klg neighbor
New member
Just attempting to gather as much information about another coldwater fisheries organization and their role in NJ.
Give us a try!
Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!
Pequannock River Coalition
- Thread starter klg neighbor
- Start date
Just attempting to gather as much information about another coldwater fisheries organization and their role in NJ.
Pete
Trout Hunter
Not a member.
Never been to a meeting, unless you count an impromptu meeting with a woman, who attempted to recruit me, by waiting for fishermen my usual Ramapo River access point.
I approve.
Not much on my river (except perhaps as potentially improved Highlands rules), but the NJ Highlands in general, and the Pequannock drainage in particular have benefited.
It may be a lost cause at this point, but I'd be happy if there was a similarly dedicated group focused on restoring the Ramapo.....
I don't mean to minimize the good work being done by EJTU, and the Ramapo River Committee (Geoff Welch), but the focus is different.
porterskill
New member
the PRC has helped the upper river by removing some beaver dams and with some improved flows.they have not been able to force newark into releasing enough water in times of need on a continual basis to make the upper PQ a consistant cold water fishery.most of the time there is not enough water in the river for good trout habitat, just like the lower river.the fishing on the upper river is inconsistant just like it has been even before the PRC was formed.the agreement they worked so hard to get from newark has saved many trout lives in some summers.the lower pequannock river has the same amout of water as it used to, but fishing has deteriorated.even with the PRC surveying the river,all the big stream clean ups,teaching children about the stream and some good stream side plantings continue to help the river.unfortunately the 6 time a year stocking, additional fishing pressure and a couple of local excavting contractors which have ruined habitat in at least 4 locations in the river the fishing in the lower PQ is not what it was before the PRC was formed.
klg neighbor
New member
Sort of like the upper Delaware River and not enough water released to sustain these trout waters. TU took a beating on that and TU orgainzation isn't even named after the Delaware. (Just trying to be honest).
Could have made something up....
Better yet.... should have called klg neighbor for help.
klg neighbor
New member
I've never met him, only know him from his on-line personallity (and you know how that can be skewed).
porterskill
New member
ross kushner is very dedicated to helping the pequannock river watershed and is very honest.
klg neighbor
New member
Since starting this thread I've heard a different truth.
I have no doubt of RossK dedication and conviction to to his beliefs. I do doubt his acceptance to others beliefs. Be that as it may, if he agrees that others may have a different opinion that is just as valid as his beliefs, I'll let it be. The truth may be somewhere in between.
I'm big enough to accept that, is he?
Agust
Resident TU Rat Bastard
Not currently a member.
Usually just run into Ross at various hearings,.
Top notch work, very focused on the Pequannock but their baseline input into SWQS and the Highlands in General have been very important.
Without a doubt yes.
klg neighbor
New member
Agust - excellent example how one group supports another group in a public forum.
Stonefly
Conservation isn't a tag line...
The PRC does really good work and has good working relations with the local communities. Their river model that goes around to schools helps kids learn first hand about watersheds. And they are very active in out reach and attending planning board meetings with an eye to protecting their watershed.
PRomano
Fishizzle, I never use worms!
I'm just getting back into fly fishing after being away from the sport for a dozen years or so, so I don't really know much about all the conservation efforts going on with the Pequannock. My first time back on the stream was in early march and since I was pressed for time I decided to hit the PTCA area.
Its only a 10 minute drive from my house so what the heck; I had nothing to loose. I started fishing at the upper end of the river and worked my way to about mid way to the end of the TCA. Much to my surprise I landed a really nice brown about 12 inches in length. I'll post a picture or two later when I get home.
Anyway, I've been back there several times since and haven't had any luck. I never even seen another angler around. I suppose the low water and high temps in the summer keep this river from reaching its full potential. That's too bad!
Its only a 10 minute drive from my house so what the heck; I had nothing to loose. I started fishing at the upper end of the river and worked my way to about mid way to the end of the TCA. Much to my surprise I landed a really nice brown about 12 inches in length. I'll post a picture or two later when I get home.
