Third Annual Freshwater Fisheries Forum to speak about Round Valley
The Third Annual Freshwater Fisheries Forum this year may not equal 2005's "December Surprise"that galvanized Lake Hopatcong anglers into action, but it should be interesting.
Last Dec. 3, area anglers were shocked to hear that trout stocking in the state's largest lake was going to stop, and that would have happened if the state's largest fishing club, Knee Deep, hadn't alerted local, state and county officials as well as area businesses. The Division of Fish and Wildlife stopped stocking Cranberry Lake, Spruce Run Reservoir and some other marginal trout waters.
This year, anglers at the Dec. 2 Hackettstown Hatchery Forum will hear about plans for deep, cold Round Valley Reservoir, where a five-year $250,000 nutrient and plankton study started in June 2004 is showing the reservoir is fine for its main purpose --water supply -- but not so good for growing fish.
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the Round Valley Trout Association. (RVTA), a representative of Normandeau Associates, Inc., the 250-grand firm, said the data so far found water low in nitrogen and phosphorous, and nearly sterile.
"Just like we told them before they spent the $250,000 ..." said Dennis Haggerty, president of the RVTA, where club members brought in 48 trout whose stomachs were checked. One had a baitfish, 47 had insects and freshwater shrimp. They should have been eating herring.
The firm has recommended to the Bureau of Fisheries that herring be stocked and their growth monitored for a year. Also possible is the state and maybe the RVTA not stock trout, the daily lake trout limit be boosted and the minimum laker size be reduced, which we'll hear about on Dec. 2
"How do you ask a guy to give you money for dues if you're not going to spend it on stocking or anything else?"Haggerty asked. The club and state have bought and stocked herring before.
Tim Clancy, who spearheaded Knee Deep's successful drive to keep the state stocking Hopatcong last year, believes you could never afford enough herring to dump in to keep up with the existing fish population.
"Say there's 10,000 trout in the Valley, and they each eat three herring a day. Where are you going to get 30,000 herring a day?" Clancy asked.
He suggested turning the nearby swimming area above the reservoir into "a herring factory" where they could be grown for two years, then be netted by RVTA guys and put into the reservoir twice a week, or maybe emerald shiners of smelt could be introduced for a dual cold water forage, and added that 250-thou could have bought a lot of herring.
The state can't control spawning by the reservoir's lakers, but it and the club also stock other trout as well. Clancy suggested culling some of the big predator fish.
The retaining wall at the Big Flat Brook's Three Bridges handicap access site will be removed Friday. Next Saturday morning, North Jersey TU is calling other chapters for volunteers to rebuild it, and probably wouldn't mind others helping.
Walleye watch
Laurie Murphy of Dow's on Lake Hopatcong said fishermen are jigging with ice fishing Rapalas and Gotchas, catching walleyes of about five pounds in 35 feet off points, and added that channel cats also hit lures fished this way.
Ernie Hahn, chairman of the Fish and Game Council, resigned as chairman and councilman, cited personal reasons and work demands. He won't be around for the heat over bears and crossbows. Maybe the Council will get to choose its chairman, as it did for more than 50 years before the last DEP commissioner.
Hunting notes
I shouldn't have suggested bowhunters might be greedy for not wanting crossbows in the woods during bow seasons. Let's see what happens, what's said, then you can decide. The United Bowhunters of NJ and the Traditional Archers of NJ have a committee to discuss options for dealing with the Council's unanimous approval of crossbow seasons in 2008. Archers also met with Sportsmen's Federation leaders. Maybe some day they'll return my calls so I can write the reasons why they oppose crossbows.
Maryland's bear season ended Tuesday after two days with 41 bears taken, the largest at 462 pounds with an average of 161 by 451 hunters in two counties. The hunt's objective was to removed 35-55 bears. Nothing but bad vibes so far on New Jersey's bear season and our Governor's plans for it, the Council, Division and hunters and anglers. But he could do the right things.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/SPORTS/610290374/1002
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Jim Stabile: Round Valley study seems like a waste of money
In 2005, Lake Hopatcong was the Third Annual Freshwater Fisheries Forum's "December Surprise." This year, it might be Round Valley Reservoir's turn.
