Indian Lake Little Ferry Report 5/19/19

[BergenBassin]

Went out to Indian Lake Yesterday down in Little Ferry near RT 46. Was using a Texas rig senko Watermelon Red Flake on a 12 lb baitcaster I picked up from Dicks Sporting Goods, stayed for about 3 hours. Absolutely skunked, a father was fishing with his kids and informed me they stocked it with Trout earlier in the spring but last October there was a really bad fish kill that pretty much wiped out the pond, he said there was dead panfish and Bass/Carp on the entire shoreline. That Really sucks and it makes sense considering I didn't see no sunnies and bass near the shore like I did years ago, I really hope the NJDFW restock this lake as I fished here during my college days and always caught some LMBs, is there anyway to contact them about restocking places that had fish kills?

Also I am new to this online forum :) I hope to share my outings with you all soon! :)

[icebadger]

welcome to the madness this is a great cite with a bunch of cool peps. if the FGAW were aware of the fish kill they might have to check the water to see what might have caused the fish kill before they re-stock the place.

[BergenBassin]

welcome to the madness this is a great cite with a bunch of cool peps. if the FGAW were aware of the fish kill they might have to check the water to see what might have caused the fish kill before they re-stock the place.

Fish and Wildlife know about the fish kill apparently as it was noted in one of the field reports of 2018. Low Oxygen apparently was the culprit and over 200 dead fish were accounted for, biologists were on the scene taking samples.

[logs22]

That fish kill last fall completely wiped out that pond/lake. I work nearby and would fish there during my lunch break. Last spring during spawn you could see tons of good size bass on the beds and I caught a number of fish in the 2.5-3.5 lb range. Then one day all the fish were gone. I was actually shocked to learn that they stocked the pond this year. I was just there a few days ago and the pond is still devoid of vegetation and baitfish. The only signs of life I saw were a few snapping turtles. Pretty sad, I believe just last summer I posted on this board about the robust fishery at Indian lake. Will now take years for it to be worth fishing. Hopefully once they determine the water can sustain bass they will stock it with some warm water fish.

[BergenBassin]

That fish kill last fall completely wiped out that pond/lake. I work nearby and would fish there during my lunch break. Last spring during spawn you could see tons of good size bass on the beds and I caught a number of fish in the 2.5-3.5 lb range. Then one day all the fish were gone. I was actually shocked to learn that they stocked the pond this year. I was just there a few days ago and the pond is still devoid of vegetation and baitfish. The only signs of life I saw were a few snapping turtles. Pretty sad, I believe just last summer I posted on this board about the robust fishery at Indian lake. Will now take years for it to be worth fishing. Hopefully once they determine the water can sustain bass they will stock it with some warm water fish.
It's a damn shame, but the Trout bite wasn't bad this year, once they turned on the fountains and the water cleared up stuff like power bait and spinners worked well, caught a nice rainbow there earlier this month on a white roostertail near the dock, also those darn cormorants got a lot of em. In the annual freshwater report they (Fish and Wildlife) concluded the pond fish kill was the result of lake turnover and low oxygen. But what amazes me is that trout were stocked and caught. Indian Lake wasn't actually a bad pond for bass, you would be able to get a few with some texas rigs and senkos. If I had the Big Bucks I'd hire a company to stock that place with all the old fish species again.

No river dwellers though like Carp and Eels just straight up bass and panfish. The Fishing would be amazing again ya know?

[steve392]

Didn't realize there was a kill off. I remember that week in the fall, it just stunk like dead fish. Never realized it was the entire lake.
Is there anything that can be done to try and repopulate the lake with carp, catfish, eels? I've been at the lake several times this year with my son and there is nothing swimming. The seaweed is the worse its been in years. The bottom around the dock has what looks almost like pine tree's growing from the ground under the water.

[AndyS]

Try to hit up the county Federated Sportmans meeting and e mail F&G. This is the chain of command we need to use to get things done, even if it is slow to happen.

https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/contactform.htm

[steve392]

Email sent. It's getting so much worse, the planlife in the water that is. I've never seen so much whatever it is growing from the lake bottom all around the dock. You used to be able to see all the sunny/blue gill fish nests along the waters edge. Now it's just green sludge and plant growth. Hell even the lilly pads that used to be along the shoreline are all gone.