Anyway, I've been back there several times since and haven't had any luck. I never even seen another angler around. I suppose the low water and high temps in the summer keep this river from reaching its full potential. That's too bad!
Trout Nazi
And...Boom goes the dynamite.
I fish here alot too because its the closest place for me to just get up and go fish. Not a numbers place for sure, and tough fishing. Steep banks, very slick wading, you better not have any knee or ankle issues if you plan on going. If you don't live nearby, I'd say it isn't worth a long drive. The water gets so low in the summer, its criminal. Place has alot of potential if Newark would let the water flow in the summer.
Hllywd76
Get hooked on fly.. just debarb first!!!!
They will this summer 5 CFS from what was posted before. Guaranteeeeed We have a winner here. It is a starting point for some future considerations.
Peewd
This river could be the best from top to bottom. Ross has done a great job. I have caught allot of wild browns through out the Smoke Rise area down through Butler.
Believe it or not allot survive because of the small tribs that come in.
Allot of these are 3 inches and some are 16 inches, and all Browns in this stream are wild. Matt Gs book is correct. They have not stocked browns in 20 years.
If Newark let out a decent release it would be a great year round tail water. It is amazing how many wild browns and hold over fish are below the Smoke Rise bridge with very little water.
You just can't fish it at this time because it would be bad to the fish and almost impossbile if you tried.
Cheers
Believe it or not allot survive because of the small tribs that come in.
Allot of these are 3 inches and some are 16 inches, and all Browns in this stream are wild. Matt Gs book is correct. They have not stocked browns in 20 years.
If Newark let out a decent release it would be a great year round tail water. It is amazing how many wild browns and hold over fish are below the Smoke Rise bridge with very little water.
You just can't fish it at this time because it would be bad to the fish and almost impossbile if you tried.
Cheers
PRomano
Fishizzle, I never use worms!
I'm not good at identifying wild browns but I did have a strong feeling the one I caught was a wild fish. It certainly put up a great fight. I caught it on a little 4 weight rod. It was a real blast! A BHPT with a strike indicator did the trick. I'll post pictures later tonight. The picture of the brown is from a distance and it's in the water with only the head visible. I did not want to harm the fish so I took picture without touching the fish; just removed the hook and he was on his way.
Stimulator
So much water.....So little time.
O2 is not the problem on the Ramapo - temperature is. East Jersey TU did a 24 hour O2 study a couple of years ago in mid August with the help of Ramapo College. The O2 levels were great.
During low water years, the temp can get over 80 - that is the problem. If we have enough rain all summer the trout can hold over. During low water years, unless they find a spring or go into a trib, their poached.
With all the development, a lot of the springs and seeps that used to come into the river have pretty much dried up.
5cfs isn't much at all even for a small river. Is that even +5cfs above inflow or just a 5cfs release? It's a start but let's see what the 5cfs release will actually do this summer. I definitely am not a Pequannock angler but from what I saw in past photos that river dries up pretty good in the summer. Is 5cfs going to be enough to prevent it from drying up in som many places? I sure hope so and good luck to Ross in his fight for future increases to that release amount.
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PRomano
Fishizzle, I never use worms!
My trip to the Pequannock in March was my first time there since 94, so I don't know much about the history of this river since then. I also don't know what 5 CFS looks like. I will say this; the water levels you see in my pictures came from the reservoir above. I say this because I noticed that the trib's were dried up and I've been there several times since then and the water level is double now than what it was then. The trib's also have water in them now.
I live only 5 minutes away so I plan to spend some time checking water levels and temps throughout the season.
My biggest concern is poaching by the bait guys on the lower river. :down:
I live only 5 minutes away so I plan to spend some time checking water levels and temps throughout the season.
My biggest concern is poaching by the bait guys on the lower river. :down:
