SIGHTS ON TILCON, NJ
Ensconced within the 9,092-acre Allamuchy Mountain State Park sharing the Sussex/Warren county border just off Waterloo Road (County Route 604) and straddled a short distance on its western side by the Musconetcong River, this 60 foot deep jagged hole in the earth filled in by rainstorms will prove a cornucopia of angling opportunities.
The calamitous precipitation phenomenon that torpid August day dropped 14 inches of rain that raised the water level of Lake Hopatcong by two feet or more, sending a spreading wall of water down through Lake Musconetcong where it widened and gained even more force, transforming the Musconetcong River into the Nile. Fortunately, a significant section of the raging flow poured into the Tilcon Quarry, and the filling of the gaping hole literally saved lower Hackettstown from Sandy-like damage. With the brutal force of the flood came trees, limbs and logs, rocks, brush and topsoil which settled over various parts of the quarry’s bottom. Also delivered by the magnitude and velocity was a wide cross section of game and forage fish that was torn from its former haunts, both impoundment and river. The suddenly displaced soon found their new digs hospitable and natural reproduction by some was underway by the next year and within a few more years the populations were self sustaining. These were no doubt bolstered by illegal stockings and bait bucket emptying including the platinum of all live bait: alewife herring. The deep, dissolved oxygen rich habitat proved perfect for this prime food source and it’s now the major forage. Also providing sustenance are shiners, crayfish, suckers, dace, minnows and chubs as well as young of the year and fingerling panfish. A one-time shot of surplus (3 -5 inch) trout by the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries no doubt added to the larder.
Tilcon’s primary targets are largemouth bass and pickerel, and this venue is one of the best for the former as per its size in northern New Jersey. Expect largemouths to five pounds and chains in excess of two feet. Up and coming is the smallmouth fishery, no doubt a result of the Bureau’s liberation of fingerlings several years ago and again, the surreptitious release of adult bronzebacks by a secretive Tilcon troopers. Not to be overlooked is the panfish populace. The sunfish, yellow perch and rock bass are certainly pan worthy and while we haven’t encountered any, there are some reports of crappies being in the mix.
Owing to the lake’s cold oxygenated depths as well as the robust herring population, the Bureau has slated it to receive landlocked salmon this month, making it the third salmon swim in the state, joining lakes Wawayanda and Aeroflex in Sussex County. Approximately 200 ‘locks ranging from 16 to 19 inches or slightly longer and weighing upwards of 2-1/4 pounds will be released, and the stocking will become an annual event in an effort to establish a viable fishery without stocking trout.
Says principal fisheries biologist Pat Hamilton, “We plan to establish a dynamic landlocked salmon fishery without competition from other salmonids. The restrictions will be two daily no less than 12 inches as they are on Aeroflex and Wawayanda.”
Owing to the sharply cut shoreline, bank side casting is at a premium and relegated to irregularly spaced narrow cut outs. When Tilcon is at full pool, this approach is nigh impossible. Wading? Hazardous for the most part. One step shin deep, two steps waist deep, three steps you may be over your waders. During the July through mid-September, the shoreline is kind of doable, but during the remaining open water months, figure on a ‘yak, inflatable, canoe, or car topper. Power is restricted to electric only.
The main entrance is on Kiney Road, a right off Waterloo Road if coming from Route 46 or a left if arriving from Route 206. After 2/10 of a mile you will cross over the Musconetcong and another 50 yards on the left is the gated entrance. If using any kind of craft, it will be necessary go around the gate to make the easy 150 yard portage to the ramp which “unimproved” is a generous description.
Another access point is found off Bell Road which is reached by following Kiney another 3/10 of a mile to the “T” and making a left. Follow for another tie-rod wrecking 7/10 of a mile and there will be a brown gate on the left. There are several parking areas on the shoulders. From here it’s a 300 yard walk down the skinny, winding trail to the first cut out on the left. The trail extends around a substantial length along this back side of Tilcon, and you’ll have passed the Musconetcong River, as well as a narrow kidney shaped pond on the right. For those without a means to get out on the water, this section offers the best shot at the shoreline approach as there are a few openings, some a little wider than others, where casting is possible. Fishing hours on Tilcon are limited from sunrise to sunset as per state park regulation.