[BergenBassin]

Email sent. It's getting so much worse, the planlife in the water that is. I've never seen so much whatever it is growing from the lake bottom all around the dock. You used to be able to see all the sunny/blue gill fish nests along the waters edge. Now it's just green sludge and plant growth. Hell even the lilly pads that used to be along the shoreline are all gone.

The lilly pads were gone way before the fish kill. Used to get bass under them. There's also a shopping cart underwater by the dock. Was there a few weeks ago. There's a few bluegill on beds and swimming around but all of the carp/bass and cats are definitely dead and gone. The state needs to come in and drudge it to fix the plants and restock it with the native fish species, more bass this time since it was becoming an offshoot of the hackensack river before the fish kill. If I want to catch crabs and eel I can go behind the shoprite or pepboys in hackensack.

[steve392]

I know the lilly pads have been gone for a while. I raised the issue with the lake quality years ago. I've sent complaints about the shopping cart along the dock along with all the traffic cones in the lake near the dock and along lakeview ave. It took over a month for them to remove that tree that collapsed into the lake from the pathway.

Who else can be contacted to try and get things moving in the right direction?

[steve392]

NJ F&W got back to me about the lack of fish. They forwarded my info to the hatcheries to see what can be done. That was about 2 weeks ago.

Today while headed home i saw 2 men with hip waders get into the lake near the corner by the laundry mat. They had some long net looking thing on sticks. Didnt get to see what they were doing but they were from NJ F&W as the truck was parked nearby.

And on a side not a week ago my son and i were watching a mom and son gishm mom was dropping small hooks directly below the dock and pulling up baby catfish. So theres hope!

[BergenBassin]

NJ F&W got back to me about the lack of fish. They forwarded my info to the hatcheries to see what can be done. That was about 2 weeks ago.

Today while headed home i saw 2 men with hip waders get into the lake near the corner by the laundry mat. They had some long net looking thing on sticks. Didnt get to see what they were doing but they were from NJ F&W as the truck was parked nearby.

And on a side not a week ago my son and i were watching a mom and son gishm mom was dropping small hooks directly below the dock and pulling up baby catfish. So theres hope!

GOOD! About time this state stocks the waterways again! I pay too much taxes for this hahahahaha

[steve392]

I got a reply from njdep/f&w today.

"Biologist Scott Collenburg informed me that recent seining showed an abundance of sunfish. Scott is recommending the stocking of Largemouth Bass, and either Channel or Brown Bullhead Catfish, to supplement the fishery. Timing is dependent on the availability of fish from the Hackettstown hatchery.



If you have questions you can contact Scott at 908-236-2118. PT"

[steve392]

I hope they can do this. The amount of plant growth coming up from the lake bottom is horrendous. It has never been like this in the nearly 25 years i've lived here. We've had algae/seaweed before along the shores on some summers but not what looks like pine tree's growing from the lake floor all over.

[BergenBassin]

I hope they can do this. The amount of plant growth coming up from the lake bottom is horrendous. It has never been like this in the nearly 25 years i've lived here. We've had algae/seaweed before along the shores on some summers but not what looks like pine tree's growing from the lake floor all over.

Overpeck creek has the same problem. HORRIBLE Weed bloom. The fishing there this summer has been awful I go for bass but I heard talk from other anglers there that every year the weeds get worse and worse.

[steve392]

Overpeck creek has the same problem. HORRIBLE Weed bloom. The fishing there this summer has been awful I go for bass but I heard talk from other anglers there that every year the weeds get worse and worse.

I noticed this while crossing it on route 46. I've never seen weeds/algae along the shorelines in all the years i've lived here.

I want to do something with the lake by me. Used a rake or something to pull this crap out. There is one large portion where it is covered shore to shore.

[logs22]

I noticed this while crossing it on route 46. I've never seen weeds/algae along the shorelines in all the years i've lived here.

I want to do something with the lake by me. Used a rake or something to pull this crap out. There is one large portion where it is covered shore to shore.

