Srr 11/23

[briansnat]

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Considering the heavy fishing pressure that reservoir receives, that bass is more than "decent". That's a big one for that lake. 


Do you really think that reservoir gets heavy fishing pressure? I always thought quite the opposite for a lake that size. Considering that shore fishing isn't allowed (though it does happen) and people have to cart their boat 200 feet down the hill to launch it, I believed it really cut down on the fishing pressure.

Most of the people I see there are recreational paddlers and every time I've been there I've rarely seen more than a half dozen or so anglers.

I always thought it to be probably the least pressured large body of public water in the state. However if they build that planned boat ramp then all bets are off.

BTW I've bagged a good number of bass in the 3-4 pound range there since it opened to the public.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by briansnat

Do you really think that reservoir gets heavy fishing pressure? I always thought quite the opposite for a lake that size. Considering that shore fishing isn't allowed (though it does happen) and people have to cart their boat 200 feet down the hill to launch it, I believed it really cut down on the fishing pressure.

Spruce Run is very heavily fished. Shore fishing is allowed everywhere except the water company's property and the dam. Because of its convenient location near Route 78 in suburban NJ, it's a quick trip for millions of potential anglers. It's an absolute circus in the summer time.

On a typical summer day, you'll see dozens of boat trailers parked in the parking lot, in addition to rental boats, car toppers, and throngs of shore anglers.

I don't think that pier is ever unoccupied from May until they draw the water down past the pier in the fall or late summer. In the evenings in the summer time that pier looks like the opening morning of trout season with anglers lined shoulder-to-shoulder. From the water it looks like a carnival is being held.

I may be stereotyping, but from I have seen launching from the pier, it appears the majority of shore anglers are of that mindset that they don't release anything. So pretty much anything bigger than a baby sunfish caught from the shore is removed from the system.

That's a lot of fishing for a lake that's 1200 acres at its highest level and maybe 700(?) at its lowest.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife is an absolute blessing. If it wasn't for their tireless re-stocking, that lake would be reduced to sunnies and bullheads within a few years.

[EDIT] Briansnat - It just occurred to me that you thought these pics were taken at the other reservoir that shall go nameless. No, these pics were taken at Spruce Run.



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[briansnat]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Spruce Run is very heavily fished. Shore fishing is allowed everywhere except the water company's property and the dam. Because of its convenient location near Route 78 in suburban NJ, it's a quick trip for millions of potential anglers. It's an absolute circus in the summer time.

On a typical summer day, you'll see dozens of boat trailers parked in the parking lot, in addition to rental boats, car toppers, and throngs of shore anglers.

I don't think that pier is ever unoccupied from May until they draw the water down past the pier in the fall or late summer. In the evenings in the summer time that pier looks like the opening morning of trout season with anglers lined shoulder-to-shoulder. From the water it looks like a carnival is being held.

I may be stereotyping, but from I have seen launching from the pier, it appears the majority of shore anglers are of that mindset that they don't release anything. So pretty much anything bigger than a baby sunfish caught from the shore is removed from the system.

That's a lot of fishing for a lake that's 1200 acres at its highest level and maybe 700(?) at its lowest.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife is an absolute blessing. If it wasn't for their tireless re-stocking, that lake would be reduced to sunnies and bullheads within a few years.

[EDIT] Briansnat - It just occurred to me that you thought these pics were taken at the other reservoir that shall go nameless. No, these pics were taken at Spruce Run.



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My bad, wrong SRR. Still, keeping my fingers crossed that they never build that boat ramp at the other SRR. It will become a zoo if they do that. BTW if anyone here agrees with me on me with that, be sure to write the DEP.

[Mike M]

Hope it fills in over the winter. There's some good pike fishing there after ice out and in the spring.

[bigfishy]

Gr8 job Wilson!!!! Def a healthy lookin bass

On the draw down note, I think its a double edge sword....The low levels should keep pressure down and ALL species that spawn there will do so without any problems, they will just have different spawning areas.....I think it would only be a problem "if" they fix things later than expected...For instance, if the problem is repaired when water temps get to the mid 50's, then the areas that the bass have prepared to spawn in will be too deep come spawning time....I imagine that the lake will refill with the spring rains just like every year...The draw down is NOTHING new, its just never this drastic.....

The BAD effects would be if the lake is still this low pre-present-and post spawn , ONLY because there is less surface area for the fish to spread out, which in turn makes them easier targets for ALL predators, fisherman included...but then again , the drastically low water WILL def keep pressure down.....

Two best case senarios would be, a normal spring re-fill or a mid summer refill....Somewhere in between those times could have a negative impact on spawning results.....I could be wrong but that's my buck fifty.....

And Wilson, stop down playing ur skills.....The fact that you put ur time in levels the playing field...Nice work