perch and had a nice bass spit the hook while it was stuck on some pads. Is this true?

[Billfish715]

Read the article in Sunday's Star Ledger.