Freshwater Fisheries Forum January 19:

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Forgot to mention that you were a star, being featured on one of the slides with a LL salmon from a recently new stocked body of water. F&G agrees that it is a LL.

Also the skillful angler program slide featured you (like 3 times lol), Chris, JD, and Mikey and others Im not familiar with I think.

I had the 30" walleye!

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I had the 30" walleye!

Correct! sorry about forgetting about you

[Jigman13]

Hahahaha... all good pal!

[AndyS]

Funny how they mention putting walleye in Spruce Run could really upset the balance. Then I look at the amount of fish they CRAM into Lake Hopatcong, not getting it here.

[Jigman13]

I dont think walleye would upset the balance at spruce. The forage is ample. Could always trim back on the numbers of hybrids and pike they stock. Hybrids dont breed so theoretically they're more easily managed and I'm uncertain if the pike spawn successfully. Doubt walleye would spawn even with feeder creek access. I think it's worth a shot with a few thousand. See what the impact is...

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I dont think walleye would upset the balance at spruce. The forage is ample. Could always trim back on the numbers of hybrids and pike they stock. Hybrids dont breed so theoretically they're more easily managed and I'm uncertain if the pike spawn successfully. Doubt walleye would spawn even with feeder creek access. I think it's worth a shot with a few thousand. See what the impact is...

I would agree with you that cutting back on the numbers of both 'swipers' and pike would seem to be the first step in making this change. The issue of the constant and often dramatic drawdowns of Spruce may be a factor in the survival of walleye since they are a cool water species and a serious drop in lake level could very well eliminate any viable, thermally survivable habitat for the walleye. Also there is a chronic issue with D.O. levels in Spruce. Apparently the O2 levels drop radically to almost zero at a fairly shallow depth there which would leave the cool water walleye with nowhere to live with suitable temps and oxygen. Then too, I personally believe they could very well successfully spawn in either of the 2 major feeders to the res, Mulhockaway and Spruce Run Creeks. That's just my humble opinion though, no actual science behind it.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Also the skillful angler program slide featured you (like 3 times lol), Chris, JD, Jigman and Mikey and others Im not familiar with I think.

I haven't seen an announcement yet on the 2018 winners but I saw Mikey posted a picture of a poster I am guessing from the F&W booth at the Edison Show with our mugs on it.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Funny how they mention putting walleye in Spruce Run could really upset the balance. Then I look at the amount of fish they CRAM into Lake Hopatcong, not getting it here.

How about walleyes in Split Rock!

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by NJSquatch

How about walleyes in Split Rock!

Reminder that the suggestion was to get walleye more south. However, tough to think of a large body of water that qualifies. Maybe stock d+r canal directly? Martinsville reservoir? I already know they arent looking to stock in Raritan or millstone cause of shad

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Reminder that the suggestion was to get walleye more south. However, tough to think of a large body of water that qualifies. Maybe stock d+r canal directly? Martinsville reservoir? I already know they arent looking to stock in Raritan or millstone cause of shad

Manasquan reservoir? That's south lol...