I work in Fort Lee and have been fishing overpeck almost daily for the past three years. The algae this summer is def. the worst it’s been in the three years I have fished there but every summer there is some algae growth that starts along the shoreline and then gradually creeps out further into the lake until water temps cool in the fall.

[BergenBassin]

I work in Fort Lee and have been fishing overpeck almost daily for the past three years. The algae this summer is def. the worst it’s been in the three years I have fished there but every summer there is some algae growth that starts along the shoreline and then gradually creeps out further into the lake until water temps cool in the fall.

I've tried so hard to fish overpeck creek for bass and it's been a nightmare. The weeds keep getting stuff snagged and the rowing people act like they own the park and don't allow fishing on the docks near the kayak area, the fishing pier is completely submerged with vegetation.

[BergenBassin]

I noticed this while crossing it on route 46. I've never seen weeds/algae along the shorelines in all the years i've lived here.

I want to do something with the lake by me. Used a rake or something to pull this crap out. There is one large portion where it is covered shore to shore.

Did the State ever get back to you about the Indian Lake restocking situation? I was there yesterday and I saw the Weed bloom first hand. This is awful. The lake has always had an algae problem but I feel like the lack of fish is responsible for the weed bloom. Saw a schools of minnows and sunfish though so there's definitely baitfish for stocked bass and catfish to thrive on.

Also the Carp population was wiped out by the fish kill, which could also add points to the weed bloom since they're bottom feeders. They probably controlled the weeds.

[logs22]

I've tried so hard to fish overpeck creek for bass and it's been a nightmare. The weeds keep getting stuff snagged and the rowing people act like they own the park and don't allow fishing on the docks near the kayak area, the fishing pier is completely submerged with vegetation.

I have had opposite experience. Overpeck has been one of my most consistent producers past two years. Granted I definitely fish it more than anywhere else. I have never fished from the ‘fishing pier’ only from the kayak rental pier, the public kayak launch pier, or the pier across the lake where the crews row from. Never had an issue fishing those spots usually very early in AM or evening though. have landed a fare share of 3.5-4.5 lb LMBs and even a few stripers. This time of year the docks are your only hope of getting past the muck. Plenty along the edges though.

[logs22]

I've tried so hard to fish overpeck creek for bass and it's been a nightmare. The weeds keep getting stuff snagged and the rowing people act like they own the park and don't allow fishing on the docks near the kayak area, the fishing pier is completely submerged with vegetation.

Caught a decent 3 lb largie this morning under the Degraw Ave Bridge
And lost another. There is a deep channel under that bridge which usually produces in the summer months.

[BergenBassin]

Caught a decent 3 lb largie this morning under the Degraw Ave Bridge
And lost another. There is a deep channel under that bridge which usually produces in the summer months.

What do you throw under there? I've always tried chatterbaits and texas rigs and got nothing.

[logs22]

What do you throw under there? I've always tried chatterbaits and texas rigs and got nothing.

Found a good vegetation free portion of overpeck with good access and good fishing. There is a park just north of route 46 bridge with a football stadium and sports fields on the east side of lake (across from the Samsung building). You can park right next to lake and plenty of good access spots without 25 yards of slime lining the bank. Caught this guy today on my lunch break on second cast.

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j416/daniellageman/D122F24C-4E89-4702-9139-CCE7AABF7879_zpsgqkeapbg.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/daniellageman/media/D122F24C-4E89-4702-9139-CCE7AABF7879_zpsgqkeapbg.jpg.html)

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j416/daniellageman/26616DC4-F743-4CDC-B150-7C76C85F6DC7_zpsziugggpx.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/daniellageman/media/26616DC4-F743-4CDC-B150-7C76C85F6DC7_zpsziugggpx.jpg.html)

[BergenBassin]

Found a good vegetation free portion of overpeck with good access and good fishing. There is a park just north of route 46 bridge with a football stadium and sports fields on the east side of lake (across from the Samsung building). You can park right next to lake and plenty of good access spots without 25 yards of slime lining the bank. Caught this guy today on my lunch break on second cast.