Last Dec. 3, anglers were shocked to hear that trout stocking in the state's largest lake was going to stop, and that would have happened if the state's largest fishing club, Knee Deep, hadn't alerted local, state and county officials as well as area businesses. The Division of Fish and Wildlife stopped stocking Cranberry Lake, Spruce Run Reservoir and some other marginal trout waters.
This year, anglers at the Dec. 2 Hackettstown Hatchery Forum will hear about plans for deep, cold Round Valley Reservoir, where a five-year, $250,000 nutrient and plankton study started in June 2004 is showing the reservoir is fine for its main purpose -- water supply -- and not so good for growing fish. Herring feed on plankton that need nutrients.
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the Round Valley Trout Association, a representative of Normandeau Associates, Inc., the 250-grand winner, said the data so far show water low in nitrogen and phosphorous, nearly sterile.
"Just like we told them before they spent the $250,000 ..." said Dennis Haggerty, president of the RVTA, where club members brought in 48 trout whose stomachs were checked. One had a baitfish, 47 had insects and freshwater shrimp. They should have been eating herring.
The firm has recommended that herring be stocked and their growth monitored for a year. Also possible is the state and maybe the RVTA not stock trout, the daily lake trout limit be boosted and the minimum laker size be reduced, which we'll hear about Dec. 2.
"How do you ask a guy to give you money for dues if you're not going to spend it on stocking or anything else," Dennis asked. The club and state have bought and stocked herring before."
Tim Clancy, who spearheaded Knee Deep's successful drive to keep the state stocking Hopatcong last year, believes you never could afford enough herring to dump in to keep up the existing fish population fat and happy. Average weights of reservoir contest trout are down and have headed there for years, even though occasional 20-pound-plus lakers are caught.
"Say there's 10,000 trout in the Valley, and they each eat three herring a day. Where are you going to get 30,000 herring a day?" Tim asked.
He suggested turning the nearby swimming area above the reservoir into "a herring factory," where they could be grown for two years, then be netted by RVTA guys and put into the reservoir twice a week, or maybe emerald shiners of smelt could be introduced for a dual cold water forage. He added that the 250-thou could have bought a lot of herring.
The state can't control spawning by the reservoir's lakers, and it and the club also stock other trout as well. Tim suggested culling some of the big predator fish. Bass, pickerel and other fish also reproduce on their own at the reservoir and eat herring.
The retaining wall at the Big Flat Brook's Three Bridges handicap access site will be removed Friday, then next Saturday morning, North Jersey TU is calling other chapters for volunteers to rebuild it and probably wouldn't mind others helping. High water should recede by then.
Ernie Hahn resigned as chairman of the Fish and Game Council last week, citing personal reasons and work demands. He won't be around for the heat over bears and crossbows. Maybe the Council will get to choose its chairman, as it did for more than 50 years before the last DEP commissioner did -- or maybe the governor prefers an antihunter. He doesn't believe our biologists, whose work is supported by peer review from other states, and he's doing what antihunters requested.
The United Bowhunters of New Jersey and the Traditional Archers of New Jersey have a committee to discuss options for dealing with the Council's unanimous approval of crossbow seasons in 2008. Archers also met with Sportsmen's Federation leaders. The option they prefer is no crossbows during vertical bow seasons; I hope they don't act like the occasional fly snob who looks down his nose at bait anglers.
Maryland's bear season ended Tuesday after two days with 41 bears taken -- the largest 462 pounds, average 161 -- by 451 hunters in two counties. The objective was to remove 35-55 bears.
Nothing but bad political vibes this year on New Jersey's bear season proved real last week, when the governor said he didn't want one. And if he doesn't want a bear season, neither does the DEP commissioner, so even if hunters win against the antis in court, as they did five times all the way to the state supremes, the political stall might make it too late for hunters to fill out applications, send them to the Division, get permits.
These sneaky, political moves are ignoring the science of bear management. Wonderful state we have here.
