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The musky in NJ monthly

mtthwnvk

mtthwnvk

Picture-Taker // Fish Scare-er
Just saw the musconetcong and fly fishing got a half page in nj monthly's 'great lakes' feature. I suspect a lot of folks on here will not be super fond of this, but it was nice they briefly touched on the river health and dam removal. Shannon's, Ramsey and tight lines all got plugs too so I guess that's a bonus. There's an uncredited photo of someone fishing, wondering if it's someone on this board :D


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mtthwnvk said:
Just saw the musconetcong and fly fishing got a half page in nj monthly's 'great lakes' feature. I suspect a lot of folks on here will not be super fond of this, but it was nice they briefly touched on the river health and dam removal. Shannon's, Ramsey and tight lines all got plugs too so I guess that's a bonus. There's an uncredited photo of someone fishing, wondering if it's someone on this board :D


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Is that a newspaper? Magazine? I'm curious, obviously. I know I wasn't interviewed for it. Also, for what it's worth, the more love the better for any river. I know some disagree with that including some here. You guys will hate Tom Gilmore's article in one of the big FFing mags out soon on the Musky and my chapter and photos on the river in 50 Best Places to Fly Fish in the Northeast when that book comes out later this month or in April. But we (TU and partners) are working hard to open new water that will be fully restored including the spectacular Musky Gorge as we yank down the big dam in the middle of it.
 
Rusty Spinner said:
Is that a newspaper? Magazine? I'm curious, obviously. I know I wasn't interviewed for it. Also, for what it's worth, the more love the better for any river. I know some disagree with that including some here. You guys will hate Tom Gilmore's article in one of the big FFing mags out soon on the Musky and my chapter and photos on the river in 50 Best Places to Fly Fish in the Northeast when that book comes out later this month or in April. But we (TU and partners) are working hard to open new water that will be fully restored including the spectacular Musky Gorge as we yank down the big dam in the middle of it.
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NJ monthly is a magazine..it caters to the wealthy population of NJ...ads for cosmetic surgeons, and expensive homes, furniture builders artists.....It is a nice magazine....
 
lightenup said:
NJ monthly is a magazine..it caters to the wealthy population of NJ...ads for cosmetic surgeons, and expensive homes, furniture builders artists.....It is a nice magazine....
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Doctor's office pub


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lightenup said:
NJ monthly is a magazine..it caters to the wealthy population of NJ...ads for cosmetic surgeons, and expensive homes, furniture builders artists.....It is a nice magazine....
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Is this where you chose your plastic surgeon LU:)
 
We get the magazine and not being wealthy we ignore most of the advertising. It is a good magazine regarding NJ sites to see, restaurants, what's going on (festivals, etc.) and has done a lot to promote NJ wineries and agriculture in general. The articles are usually down to earth but a warning, they do have some editions that might have 40 pages on the best dentists in NJ.
 
Rusty,

I have heard rumors of the Musky Gorge and have an idea where it is but as near as I can tell there is no public access. Am I wrong?

Steve
 
Stevester said:
Rusty,

I have heard rumors of the Musky Gorge and have an idea where it is but as near as I can tell there is no public access. Am I wrong?

Steve
Click to expand...

Steve,

There is, but it's a hike in. Find Dennis Road off route 519 in Holland Township. There's a bend in that road a short distance off where it meets route 519 and you'll see a small parking area for day hikers on Hunterdon County park lands. You can walk that trail down to the river. It is not stocked, but there are some wild browns in there as well as state-stocked fish that swim over that dam from upstream stocking points in Bloosmbury.
 
When I was a kid we used to park along Staats Rd near the intersection with Milford Rd and walk the railroad tracks. Just before you cross the RR bridge over the Muskie is the bed of the old spur to the paper mill to the left. That is an moderately easy walk to the gorge section. The dam is a little closer to Dennis Rd, but the walk along the tracks is easier from Staats Rd. In fact we used to carry kegs down there, but that's off topic for a fishing thread. I don't know what the parking situation is now. In my predriving days we would walk the tracks all the way from Bloomsbury. Walking along the river from the end of Willow St is tough because going up and over the bridge is a climb and the river through the tunnel can only be waded when the river is real low, and even then it is close. One advantage of the walk from Dennis Rd is going through Scout Brook glen. It used to be a super brookie place before browns took over and the recent floods have scoured it, but it still is a pretty spot and the wild browns are still there, but are tougher to find.
 