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j416/daniellageman/D122F24C-4E89-4702-9139-CCE7AABF7879_zpsgqkeapbg.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/daniellageman/media/D122F24C-4E89-4702-9139-CCE7AABF7879_zpsgqkeapbg.jpg.html)

http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j416/daniellageman/26616DC4-F743-4CDC-B150-7C76C85F6DC7_zpsziugggpx.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/daniellageman/media/26616DC4-F743-4CDC-B150-7C76C85F6DC7_zpsziugggpx.jpg.html)


Hey man. I just got done today with overpeck. Nothing of course but I still haven't been to the spot you mentioned, what do you throw in overpeck? Today I was throwing a texas rig pitboss by Berkely in Green Pumpkin.

[logs22]

I have probably caught more fish on Wacky rig senkos and jigs with craw trailers than anything else. With that said, I have also had luck with squarebill cranks, spinner baits, chatterbaits and various soft plastics. I have never found a ‘secret weapon’ that works consistently there. I attribute my success at Overpeck more to persistence and frequency than anything else. I work 5 minutes away so I am there almost every day. You fish anywhere that often you are bound to catch something eventually!

[steve392]

Did the State ever get back to you about the Indian Lake restocking situation? I was there yesterday and I saw the Weed bloom first hand. This is awful. The lake has always had an algae problem but I feel like the lack of fish is responsible for the weed bloom. Saw a schools of minnows and sunfish though so there's definitely baitfish for stocked bass and catfish to thrive on.

Also the Carp population was wiped out by the fish kill, which could also add points to the weed bloom since they're bottom feeders. They probably controlled the weeds.

No, but i will reach out to them again and see if anything new has come of it.

[steve392]

Water is just so gross. Some of hte nastiest water i've seen in years. A lot of the algae bloom has died off or sunk to the bottom but the tree looking things are still around. Lots of minnows and small sunnies. But nothing but turtles swimming around.

Sent a follow up email to them inquiring to the latest status.

[BergenBassin]

Is the lake getting better at all? I haven't been there at all during the season this year but I heard people are catching tiny bass and panfish.

[logs22]

I work nearby and used to Fish there all the time before the big fish kill. Will swing by and see if there are any signs of life...

[steve392]

I had reached out to fish and wildlife about if they had restocked the lake with anything and never heard from them. There are a lot of bluegills, sunnies, crappies for sure. I caught a baby catfish in June. But the seaweed is getting out of control again. Just nasty stuff growing up from the bottom even with all 4 fountains going and even the dpw brought in a huge water pump to help with aeration.

I don't see many people catching anything big. Seems to also be less turtles too.

[BergenBassin]

Is the lake getting better at all? I haven't been there at all during the season this year but I heard people are catching tiny bass and panfish.

Apparently the lake is starting to have good improvements again, I went for a quick qalk to the dock section and there was plenty of bluegill schools feeding bread people were throwing. The vegitation by the dock seems to have dissapeared but there's still algae near the shoreline, this summertime algae has been there forever though. I seen pictures of people starting to catch Largemouth and catfish again above a lb. Maybe another year or two and this place will be a great fishery again!

[steve392]

Apparently the lake is starting to have good improvements again, I went for a quick qalk to the dock section and there was plenty of bluegill schools feeding bread people were throwing. The vegitation by the dock seems to have dissapeared but there's still algae near the shoreline, this summertime algae has been there forever though. I seen pictures of people starting to catch Largemouth and catfish again above a lb. Maybe another year or two and this place will be a great fishery again!

Lake is getting bad in terms of plant growth. The whole eastern bank along bergen turnpike is completely blocked with those reeds/pussy willow you see in the meadowlands. Completely choked out. The south bank is getting choked out and will probably be blocked by next spring. The western bank is mostly open except for the southwestern corner. The small northern bank is nearly choked out minus a small little area.

Fishing off the dock is difficult unless you just want bluegills right below the water. It looks like an underwater amazon forest of growth all around the dock about a foot below the surface. Algae near the docks is always a thing and has been since i was a kid fishing here.


I've emailed the town DPW and borough hall explaining what is happening. Nobody has responded. I don't even know who to contact at this point. The way the reeds are growing along the banks and in the shallows the lake will be fully engulfed and unfishable within a year and half if not less.

[Mark B.]

All ponds and lakes ultimately become uplands. It is called Succession.

Succession in small Urban lakes, like Indian Lake, is accelerated due to the large amounts silt and nutrients in runoff from fertilized lawns, resident waterfowl. It may take only a couple of decades to become uplands. If the municipality has the funds, dredging and application of aquatic herbicides can delay succession, but it is very costly. Why back when, the State had The Clean Lakes Program which provided funds to municipalities.

Large, deep lakes like Round Valley Res., will take centuries, or more, to become uplands. But ultimately, it will happen.

This short video explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYC5v5d0-jA

[bigfishy]

Gr8 video mark!! Never knew the terminology

[steve392]

All ponds and lakes ultimately become uplands. It is called Succession.

Succession in small Urban lakes, like Indian Lake, is accelerated due to the large amounts silt and nutrients in runoff from fertilized lawns, resident waterfowl. It may take only a couple of decades to become uplands. If the municipality has the funds, dredging and application of aquatic herbicides can delay succession, but it is very costly. Why back when, the State had The Clean Lakes Program which provided funds to municipalities.

Large, deep lakes like Round Valley Res., will take centuries, or more, to become uplands. But ultimately, it will happen.

This short video explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYC5v5d0-jA

Really sucks. Lake used to be so beautiful and clear.

[Mark B.]

A while ago, there was a small urban pond that NJDF&W regularly stocked with trout in the spring. I think it was Clark's Pond, Bloomfield. It became so silted in, and affected by goose droppings, that the Division ceased trout stocking. The municipality dredged / rehabbed it and trout stocking resumed. In a matter of a few years, it completely silted in again. Currently, trout are no longer stocked, nor I believe, any other fish (bass, sunfish, catfish) by the Division.

[steve392]

Guess nobody in the town cares as all my emails have gone unanswered.

[Chrisper4694]

All ponds and lakes ultimately become uplands. It is called Succession.

Succession in small Urban lakes, like Indian Lake, is accelerated due to the large amounts silt and nutrients in runoff from fertilized lawns, resident waterfowl. It may take only a couple of decades to become uplands. If the municipality has the funds, dredging and application of aquatic herbicides can delay succession, but it is very costly. Why back when, the State had The Clean Lakes Program which provided funds to municipalities.

Large, deep lakes like Round Valley Res., will take centuries, or more, to become uplands. But ultimately, it will happen.

This short video explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYC5v5d0-jA

this same thing happens and is accelerated greatly by killing weeds with herbicides... many private lake communities ignorantly ignore this and literally shorten the life cycle of their lake and it's pretty sad and pathetic.

I have also hear that public lakes, like pompton have residents or local municipalities (not sure which or in what combination) killing weeds in this method and the negative effects are already being seen in just a few years.

[BergenBassin]

Lake is getting bad in terms of plant growth. The whole eastern bank along bergen turnpike is completely blocked with those reeds/pussy willow you see in the meadowlands. Completely choked out. The south bank is getting choked out and will probably be blocked by next spring. The western bank is mostly open except for the southwestern corner. The small northern bank is nearly choked out minus a small little area.

Fishing off the dock is difficult unless you just want bluegills right below the water. It looks like an underwater amazon forest of growth all around the dock about a foot below the surface. Algae near the docks is always a thing and has been since i was a kid fishing here.


I've emailed the town DPW and borough hall explaining what is happening. Nobody has responded. I don't even know who to contact at this point. The way the reeds are growing along the banks and in the shallows the lake will be fully engulfed and unfishable within a year and half if not less.

Hey steve, I know it's a few months late to the reply but during the summer the township came in and chopped down some of the reeds along the turnpike bank section for better fishing access, we also had two surface aerators break which were immediately fixed a day or 2 later, if the town can fix that they probably can control the aquatic vegetation, I'm in the same boat as you as I have no clue who to contact. Over this pass season though I have learned the fish absolutely love the grass, specifically the largemouths. It's called hydrilla and it's bass candy, I've fished some other lakes around the upper new jersey/new york area that has it and I use punching gear to get down past the mats. In Indian Lake so far I've caught nice size bass and catfish. The grass isn't everywhere though. It's only really along the immediate bank and the shallower side. I've caught fish in deeper water free of that stuff, along the side with the black fence and turnpike side.

