Pr 5/10

[Suntzu]

Hit a stretch of the PR today for a 3 hour trek. For the first time in years I actually saw another fisherman in this stretch. Caught 4 pike in high 20's all in spinner bait had about as many follows. Water in this stretch was clearer then it typically is; near mid summer lows. When wind wasn't blowing Mosquitos an issue
Observations. So many snakes, everywhere. Lots of garter snakes, lots of ither snakes black ones, white and black ones, black red and tan ones. Will google to try to figure out what they are

Second. I don't like Canadian Geese but I felt for them today. I watched a pair with very young ones fight off a hawk, unsuccessful and fight off a coyote, unnsuccesfully; I we know what awaits in the water.

[AndyS]

You saw a coyote and a hawk pick off baby geese !
Only fished the PR once, I should get out there more :)

[Chrisper4694]

Nice job finding the clearer water, yours is one of the better reports from there as of late.

[Suntzu]

I see the coyotes all the time, I think all the racket with the hawk and the geese going at it brought her in
Also saw a groundhog holding on to a branch in the water which was just weird
Lots of deer some turkeys and a fox
If your bank beating the P you see some great things, I enjoy just being out there as much as I do the fishing.
Snakes were all different maturity level northern water snakes, amazing how different they can look

[Austin349]

Watch out for the white and black ones they my be poisonous (timber rattlesnakes)

[buzzbaiter]

Both our poisonous species - Timber Rattlesnake and Copperhead - prefer rocky, open woodland areas except for down in the Pine Barrens where you pretty much just have sand and pine trees. The "bottomlands" of the Passaic are really not to their liking.

The first generation of mosquitoes is out now. They only live a week or so, breed and then die(similar to other ephemeral insect species like cicadas or mayflies). What will help is that most of the stagnant waters they breed in - like the numerous puddles located along the river(some of which are the size of swimming pools) - are drying up. Even after laying eggs, they need another 7-10 days of water. No water, no breeding. Also if you ever see abandoned tires along the river, tip them over and drain them. They are perfect for mosquitoes.

The Morris Cty Mosquito Comm is already spraying:

April 24, 2015

In partnership with the NJDEP, we will be using a helicopter to treat along the river floodplains for larval mosquitoes. The applications will be targeted to the flooded areas along the Passaic, Whippany and Rockaway rivers and some of their tributaries in the following municipalities:

Chatham Boro, Chatham Twp, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Lincoln Park, Long Hill Twp, Montville and Parsippany.

I fished a few of those areas on both friday and saturday. They need to spray again!

[Eskimo]

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We seriously need some rain. the river is too low for early May.

Both our poisonous species - Timber Rattlesnake and Copperhead - prefer rocky, open woodland areas except for down in the Pine Barrens where you pretty much just have sand and pine trees. The "bottomlands" of the Passaic are really not to their liking.


Quoted for truth.
The few venomous snakes I've seen in New Jersey have all been on rocky mountains and hillsides. Never in the swampy floodplains that surrounds most of the Passaic River.

Besides garter snakes, the two snakes I see most often on the Passaic are Water Snakes and Black Racers. I've seen Black racers approaching six-feet in length in the Great Swamp.

Not my pictures. Just showing what they look like:
http://www.lakejacksonturtles.org/ccon450.jpg
http://www.paherps.com/wp-content/gallery/racer-a/racer1_bob.jpg



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[buzzbaiter]

We seriously need some rain. the river is too low for early May.

Agreed, The smaller wild trout streams - including Passaic headwaters above 202/287 - are really getting low. They are forecasting a hot, dry summer so we need to get the rain now.