I was at The Gorge today. Did not fish. It was a bit too cold for me. The river looked good. I had a chance to talk to a couple of DFW guys. They driving down the path in the gorge at the north end. They told me the division had to euthanize another raceway the end of last week that was previously unaffected by the outbreak. They are having a lot trouble containing it. They also said that "the bird cause" given to the general public was BS. I asked what do you mean? He said "do really think an Osprey picked up a an infected fish from parts unknown ate it and craped in the hatchery." He said "where in the wild would he have caught an infected fish" he said there are more problems with raceway management in the hatchery then they will lead you to believe. They also said that PA was giving NJ new brown and brook trout eggs to start over with.
 
tomfly said:
I was at The Gorge today. Did not fish. It was a bit too cold for me. The river looked good. I had a chance to talk to a couple of DFW guys. They driving down the path in the gorge at the north end. They told me the division had to euthanize another raceway the end of last week that was previously unaffected by the outbreak. They are having a lot trouble containing it. They also said that "the bird cause" given to the general public was BS. I asked what do you mean? He said "do really think an Osprey picked up a an infected fish from parts unknown ate it and craped in the hatchery." He said "where in the wild would he have caught an infected fish" he said there are more problems with raceway management in the hatchery then they will lead you to believe. They also said that PA was giving NJ new brown and brook trout eggs to start over with.
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He was wrong on two fronts. First, furunculosis is an endemic disease in our area. That means it is commonly found in our area. The Musky had it at least until 31 years ago because it was present in the Hayford Hatchery (Hackettstown hatchery) when that was our only trout hatchery. PA has it in at least half their hatcheries and they decided to introduce disease resistant strains from the federal Rome, NY hatchery. That's the same hatchery we will be using in NJ to do the same, not from a PA hatchery. For the record, they eutanized 114,000 brook trout that had previously tested positive last week and those went off to a landfill. Ospreys, bald eagles and great blue herons eat fish almost exclusively and all three species fly long distances, so one of them was the likely culprit. The disease can only come from another diseased fish, so it didn't just "magically appear" in Pequest, it had to come from the wild or from another infected hatchery in another state (Musky Trout Hatchery in NJ has a clean record and remains certified disease free). Don't believe the conspiracy theorists. There are many, but they don't have their facts straight.
 
Just wanted to follow up on the Musky Gorge post with an update... fished the Musky Gorge today. Thanks for the information - very helpful!:applaudit

First, there was another website, Woosamonsa, that mentioned that you could park at FiberMark (no longer in business and up for sale) and walk up their road to fish the river. Found out this morning that the interim owners will not allow it. So I headed up to the public access on Dennis Road that Rusty mentioned and hike in.

Second, Wow what a workout!!! Got there about 9AM. I decided to carry my waders/shoes in a backpack, as well as an Orvis sling pack for my fly fishing gear. Narrow rocky trails - downhill most of the way. 20-25 minutes later I was covered in sweat, but was riverside by Fibermark. Fished upstream to almost the next dam. Ended up catching 2 small bass on a crayfish pattern and two brook trout (on nymphs)...not sure if they were native. I was trying for those famed browns that are supposed to live there. I didn't realize how deep the holes were in that section of the river, although there were plenty of them. A lot of great pocketwater -like KLG. There were a few trout rising to something - I think caddisfly. I had a great time and didn't see another soul on the river.

If you decide to go, be prepared to backpack your stuff and hike it in. Getting there and fishing is only half the trip. The way back to the lot is a bitch - all uphill. I needed to stop 5 to 6 times to catch my breathe (even though I run 35 miles a week) and the uphill return trip took much longer. While the trails are well marked, they are confusing (blue has blue & yellow markers on it - red/orange seemed to be the way to go but was steeper). I was happy that I brought alot of water with me and was glad I had some cold ones waiting for me back at the car.

Anyhow, hopefully this information can help someone else. If you do go, its definitely a day trip and be prepared to work the ticker. BTW some large bird kept flying up and down this stretch - from it size was probably an eagle or osprey.
 