I've also learned the lake used to be a brick pit, it also has an average depth of 10ft with a 20ft hole in the middle near the main fountain. It is free of grass down there.

[steve392]

Hey steve, I know it's a few months late to the reply but during the summer the township came in and chopped down some of the reeds along the turnpike bank section for better fishing access, we also had two surface aerators break which were immediately fixed a day or 2 later, if the town can fix that they probably can control the aquatic vegetation, I'm in the same boat as you as I have no clue who to contact. Over this pass season though I have learned the fish absolutely love the grass, specifically the largemouths. It's called hydrilla and it's bass candy, I've fished some other lakes around the upper new jersey/new york area that has it and I use punching gear to get down past the mats. In Indian Lake so far I've caught nice size bass and catfish. The grass isn't everywhere though. It's only really along the immediate bank and the shallower side. I've caught fish in deeper water free of that stuff, along the side with the black fence and turnpike side.

I've also learned the lake used to be a brick pit, it also has an average depth of 10ft with a 20ft hole in the middle near the main fountain. It is free of grass down there.

The town's dpw has cut down area's along the banks but this stuff just spawns new offshoots and grows back again. The area around the dock is now becoming infested with this stuff a good 20 feet out from shore.

The whole area were brick pits. The old valley fair which is now H mart was one and filled in with trash. Alll the apartments along the area were small pits too.

[BergenBassin]

The town's dpw has cut down area's along the banks but this stuff just spawns new offshoots and grows back again. The area around the dock is now becoming infested with this stuff a good 20 feet out from shore.

The whole area were brick pits. The old valley fair which is now H mart was one and filled in with trash. Alll the apartments along the area were small pits too.

A week or two ago I reached out to a NJF&W north jersey regional biologist about the problem, a week later I recieve an email back from him thanking me for reaching out and that he attempted to call the township to discuss treating the weeds and will continue to reach out until he has an answer. I also sent him pictures of the condition there.

I also brought up with him the possibility of the state stocking a species like grass carp that can naturally control the aquatic vegetation, before the fish kill I believe the pond had a fair population of common carp that got in from the hackensack river.

If you also wish to reach out and put more pressure for the state to clean the pond up his email is Justin.Rozema@dep.nj.gov

[steve392]

A week or two ago I reached out to a NJF&W north jersey regional biologist about the problem, a week later I recieve an email back from him thanking me for reaching out and that he attempted to call the township to discuss treating the weeds and will continue to reach out until he has an answer. I also sent him pictures of the condition there.

I also brought up with him the possibility of the state stocking a species like grass carp that can naturally control the aquatic vegetation, before the fish kill I believe the pond had a fair population of common carp that got in from the hackensack river.

If you also wish to reach out and put more pressure for the state to clean the pond up his email is Justin.Rozema@dep.nj.gov

The lake was in great shape prior to that kill off. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to them.

[BergenBassin]

The lake was in great shape prior to that kill off. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to them.


Received an email from the regional biologist a few weeks back regarding the situation at Indian Lake.

The email below
"Hi there,



I spoke with Little Ferry’s DPW and am glad to report they have heard anglers’ suggestions and are already currently taking steps towards hiring an aquatic consultant to begin treating the weeds in Indian Lake next year. They are still in the early stages of the process, so they were unable to provide me with a more detailed plan as to when or how the weeds will be treated yet."

[steve392]

Received an email from the regional biologist a few weeks back regarding the situation at Indian Lake.

The email below
"Hi there,



I spoke with Little Ferry’s DPW and am glad to report they have heard anglers’ suggestions and are already currently taking steps towards hiring an aquatic consultant to begin treating the weeds in Indian Lake next year. They are still in the early stages of the process, so they were unable to provide me with a more detailed plan as to when or how the weeds will be treated yet."

AWESOME NEWS!!!

[RAMMFISH66]

That is great news..was a good local pond back when and it needs to be put back into a "fishing" pond.
Overgrowth gotta go!!!

[steve392]

DPW was using a backhoe and digging up the weeds/reeds or whatever they are along the banks yesterday. Hopefully its a start to keeping it clear.

