Overnight at Namanock Island on the Delaware

Finally, after much anticipation and much planning, I finally experienced my first overnight stay on the Delaware River.  It was everything I had hoped it would be!  We left Milford Beach, PA around 1:00 PM and landed at Namanock Island around 5:00.  Technically, our float was not long enough to justify using the campsite (floats are suppose to be 14+ miles), but I believe that rule is to assure campsites fare available or those individuals performing the longer floats.  Because it was mid October and temperatures were going to drop to near freezing, 

Some fall foliage near Milford's Canoe and kayak launch, looking up the Milford Bridge. 

For the preparation, we used my friend Dave's canoe for our primary source of transportation and loaded supplies up on my Wilderness kayak.  We brought one tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows.  We used two inexpensive buckets from Wal-Mart to store some extra dry wood (we wanted to make sure we had dry wood) and we also planned on using the buckets as chairs.  we tied the kayak to the front of the canoe but quickly learned the canoe (deeper profile) would be pushed down the river faster.  When we left Namanock Island on Monday morning, we tied the kayak to the back of the canoe.  We also put the heavier of the two of us (me) in the front of the canoe.  Both adjustments (heavier canoer in front) and tying the kayak to the back of the canoe ensured the canoe mostly went down straight and the kayak stayed out of our way.

The setup at Milford Beach, PA

We found ourselves doing more paddling and managing our boat position more than doing any actual fishing.  The Fall turnover had occurred and we found fewer smallies in the current than we had in the summer.  It should also be noted the gage was as high as 5.5 (Port Jervis) on Thursday and had descended down to a smidge below 3 feet when we launched.  So maybe the waning gage level had pushed most of the fish out of the current, or maybe it was the temperature.  Some time around 5:00 we landed at Namanock Island and elected to have our fire right on the river bank so we could stay warm while shore fishing.  We didn't catch anything but checking out the water the next day, it seems relatively shallow water where we were fishing.

Fire on the shores of Namanock Island

Despite the temperature dropping to 38 degrees at night, it was still relatively comfortable in our tent. I would recommend a suitable sleeping bag designed for 0 degrees weather.  We had caught one smallmouth, but had brought some potatoes and kibasa to eat in the possible scenario we did not catch a lot of fish.  Dinner was fantastic!

Smallmouth and Potatoes 

 Kibasa

We proceed to fish Monday morning from Namanock Island down to Dingman's Bridge.  This is the second time we have down this paddle and there is not a lot of current, so there is a lot of paddling here.  Most the of water was about 13 to 15 feet deep, but we did find a couple 20 foot holes.  When it was all done, we had caught two more smallies in this stretch.  Our three keeper smallies were caught in about 4 to 6 feet of backwater.  the river temperature was about 58 degrees on Sunday (in the sun), 57 degrees in the shade and 54 degrees the next morning.

2014 - Snake in the Lake

Over the last week there has been a developing story in Lake Hopatcong.  The story is of a giant snake patrolling the water and sleeping in boat docks.  Stories of stinky snake poop which indicates the snake has been eating.  There are reports of the snake's length to be 12 feet, 14, feet, 16 feet and 20 feet.  Boa Constrictor?  Green Anaconda?  Not a lot of facts to this story yet, but one fact I can tell you is the movie Anaconda is 100% fiction.  Don't let these movies set your expectations about this snake.

The story now revolves around our local big snake hunter Gerald Andrejack of Common Sense for Animals. Gerald is a former big snake trapper for Reptile World Serpentarium in Kissimmee, FL as well as the respected Reptile House at the Staten Island Zoo.  Gerald has  claimed to have seen the head of the snake. Claims it to be a green anaconda and about 12 to 14 feet long.  He also claims he felt the snake slither between his legs.  Below is a photo of a green anaconda from the Reptile World Serpentarium in which Gerald previously worked.

The sightings have been in Byram Cove and Halsey Island.  (Northwest side of the Lake), which is prime walleye territory!

Since I am not part of the investigation, I have the liberty to make premature predictions.  I am not sure how a green anaconda got into New Jersey nor am I sure why an owner would release it.  Snake owners of these large snakes leave footprints.  They need to buy large rodents for many years to feed it.  Family and friends are usually aware someone in their circle owns a giant green anaconda.  So I am doubtful this was a pet from a Lake Hopatcong resident.  I also believe these professional reptile handlers are some of the biggest exotic snake collectors in the World.  So I wouldn't be surprised if a professional like Gerald Andrejack released the snake themselves.

Dingman's Ferry at the Delaware River

It was late afternoon on March 15th when my wife returned from work.  She had a bounce in her step and a smile on her face, one could sense spring was knocking on our door.  With a wink and a smile, my wife gave me the green light to head west with the Sun and see how far Spring is from waking the Delaware River from her winter slumper.  I didn't pause, I just reached fro the front door.  I packed the car with my shore casting gear and donned a grin that the Grinch would have stolen if had seen me driving West; car window down.

Unfortunately, upon my arrival and to my dismay, Dingman's Ferry was still frozen over.  It was clear to the eye where the backwater and deep holes lay as these areas were still covered with a slim cover of ice.  And I have no doubt in my eye the walleye I seeked, were active and feeding beneath those slim covers of ice.

But getting near the water and making a few cast sure did feel good.

Keep it or Release it?

The walleye spawn season is upon us, when those big females begin the circle of life.  So should John have released the potential Washington State state record upon netting the fish?  

Article: John Grubenhoff Sets Washington State Record

The NJ Pocket Ranger

On January 23rd, 2014 - a dark and miserable night when the sun sets at 4:00 PM on New York City, I found myself dawdling on the eve of a football-less weekend.  Hunkered down beneath Madison Square Garden with all the other mindless minions of the commuting World, I stared blankly at the train monitor to see which track my train would board on.  "Dover - Midtown Direct, track 3!" Of all the tracks we could depart from; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 ..., it was usually track 1, 2, 3 or 4.  As a mindless commuting minion, I contemplate such things on a 70 minute train ride home.  

Upon getting settled and not being able to sleep; like all good fishermen, my mind drifted to fishing.  Having just purchased a new Samsung Galaxy 4 (Product plug! Still no kickback from Samsung), I found this little gem in the app store - the New Jersey State Parks & Forests Ranger!  

Wow! And it is free!  The app connects with your Smartphone's GPS as well as all the New Jersey Fishing and Hunting regulations.  The first thing I did was looked at "Fishing Spots Near You".  As the Midtown Direct rolled through New Jersey, I gawked at all the fishing spots the Pocket Ranger pointed out to me.  I may not have been able to fish those spots that day, but I could there was always the spring! I found I could set way-points on my app using the GPS ; fishing spots; good or bad ... I have found lots of bad ones.  And apparently there is functionality to connect with your friends Pocket Ranger and enabling the two of you to find each other on a body of water if launching at different times or at different launches.  The information was bountiful!  There are fishing tips, breakdown of fish species, which lakes are public, fishing regulations and State records (which I am currently not listed on).  Who knows what else I will find in the coming weeks; God knows I got the train time to consume it!

This is must for all fisherman and hunters.  Yes, I spoke exclusively of the fishing pieces, but it has hunting as well.