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Professor Fly said:
Just wanted to follow up on the Musky Gorge post with an update... fished the Musky Gorge today. Thanks for the information - very helpful!:applaudit

First, there was another website, Woosamonsa, that mentioned that you could park at FiberMark (no longer in business and up for sale) and walk up their road to fish the river. Found out this morning that the interim owners will not allow it. So I headed up to the public access on Dennis Road that Rusty mentioned and hike in.

Second, Wow what a workout!!! Got there about 9AM. I decided to carry my waders/shoes in a backpack, as well as an Orvis sling pack for my fly fishing gear. Narrow rocky trails - downhill most of the way. 20-25 minutes later I was covered in sweat, but was riverside by Fibermark. Fished upstream to almost the next dam. Ended up catching 2 small bass on a crayfish pattern and two brook trout (on nymphs)...not sure if they were native. I was trying for those famed browns that are supposed to live there. I didn't realize how deep the holes were in that section of the river, although there were plenty of them. A lot of great pocketwater -like KLG. There were a few trout rising to something - I think caddisfly. I had a great time and didn't see another soul on the river.

If you decide to go, be prepared to backpack your stuff and hike it in. Getting there and fishing is only half the trip. The way back to the lot is a bitch - all uphill. I needed to stop 5 to 6 times to catch my breathe (even though I run 35 miles a week) and the uphill return trip took much longer. While the trails are well marked, they are confusing (blue has blue & yellow markers on it - red/orange seemed to be the way to go but was steeper). I was happy that I brought alot of water with me and was glad I had some cold ones waiting for me back at the car.

Anyhow, hopefully this information can help someone else. If you do go, its definitely a day trip and be prepared to work the ticker. BTW some large bird kept flying up and down this stretch - from it size was probably an eagle or osprey.
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How were the water temps lookin?
 
We're in the early planning phases with the owners of the two former paper mills to hold a TU one-fly competition in the Musky Gorge next spring to begin to showcase it to the general public since it is so hard for the average person to access it currently (I'm lazy and have permission to drive in, lol). With that dam coming out in a few years or so, the Gorge will become public lands without me going into great detail on all of that at this early date. But the dam is coming out.

Unlike the KLG, there are holes in the Musky Gorge well over an angler's head, so be careful if you do plan to wade sections of it. Too soon to know what it will look like upstream of the dam once we remove that 35 1/2' monster, but likely more of the same.
 
With feeder streams leading into it (one with a waterfall), the water seemed cool -I didn't have my thermometer. As mentioned above by Rusty, there are deep holes (well over my head -probably 10 - 12 feet) and strong current in places. I do wear a PFD (with a quick pull CO2) when wading and it was good to have it at a spot like this.
 
Glad YOU were safe:crap:
But a trout fisherman in summer with no thermonmeter
is as silly as an ice fisherman with no auger...Can you do it, sure...
is it recomended , not really.....
I do commend ur balzy hike in:looser:
 
Yea...I know. The thermo that I purchased from L & H in Wall, NJ wasn't accurate (tested it in my fridge and in ice water)...was off by 12 to 15 degrees. New one (from Orvis) is on its way via mail.
 
Now,

If only McDonalds would build an establishment on the banks of the Musky so lightenup can fishing out of the Drive-Thru window while working...
 
Professor Fly said:
With feeder streams leading into it (one with a waterfall), the water seemed cool -I didn't have my thermometer. As mentioned above by Rusty, there are deep holes (well over my head -probably 10 - 12 feet) and strong current in places. I do wear a PFD (with a quick pull CO2) when wading and it was good to have it at a spot like this.
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Waterfall trib = wild brookies while Scout Run = wild browns....with Scout Run needing to be properly reconnected to the river during the dam removal, mill building removal and overall restoration of this industrial site. I electrofished those two tribs a few summers ago with the Division biologist.
 
Hmm...I know of a fairly significant falls on Scout Run. I haven't check out Pine Run all that much, though.

Once you get to know the ins & outs of the trail system there, the hike is nothing at all. I have my own 'route' I've found to get in and out and it takes me no more than 15 minutes with only one section that is nothing above moderate in the grade of the trail.