[steve392]

DPW has done an amazing job so far with removing all this plant life. Hoping there is more work to be done in terms of adding fish or some kind of waterlife safe herbicide to the lake to combat this stuff long term.

[oelgnal1]

Be careful what you wish for, and I think that a "safe Herbicide" may be an oxymoron, at least from what I've seen over the years. Eco systems can be complex, and a band aid approach may be all you get for such a small body of water. Back in the 70's, I worked a few minutes away and would sometimes go at lunchtime for a few casts, usually during trout season. As I recall it's connected to the river and killies were in there. Keep in mind that when the weeds die, they will decay, and the herbicides don't always discriminate between the good and bad weeds even when you are told they do. I hope that you are right with your optimism because it was once pretty good years ago for the area.

[BergenBassin]

DPW was using a backhoe and digging up the weeds/reeds or whatever they are along the banks yesterday. Hopefully its a start to keeping it clear.

I spoke to the regional biologist about what they were and apparently they're those meadowland weeds. I forgot the exact name but it begins with a P. Also asked him about the possibility of the DPW stocking grass carp to control the hydrilla but apparently the carp wouldn't be good for the pond because they would only eat the plants and the algea blooms would be really bad. I think they're probably gonna use aquatic herbicides or something along those lines. What they really need to do is just rip all those weeds put by the roots or draw down the pond in the winter so it dies off naturally from the cold.

[BergenBassin]

Be careful what you wish for, and I think that a "safe Herbicide" may be an oxymoron, at least from what I've seen over the years. Eco systems can be complex, and a band aid approach may be all you get for such a small body of water. Back in the 70's, I worked a few minutes away and would sometimes go at lunchtime for a few casts, usually during trout season. As I recall it's connected to the river and killies were in there. Keep in mind that when the weeds die, they will decay, and the herbicides don't always discriminate between the good and bad weeds even when you are told they do. I hope that you are right with your optimism because it was once pretty good years ago for the area.

After the fish kill those pipes that connected it to the hackensack river were closed off by the ground dirt or plants. At least on the side of the pond where the H mart is. After fishing it again for a year I haven't seen any river fish like eels or white perch and even carp. So far the pond seems to be only filled with stocked trout in the spring, bass and catfish and sunnies. We used to catch crazy stuff in there back in the day. Used to be big pet kois were dumped in there.

[steve392]

The lake was disconnected from the river a long time ago. People called me crazy when i said the lake was basically a tidal lake lol. It rose a little and dropped a little with the tides. It had blue claw crabs in it and whatever else lived in the river. Was great fishing.

The DPW hasn't done any more to the lake since i last updated. Still plenty of large area's of those reeds or whatever the hell they're called. Woulda been pretty cool if they lowered that lake.

[steve392]

I spoke to the regional biologist about what they were and apparently they're those meadowland weeds. I forgot the exact name but it begins with a P. Also asked him about the possibility of the DPW stocking grass carp to control the hydrilla but apparently the carp wouldn't be good for the pond because they would only eat the plants and the algea blooms would be really bad. I think they're probably gonna use aquatic herbicides or something along those lines. What they really need to do is just rip all those weeds put by the roots or draw down the pond in the winter so it dies off naturally from the cold.


Are grass carp what are in the hackensack river? Those carp never caused an issue with algae blooming more.

[oelgnal1]

No, as to the carp in the river. The grass carp are supposed to be sterile so that they can't reproduce, but it's not 100% and they will eat anything green as the food source dwindles. I've seen them eat grass clippings off the surface of a pond, grass from the banks, debris that falls from trees into a lake in the Spring. They don't distinguish between oxygen producing weeds, indigenous and other types. I saw a 100 acre lake go from a great bass fishery to one I don't fish any more in 15 years, in fact my avatar is from there with a 5lb. SM. With no cover for the fry and with the influx of cormorants, it's not surprising the lake has really gone down hill.



Some grass carp pictures, 1st May 2014 on a Rapala: 2nd late Dec. 2015; 3rd in the Spring of 2011, these are the only ones that I have pics of. Besides catching them on different lures they were accidently snagged either early or late in the season.



