Re: Passaic river (by Berkeley Heights)
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I grew up fishing the Passaic in Berkeley Heights in the 80's, but have only been back there a few times since. Back then, the area that is now a park and canoe-launch was just a creepy swamp with an abandoned restaurant referred to as "the grove'.
There isn't much pike action there because the pike are stocked at least two dams downstream. A few pike do manage to wander that far upstream, but not many. There is a local guy that manages to find pike regularly back there between BH and the Lord Stirling Park (unfortunately he is a bucket-head and the pike go home with him).
The water up there gets very shallow in the summer. The bottom is soft and muddy. You'll take your life in your hands trying to wade it because the deep, soft mud can trap you.
The area doesn't lend itself well to kayaking because the narrow river is easily blocked by falling trees.
As a kid, I spent countless hours there fishing for carp in the summer. Fishing for carp in shallow water teaches you how to be stealthy and patient. Carp are very aware of what's happening on the bank and are easily spooked.
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"The fish you release may be a gift to another, as it may have been a gift to you." -Lee Wulf
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