Passaic River

[Skunk City]

I'm sure the gentlemen in this thread can attest to the fact that pike can be caught in a majority of the Passaic River, from as far upstream as Summit/Berkeley Heights, through Wayne and Lincoln Park, down to Elmwood Park and Garfield. Some spots are hotter than others, but as a fishery, the Passaic is doing well. There are a ton of reports out there; do your homework and you'll catch 'em.

[AndyS]

Don't forget the Millstone River, it gets 1000 pike a year from the state.

[catfishonthelake]

I wouldn't go as far as calling me a gentleman Skunk, but I can attest that there are pike in that river from Chatham to Brick City.

[FASTEDDIE29]

As far as I know theres Pike from the Great swamp, The beginning of the Passaic River, all the way to the parkway bridge where they catch the stripers. Also they used to have bass tourneys on the passaic river, not sure if they do anymore. Im pretty sure the Pike rule the riva!!! Theres a 40+ incher swimming around 1 of my favorite holes with 5 of my 5 inch swim shads in its mouth!!!! F@#KER is big strong and fast Ill get him this year, NO DOUBT!!!

[dboyd101]

FE - those lures don't count toward official length when you catch him

[flyboy1]

Northern Pike can be caught from the newark/nutley/lyndhurst area of the Passaic toward Dundee falls/lake (garfiedl) all the way to 2 Bridges (great swamp area) and into the Pompton river all the way up to Pompton Lake area.

I have personally caught Northern Pike in all these areas. The best area being Dundee lake (above the dundee falls/along rt21) in the back channels of the islands which I accessed by portable canoe. I have landed many 36inch plus Northern Pike as well as very nice size smallies to boot in this area.

Shore Areas of the Passaic into Pompton that have produced well for me was 2 bridges areas and beginning part of Great swamp area.

The best places to search for Pike are areas along the shore line are inlet areas or pockets that have no current/very little current. Pike are ambush predators and dont like to exert energy fighting current so they will find areas that are slow and sluggish waiting to ambush prey.

Bait of choice for Pike. I personally use 6" silver spoons and double jointed rapala's (fire tiger color) also I switched the stock treble hooks on the rapalas to 2 to 3 time bigger ones. I use only 30lb braid w/ 6" 20 or 30lb steel leader. Ironically this setup does not prevent me from catching smallies as well.

Somebody was asking about Pia Costa Lake.. You do not need a permit to fish Pia Costa Lake. Its best to park by the school and just walk around to the lake. I am not a resident and I usually park in the recreation area during the early months (Jan, feb, march, april) when the recreation lake is closed. Ive never had a problem with the POPO yet knock on wood. I have talked to many people that claim they had caught giant pike 40" plus. I have only recently caught the Pike I mentioned earlier (20 something inches) at Pia Costa.


Since I have provided some very good info for catching Pike can someone give some info on how and where to fish for Stripers in the Passaic. I have never caught a striper yet and I would like to accomplish this year.

[acabtp]

that is good info flyboy, thanks for posting. as far as the stripers in the passaic, i don't really know too much except that their path upstream is stopped at the dundee dam, so work downstream from there.

do you have a boat too or just a canoe? there are a couple boat ramps in the lower passaic where you could launch either

[danyeo]

I live near the Great Swamp area and have fished in Berkeley Heights and Chatham. There's trout in Lenape park in Chatham but I've only seen Carp unstream from that. I'll have to try the Great Swamp area for Pike. 2 Bridges area is great but I haven't busted my Passaic Pike Cherry yet. Still trying.

Originally Posted by flyboy1

Northern Pike can be caught from the newark/nutley/lyndhurst area of the Passaic toward Dundee falls/lake (garfiedl) all the way to 2 Bridges (great swamp area) and into the Pompton river all the way up to Pompton Lake area.

I have personally caught Northern Pike in all these areas. The best area being Dundee lake (above the dundee falls/along rt21) in the back channels of the islands which I accessed by portable canoe. I have landed many 36inch plus Northern Pike as well as very nice size smallies to boot in this area.

Shore Areas of the Passaic into Pompton that have produced well for me was 2 bridges areas and beginning part of Great swamp area.

The best places to search for Pike are areas along the shore line are inlet areas or pockets that have no current/very little current. Pike are ambush predators and dont like to exert energy fighting current so they will find areas that are slow and sluggish waiting to ambush prey.

Bait of choice for Pike. I personally use 6" silver spoons and double jointed rapala's (fire tiger color) also I switched the stock treble hooks on the rapalas to 2 to 3 time bigger ones. I use only 30lb braid w/ 6" 20 or 30lb steel leader. Ironically this setup does not prevent me from catching smallies as well.

Somebody was asking about Pia Costa Lake.. You do not need a permit to fish Pia Costa Lake. Its best to park by the school and just walk around to the lake. I am not a resident and I usually park in the recreation area during the early months (Jan, feb, march, april) when the recreation lake is closed. Ive never had a problem with the POPO yet knock on wood. I have talked to many people that claim they had caught giant pike 40" plus. I have only recently caught the Pike I mentioned earlier (20 something inches) at Pia Costa.


Since I have provided some very good info for catching Pike can someone give some info on how and where to fish for Stripers in the Passaic. I have never caught a striper yet and I would like to accomplish this year.