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/SPORTS01/610290375/1011
The Third Annual Freshwater Fisheries Forum this year may not equal 2005's "December Surprise"that galvanized Lake Hopatcong anglers into action, but it should be interesting.
Last Dec. 3, area anglers were shocked to hear that trout stocking in the state's largest lake was going to stop, and that would have happened if the state's largest fishing club, Knee Deep, hadn't alerted local, state and county officials as well as area businesses. The Division of Fish and Wildlife stopped stocking Cranberry Lake, Spruce Run Reservoir and some other marginal trout waters.
This year, anglers at the Dec. 2 Hackettstown Hatchery Forum will hear about plans for deep, cold Round Valley Reservoir, where a five-year $250,000 nutrient and plankton study started in June 2004 is showing the reservoir is fine for its main purpose --water supply -- but not so good for growing fish.
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the Round Valley Trout Association. (RVTA), a representative of Normandeau Associates, Inc., the 250-grand firm, said the data so far found water low in nitrogen and phosphorous, and nearly sterile.
"Just like we told them before they spent the $250,000 ..." said Dennis Haggerty, president of the RVTA, where club members brought in 48 trout whose stomachs were checked. One had a baitfish, 47 had insects and freshwater shrimp. They should have been eating herring.
The firm has recommended to the Bureau of Fisheries that herring be stocked and their growth monitored for a year. Also possible is the state and maybe the RVTA not stock trout, the daily lake trout limit be boosted and the minimum laker size be reduced, which we'll hear about on Dec. 2
"How do you ask a guy to give you money for dues if you're not going to spend it on stocking or anything else?"Haggerty asked. The club and state have bought and stocked herring before.
Tim Clancy, who spearheaded Knee Deep's successful drive to keep the state stocking Hopatcong last year, believes you could never afford enough herring to dump in to keep up with the existing fish population.
"Say there's 10,000 trout in the Valley, and they each eat three herring a day. Where are you going to get 30,000 herring a day?" Clancy asked.
He suggested turning the nearby swimming area above the reservoir into "a herring factory" where they could be grown for two years, then be netted by RVTA guys and put into the reservoir twice a week, or maybe emerald shiners of smelt could be introduced for a dual cold water forage, and added that 250-thou could have bought a lot of herring.
The state can't control spawning by the reservoir's lakers, but it and the club also stock other trout as well. Clancy suggested culling some of the big predator fish.
The retaining wall at the Big Flat Brook's Three Bridges handicap access site will be removed Friday. Next Saturday morning, North Jersey TU is calling other chapters for volunteers to rebuild it, and probably wouldn't mind others helping.
Walleye watch
Laurie Murphy of Dow's on Lake Hopatcong said fishermen are jigging with ice fishing Rapalas and Gotchas, catching walleyes of about five pounds in 35 feet off points, and added that channel cats also hit lures fished this way.
Ernie Hahn, chairman of the Fish and Game Council, resigned as chairman and councilman, cited personal reasons and work demands. He won't be around for the heat over bears and crossbows. Maybe the Council will get to choose its chairman, as it did for more than 50 years before the last DEP commissioner.
Hunting notes
I shouldn't have suggested bowhunters might be greedy for not wanting crossbows in the woods during bow seasons. Let's see what happens, what's said, then you can decide. The United Bowhunters of NJ and the Traditional Archers of NJ have a committee to discuss options for dealing with the Council's unanimous approval of crossbow seasons in 2008. Archers also met with Sportsmen's Federation leaders. Maybe some day they'll return my calls so I can write the reasons why they oppose crossbows.
Maryland's bear season ended Tuesday after two days with 41 bears taken, the largest at 462 pounds with an average of 161 by 451 hunters in two counties. The hunt's objective was to removed 35-55 bears. Nothing but bad vibes so far on New Jersey's bear season and our Governor's plans for it, the Council, Division and hunters and anglers. But he could do the right things.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/SPORTS/610290374/1002
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Stabile: Round Valley study seems like a waste of money
In 2005, Lake Hopatcong was the Third Annual Freshwater Fisheries Forum's "December Surprise." This year, it might be Round Valley Reservoir's turn.