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[BergenBassin]

The lake was disconnected from the river a long time ago. People called me crazy when i said the lake was basically a tidal lake lol. It rose a little and dropped a little with the tides. It had blue claw crabs in it and whatever else lived in the river. Was great fishing.

The DPW hasn't done any more to the lake since i last updated. Still plenty of large area's of those reeds or whatever the hell they're called. Woulda been pretty cool if they lowered that lake.

Stopped by the lake again this weekend and made a couple of casts, no bites but I walked around and enjoyed the nice weather, it seems that the little ferry DPW just left all the ripped reeds in the water after they removed them in some spots, and there's some tire marks from the backhoe or other equipment they used along the walking trail with some dirt holes. DPW needs to come back and clean up their mess haha. Also bunch of green algae where the grass used to be next to the dock, besides that the lake looks good, water is nice and clear and I saw some sunnies near the dock.

Hopefully it's a good season! Can't wait for opening day of trout!

[steve392]

Stopped by the lake again this weekend and made a couple of casts, no bites but I walked around and enjoyed the nice weather, it seems that the little ferry DPW just left all the ripped reeds in the water after they removed them in some spots, and there's some tire marks from the backhoe or other equipment they used along the walking trail with some dirt holes. DPW needs to come back and clean up their mess haha. Also bunch of green algae where the grass used to be next to the dock, besides that the lake looks good, water is nice and clear and I saw some sunnies near the dock.

Hopefully it's a good season! Can't wait for opening day of trout!

There was lots of debris floating when they were doing the work. The geese and ducks were having a field day with it. The algae around the dock is just downright ridiculous.

[steve392]

Living right up the road from the lake this season is the most i've seen people fishing it in a very long time. Some of the reeds or whatever they are are starting to grow back in areas that im guessing weren't dug deep enough for removal. It's also the earliest i've seen this much floating algae forming too.

[BergenBassin]

Living right up the road from the lake this season is the most i've seen people fishing it in a very long time. Some of the reeds or whatever they are are starting to grow back in areas that im guessing weren't dug deep enough for removal. It's also the earliest i've seen this much floating algae forming too.

Drove by the pond this weekend and walked around, wasn't able to fish but it looks great! All 4 fountains running and open water clear of algae and weeds, there's a sign on the dock that says "pesticide treated water" by black lagoon pond management. Water clarity has been redcued a bit but that usually happpens during weed treatments. So happy though the pond is back to normal. :)

[steve392]

Drove by the pond this weekend and walked around, wasn't able to fish but it looks great! All 4 fountains running and open water clear of algae and weeds, there's a sign on the dock that says "pesticide treated water" by black lagoon pond management. Water clarity has been redcued a bit but that usually happpens during weed treatments. So happy though the pond is back to normal. :)

Thats great to hear. Haven't walked around the park this season. But those reeds or whatever they are along the shore are starting to grow back quickly. You can see all the new off shoots and groupings popping out of the water.

[steve392]

Has anyone gone fishing lately? What's the fishing been like since the algae treatment?

[BergenBassin]

Has anyone gone fishing lately? What's the fishing been like since the algae treatment?

I've went there recently and it was recently treated again with flumigard by a company called Black Lagoon Pond Management, if you ever take a walk around the lake there will be a sign posted on the far shallow side near the baseball diamonds, it was posted on 6/20/23

The fishing has definitely been tougher since the pond was treated, I typically don't like weed treatments but I feel like it was something that needed to be done for this lake. Also there's been about 4 to 3 cormorants still there lately and they're going to town on catfish, the state needs to get rid of them since they're constantly scaring/spooking the fish near you. I have one that follows me around the lake and it's annoying I wish I could hunt them or something! NJ really needs to control the cormorant problem because they're destroying local ponds/lakes like Indian Lake in Large Numbers.

[steve392]

While driving past the lake a week or so ago, saw a kid raising his arms with a massive large mouth bass on the pathway.

Going to email the town soon and ask if they are going to be draining down the lake this winter to combat the reeds again. They are filling in the shoreline again very quickly.

[steve392]

DPW went to town again this fall clearing all the weeds and growth along the shoreline. They did a phenomenal job as the growth was getting bad in some spots causing rats to be scurrying around the walkway when doing walks. Hoping they redo the dock soon as it's getting rickity.