One of the elusive wild browns from the gorge
photo.jpg
Please bear in mind that there are significantly better wild trout streams within a very short radius of this location. Plus, there is a hike involved and temps right now are most likely above ethical levels.

Rusty Spinner said:
Waterfall trib = wild brookies while Scout Run = wild browns....with Scout Run needing to be properly reconnected to the river during the dam removal
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Simms said:
Now,

If only McDonalds would build an establishment on the banks of the Musky so lightenup can fishing out of the Drive-Thru window while working...
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That would be the tits!!!! I could call it the float thru, instead of the drive thru!!!!!
 
thrashers.wheat said:
Hmm...I know of a fairly significant falls on Scout Run. I haven't check out Pine Run all that much, though.

Once you get to know the ins & outs of the trail system there, the hike is nothing at all. I have my own 'route' I've found to get in and out and it takes me no more than 15 minutes with only one section that is nothing above moderate in the grade of the trail.

One of the elusive wild browns from the gorge
View attachment 10872
Please bear in mind that there are significantly better wild trout streams within a very short radius of this location. Plus, there is a hike involved and temps right now are most likely above ethical levels.
Click to expand...

The unnamed trib falls many feet off the steep hillside into the Musky up nearer the RR tunnels at the top of the Warren Glen impoundment and that is what I thought he might be referring to. Do you call it Pine Run? It isn't listed as such on the maps the Division uses, so we just call it yet another unnamed trib. It's always nice to know local names for first order streams. Scout Run has a couple of problem culverts on a private farm that I'd like to address during this project, but it is loaded with wild browns on that private property. The largest we electrofished was about 14", but there's not much biomass in that little stream. Once those wild browns can get into the main river, they should have ample food in the Gorge. My best in that stretch so far is an 18" wild brown, but I've only fished it twice even though I can at any time.

As for temps, my guess is only mid to upper 60s which isn't bad for the 3rd week in July. Tonight will be cool again and today isn't all that hot. But anglers should always check first with a reliable stream thermometer. I postponed a guide trip last evening on the SBR's KLG due to warm temps myself.

Watch for news on some type of One-Fly tournament in the lower Musky Gorge next spring. I'm working on that now to gain better public awareness of the Gorge and our collective efforts to fully restore a nearly 4 mile stretch of the lower Musky that includes removing the Hughesville Mill dam as well as the bigger Warren Glen Mill dam. Hughesville is fully funded for removal and we hope to have that out by the end of 2015.
 
http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/ParkAreas/MusconetcongGorge/trailmap.pdf

Simply using the Hunterdon county PDF trail map which indicates both scout & pine creeks on the hunterdon side. The topo map I use does not designate either creek by name.

Awesome about your work with the dams. I really am interested in helping out with any part of a project involving dam removal and would appreciate if you would post on this board if volunteers are ever wanted.

Rusty Spinner said:
trib falls many feet off the steep hillside into the Musky up nearer the RR tunnels at the top of the Warren Glen impoundment and that is what I thought he might be referring to. Do you call it Pine Run? It isn't listed as such on the maps the Division uses, so we just call it yet another unnamed trib. It's always nice to know local names for first order streams. Scout Run has a couple of problem culverts on a private farm that I'd like to address during this project, but it is loaded with wild browns on that private property. The largest we electrofished was about 14", but there's not much biomass in that little stream. Once those wild browns can get into the main river, they should have ample food in the Gorge. My best in that stretch so far is an 18" wild brown, but I've only fished it twice even though I can at any time.

As for temps, my guess is only mid to upper 60s which isn't bad for the 3rd week in July. Tonight will be cool again and today isn't all that hot. But anglers should always check first with a reliable stream thermometer. I postponed a guide trip last evening on the SBR's KLG due to warm temps myself.

Watch for news on some type of One-Fly tournament in the lower Musky Gorge next spring. I'm working on that now to gain better public awareness of the Gorge and our collective efforts to fully restore a nearly 4 mile stretch of the lower Musky that includes removing the Hughesville Mill dam as well as the bigger Warren Glen Mill dam. Hughesville is fully funded for removal and we hope to have that out by the end of 2015.
Click to expand...
 
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