Closed to fishing

[Ken Lyons]

I just drove past the Clyde Potts reservoir in western Morris's county today and I see it is enclosed by a cyclone fence . It is described as "protected." Why? From what? How much would everyone here be willing to pay for an annual permit to say the Wanaque reservoir? Why is Monksville open and the Wanaque closed?
Politics is how people without merit gain power.

[NJSquatch]

monksville, round valley, spruce run, echo, oak ridge etc are secondary storage reservoirs. the off limit reservoirs are primary storage that directly feed the treatment plants....you don't want the bozos to have direct access to the water you may be drinking.

[buzzbaiter]

SMCMUA owns the reservoir; land around it is owned by Randolph Twp. Basically you can look but not touch :p

Police don't give you warnings, they only give tickets = $239 first offense.

Their email reply about fishing there(2007):

Unfortunately, all public access in and around the perimeter of the reservoir is strictly prohibited and enforced, no exceptions. Patriots Trail which winds thru the watershed land is open to the public.

Frank J. Marascia

Water Quality / Regulatory Specialist

Southeast Morris County M.U.A.



About ten years ago, two yahoos( user names: Greg and brian1826) on NJ Bass Fishing bragged about catching 50-60 bass in one day. They even posted pics showing they were fishing the reservoir with their faces in the pics. Not smart. They posted a few more reports and then nothing for awhile. Turns out they got busted by Randolph police. I'm all for bragging but make sure its public water before posting incriminating photos.

[15FOOTER]

We used to hike in and sneak down the back trail all the time about 12 years ago. Over time many more people did the same. Fishing took a big hit. We were only arrested by Mendham Twp pd twice lol. Boy did they have to hike through some shit b4 they got us. This was before the development up there. Cost 180 each time. We were 19 the judge laughed and took our money. They will get you but it was worth it back in the day. No more though. The Mendham TWP pd uses it as their private fishing pond now. I know they bragged about it at the station. GOood Luuck

[Eskimo]

Why is Monksville open and the Wanaque closed?
Politics is how people without merit gain power.

There are a few people with access to Wanaque - although I don't know how they got. Maybe they work for the water company. They say the bass and pike fishing there is surreal.

I've "looked" at that reservoir while hiking in the area, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of getting charged with trespassing. My other hobby is shooting and I don't want to give the police any excuse to deny me my Second Amendment Rights.


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[Bruce Litton]

lol Posted their catches, where & their faces. No, not smart. You should read Jim Hutchinson's editorial in The Fisherman from last year on people who have done that in other states with bass out of season. There, apparently people from Fish & Game prowl social media--then move in for the kill. New Jersey is a sensible state. Catch & release makes sense all 'round, because no one gets denied in the process, though personally I leave the bedding bucks alone and fish the females that spawn in a matter of hours & abandon the reproduction ritual.

[Eskimo]

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I don't know if he was trespassing because a few people can fish there, but some kid posted a video of a pike on Youtube with the title: "Wanaque Reservoir Pike".
His username is his actual name, which leads me to believe he is allowed there, but who knows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALDV-021y48


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[tradingfrank27]

There are a few people with access to Wanaque - although I don't know how they got. Maybe they work for the water company. They say the bass and pike fishing there is surreal.


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This was way before 9/11 but the old water commissioner at Wanaque use to give out VIP passes to the lucky few. They actually had 2 working guides there that takes people out. Sometimes you can see the boats docked there with outboards. I've seen photos of people catching really good fish there, guides use shiners. They also got rid of the shoreline access a few years ago.

[briansnat]

monksville, round valley, spruce run, echo, oak ridge etc are secondary storage reservoirs. the off limit reservoirs are primary storage that directly feed the treatment plants....you don't want the bozos to have direct access to the water you may be drinking.

Monks feeds directly into the Wanaque. Anything that happens there winds up in the Wanaque. The sheds are all part of the primary Newark water source. Just judging from the way I see how fast the water levels go down in the summer, it appears that they hit up Charlloteburg first, then Oak Ridge, Cannistear, Clinton and Echo in that order. I don't know that for a fact, just empirical experience.

[Ken Lyons]

Years ago a buddy bribed the police chief with a case of Gallo jug wine. He would get a call every so often that one of the commissioners boats was not booked on a given day and we would go. It was as good as we hoped. I doubt any of those involved are still with us aside from me so if there is a statute of limitations I'm sure it applies.