04/13/2013 - Trout Fishing Musconetcong River

[BowhunterNJ]

Well, the guys decided to get together and do a little trout fishing for the morning.

Adam, Ryan, Chris and I met up bright and early, although the Freehold crew was a little light...the Quon brothers were partying too hard apparently and didn't make the trip!

It was a beautiful morning, a bit chilly and breezy, but really nice conditions for fishing.

We tried a few different spots, but it was a bit of a struggle to get bites.

I noticed a lot of the popular spots were desolate...literally no one fishing, and one of the most popular spots had 3 guys at it, but not much was being caught.

Could be due to the major caddis hatch that was coming off, no fishing were rising, but I could see the occasional flash in the cuts.

I missed a bunch...just short striking, but we did manage to land a few in the morning before the boys headed back home.

 

Here's a few shots from the day!

 

I started my morning off up by Budd Lake and grabbed a quick bite! I had to grab this shot for a co-worker because some how, some way...Budd Lake winds up in every conversation about NJ (his former home, but he now lives in DE)

 

 

Ryan, bringing the vintage vest back into action!

 

 

Chris, sleepin on his feet, and Adam ready to go!

 

 

We hit a popular stretch of water and were the only ones there...usually not a good sign!

 

 

I did manage to land a football humpback of a brookie from this spot though!

 

 

I think Adam was putting in a call for breakfast or the trout stockers...

 

 

Ryan tends to like to go where he probably shouldn't and most others avoid going...namely right into the fastest part of the river with the deepest hole immediately below it.

I had my video camera and 911 ready for the hypothermic event that was very likely to unfold...but it didn't, fortunately for Ryan!

 

 

We switched spots, but it was pretty slow. You know when you're catching suckers...the trout aren't feeding to heavy.

 

 

Adam was a little scared of these...

 

 

We hit up another spot, where Adam caught a trout and let the world know with his trademark announcement! If you know Adam, you know how that goes haha

 

 

And a nice group shot to finish this set off...good guys in goofy outfits! haha

 

 

Until next time...

[PV216]

Great pics...Looks like you all had fun:up:

[chris n]

Looks like a fun trip!

[Spent Brass]

Great pics.Looks like a dun day with a few fish.What's up with the mustard coloured waders pants haha.

[BowhunterNJ]

Haha those waders are probably as old as the vest he wears! He's all about vintage!

Definitely a great time, regardless of whether we catch or not.

I'll be headed camping with these guys in June...that should be an adventure!

[Scrubby rack buck]

as always great report Matt.. its funny you travel a long ways to fish the musconetcong...

[BowhunterNJ]

Yeah it's a bit of a hike, but usually we do extremely well, much more fish up there than you find down south or central NJ.

[rossbowhunter]

I went out yesterday to break the ice on the musky, nada, water was perfect too, just void of anything hitting......

[BowhunterNJ]

It was uncharacteristically slow for us in the morning. I've had some incredible days in that whole stretch, some days catching well over 100 fish...but yesterday was a lot of finicky short strikes and misses. Was surprised there weren't more guys fishing...I felt like they knew something I didn't

[Bucksnbows]

Those were the Grannom caddis coming off in waves mid morning into the early afternoon. They were all over the river on Saturday during our annual river clean up. That stretch you fished in the first few photos I restored a year ago February. It holds fish much better than before, but you have to work a bit to catch them. It was also pounded all evening Friday and all day long on Saturday. But there are still plenty of fresh stockers, holdovers and some wild fish in that stretch. My guess is fishing was tough because the trout were so keyed to eating caddis larva that they ignored everything else. That's when the fly guys do better than the spin guys.

[BowhunterNJ]

Yeah, I figured the same with that caddis hatch coming off. I saw fish flashing, grabbing emergers in all likelihood...and probably just turned off from bait. I'll be switching over to the flyrod on my next trip out, this trip with the guys I tend to bait fish. I definitely like that stretch a lot...and no doubt, I'm sure it was pounded Friday evening and all day Saturday

 

I did watch a couple guys fly fishing (by the dam and behind the DQ), but didn't see them hook up. Really from the guys I saw all around, not many fish were caught (out of maybe 10 guys that I saw on the stream). Just a tougher than normal morning, that happens sometimes, still great to be out on the water again!

[Bucksnbows]

Yeah' date=' I figured the same with that caddis hatch coming off. I saw fish flashing, grabbing emergers in all likelihood...and probably just turned off from bait. I'll be switching over to the flyrod on my next trip out, this trip with the guys I tend to bait fish. I definitely like that stretch a lot...and no doubt, I'm sure it was pounded Friday evening and all day Saturday

 

I did watch a couple guys fly fishing (by the dam and behind the DQ), but didn't see them hook up. Really from the guys I saw all around, not many fish were caught (out of maybe 10 guys that I saw on the stream). Just a tougher than normal morning, that happens sometimes, still great to be out on the water again!

[/quote']

 

Walk up the angler's trail we built above the old iron footbridge and fish some of the restored water up there. Most folks are too lazy and fish the big bend pool you were in and the big pool below the old stone dam we lowered that your buddy crossed on foot. But be careful there's one pool well over your head and it's a real hat-floater if you step off the bank into it:)

[BowTechExperience]

Nice group shot....

[BowhunterNJ]

 

Walk up the angler's trail we built above the old iron footbridge and fish some of the restored water up there. Most folks are too lazy and fish the big bend pool you were in and the big pool below the old stone dam we lowered that your buddy crossed on foot. But be careful there's one pool well over your head and it's a real hat-floater if you step off the bank into it:)

 

Yeah I've been up there, really nice stretch and I've seen a few fly fishermen up there too. Hah, my buddy is silly for even going that way...and yeah I'm sure it is way over his head there in spots!