Raritan river/S. Bound Brook 3/15

Stopped by the falls in south bound today around lunch time to try a catch some shad. Threw a green dart but no takers. But there were a great deal of fish jumping into the falls. Not sure what they were, perhaps trout. They seemed to be there in numbers what ever they were. Also there was a tarp on both sides of the fish ladder. Curious.....fish trying to go upstream but the ladder is closed....then whats the point of the ladder? Was also wondering with all the damms coming out why dont they take out that dam as well as the duke island falls. The duke island falls were put in to back up the river to fill the canal that is none exisitant anymore....no?