Last Dec. 3, anglers were shocked to hear that trout stocking in the state's largest lake was going to stop, and that would have happened if the state's largest fishing club, Knee Deep, hadn't alerted local, state and county officials as well as area businesses. The Division of Fish and Wildlife stopped stocking Cranberry Lake, Spruce Run Reservoir and some other marginal trout waters.
This year, anglers at the Dec. 2 Hackettstown Hatchery Forum will hear about plans for deep, cold Round Valley Reservoir, where a five-year, $250,000 nutrient and plankton study started in June 2004 is showing the reservoir is fine for its main purpose -- water supply -- and not so good for growing fish. Herring feed on plankton that need nutrients.
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the Round Valley Trout Association, a representative of Normandeau Associates, Inc., the 250-grand winner, said the data so far show water low in nitrogen and phosphorous, nearly sterile.
"Just like we told them before they spent the $250,000 ..." said Dennis Haggerty, president of the RVTA, where club members brought in 48 trout whose stomachs were checked. One had a baitfish, 47 had insects and freshwater shrimp. They should have been eating herring.
The firm has recommended that herring be stocked and their growth monitored for a year. Also possible is the state and maybe the RVTA not stock trout, the daily lake trout limit be boosted and the minimum laker size be reduced, which we'll hear about Dec. 2.
"How do you ask a guy to give you money for dues if you're not going to spend it on stocking or anything else," Dennis asked. The club and state have bought and stocked herring before."
Tim Clancy, who spearheaded Knee Deep's successful drive to keep the state stocking Hopatcong last year, believes you never could afford enough herring to dump in to keep up the existing fish population fat and happy. Average weights of reservoir contest trout are down and have headed there for years, even though occasional 20-pound-plus lakers are caught.
"Say there's 10,000 trout in the Valley, and they each eat three herring a day. Where are you going to get 30,000 herring a day?" Tim asked.
He suggested turning the nearby swimming area above the reservoir into "a herring factory," where they could be grown for two years, then be netted by RVTA guys and put into the reservoir twice a week, or maybe emerald shiners of smelt could be introduced for a dual cold water forage. He added that the 250-thou could have bought a lot of herring.
The state can't control spawning by the reservoir's lakers, and it and the club also stock other trout as well. Tim suggested culling some of the big predator fish. Bass, pickerel and other fish also reproduce on their own at the reservoir and eat herring.
The retaining wall at the Big Flat Brook's Three Bridges handicap access site will be removed Friday, then next Saturday morning, North Jersey TU is calling other chapters for volunteers to rebuild it and probably wouldn't mind others helping. High water should recede by then.
Ernie Hahn resigned as chairman of the Fish and Game Council last week, citing personal reasons and work demands. He won't be around for the heat over bears and crossbows. Maybe the Council will get to choose its chairman, as it did for more than 50 years before the last DEP commissioner did -- or maybe the governor prefers an antihunter. He doesn't believe our biologists, whose work is supported by peer review from other states, and he's doing what antihunters requested.
The United Bowhunters of New Jersey and the Traditional Archers of New Jersey have a committee to discuss options for dealing with the Council's unanimous approval of crossbow seasons in 2008. Archers also met with Sportsmen's Federation leaders. The option they prefer is no crossbows during vertical bow seasons; I hope they don't act like the occasional fly snob who looks down his nose at bait anglers.
Maryland's bear season ended Tuesday after two days with 41 bears taken -- the largest 462 pounds, average 161 -- by 451 hunters in two counties. The objective was to remove 35-55 bears.
Nothing but bad political vibes this year on New Jersey's bear season proved real last week, when the governor said he didn't want one. And if he doesn't want a bear season, neither does the DEP commissioner, so even if hunters win against the antis in court, as they did five times all the way to the state supremes, the political stall might make it too late for hunters to fill out applications, send them to the Division, get permits.
These sneaky, political moves are ignoring the science of bear management. Wonderful state we have here.
http://c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061029/SPORTS01/610290375/1011
