Giant Hybrid Bass Stocked in Split Rock Reservoir

[NJSquatch]

NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE ANYONE?


NJFGW posting
Attention kayakers and others with cartop watercraft!!! Grab your rods and reels and prepare for a unique fishing opportunity at Split Rock Reservoir. This week Hackettstown Hatchery staff stocked 52 four to five pound hybrid striped bass into Split Rock Reservoir. One trophy specimen weighed over 8 pounds.

This is a one-time stocking opportunity resulting from the lowering of a hatchery production pond. Split Rock Reservoir is a 625-acre impoundment located in Rockaway Twp. in Morris County. Anglers are reminded that Split Rock Reservoir does not have a boat ramp and access is via portage from main parking area through a path to the waters.

[Moz]

Already have a Friday on my calendar for a day off and an excursion plan onto Split Rock in 2 weeks. First time I'm having a go with my yak there.

Hopefully it's C&R only on the stripers.

[henro]

Wow I wonder why they selected Split Rock for them?

[AndyS]

Not such a great idea IMO. But ONLY 52, very odd ??

[Eskimo]

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The three reservoirs they stock hybrids in are certainly not under-utilized. In fact, they're very heavily fished. Seems an odd choice to throw those big hybrids in Split Rock.

Isn't shoreline fishing banned at Split Rock?

Imagine if they chose to release those big hybrids in a small, urban lake with shoreline access. That would definitely be different.

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[23cardinal]

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The three reservoirs they stock hybrids in are certainly not under-utilized. In fact, they're very heavily fished. Seems an odd choice to throw those big hybrids in Split Rock.

Isn't shoreline fishing banned at Split Rock?

Imagine if they chose to release those big hybrids in a small, urban lake with shoreline access. That would definitely be different.

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Rumor is It's not anymore- the land is now all private use for hiking - but it's not an easy lake to shoreline fish- trees get very close and it's all woods

@andy- maybe a test run for later on?
@squatch thanks man- maybe one will pull wlawler around when we go

And shhhhhh- im going there Sunday- will be sure to catch u guys up

[henro]

Rumor is It's not anymore- the land is now all private use for hiking - but it's not an easy lake to shoreline fish- trees get very close and it's all woods

@andy- maybe a test run for later on?
@squatch thanks man- maybe one will pull wlawler around when we go

And shhhhhh- im going there Sunday- will be sure to catch u guys up

Don't forget there's LOTS of bears in that area.

[Skunk City]

Cool, but going to be like finding a needle in a hay stack there. It would be awesome though if they added it to the stocking list though. I for one would definitely spend more time there if there were 'brids!

[bigfishy]

You said it skunk!!! More like 52 needles in a 600 acre haystack...
Mite have a better chance with a real needle in a real haystack...
But fishin is cool like dat, enough time spent and you may figure out the areas they frequent if a few of them stick together...

[icebadger]

i wish they would have stocked walleyes instead. there is a good smallmouth population in there now because people are putting them back after they catch them. lets hope they do the same with the brids if they make it there. that place is tough to fish and last i knew you still are not allowed to shore fish the res. lets hope the people don't litter any more than they already are. if they allowed shoreline fishing the litter would be way worse people are friggin slobs and do not care if the place gets trashed. that is one of the last nice places to fish without looking at a bunch of trash all over the place.some jackasses even spray painted the dam with a bunch of tags it started to look like hell up there. we need to keep that place clean.

[Ken Lyons]

Keep in mind the "launch" is a joke. It's difficult to walk up and down never mind with a boat.
I fished there for years before it was open to the public just like the locals and years after. I don't doubt that there are bears in the area but I never saw one.

[Moz]

Keep in mind the "launch" is a joke. It's difficult to walk up and down never mind with a boat.
I fished there for years before it was open to the public just like the locals and years after. I don't doubt that there are bears in the area but I never saw one.

I've been to Split Rock once 5 years ago. My wife for Fathers Day got me a Groupon thing for a guided kayak fishing trip there and when the day was over shortly after driving out of the parking lot the first (and only time) I've ever had to stop my car to let a bear cross the road happened. The company I worked at then disabled the camera on the Blackberries we were issued so shortly after that incident I got my own smart phone so that I would always have a camera on me. When I saw the mention of bears here looking at this site on my phone it got a chuckle out of me.

The ramp from what I remember was like woodchips down a steep bank to some shallow rocks. The guide had already put the yaks in the water when I got there so I didn't really get to observe the logistics firsthand but my takeaway was it's a bit tricky and a reason I'm going to have my first go solo on weekday when it will hopefully be less crowded.

Then again if it keeps the crowds away (especially those who would make use their livewells) maybe a bit tricky is not a bad thing. ;)

[23cardinal]

Crowds were pretty light all things considered. The usual two guy from the bucket brigade rocking the skunk, saw three other kayaks fishing, and two sepreate guys on aluminums with electrics. Considering the size pretty empty.

There were the usual 10-15 pleasure kayakers who need to be right on top of you and look at what your doing, so not too bad


The ramp mulch is all gone- just rocks and some very hard packed dirt - the actual launch on the north of the dam is still for official access only- closed by a gate

[Skunk City]

The sh*tty access is what keeps this place a gem! I love making 4 trips up to the lot from the waters edge at 3am!

[ScowardNJ]

The sh*tty access is what keeps this place a gem! I love making 4 trips up to the lot from the waters edge at 3am!

Totally agree!! Those hybrids shouldn't effect that lake at all. It's gonna be a hell of a kayak ride if one of those old pit bulls nails a crappie jig:eek::eek: