NJ Trout season opens Saturday
- Thread starter dogg57
- Start date
bought my first trout stamp. i am the worst fisherman. im wouldn't know a trout if i saw one or what lure to catch one, but im going to try this year LOL.
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. ~Steven Wright
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. ~Steven Wright
It's a lot like upland bird hunting, you don't have to get anything to enjoy yourself. Trout are smart, they inhabit some of the most beautiful places you can find
One of the states best trout streams flows just outside the Pinelands boundary. Be happy to offer some advice, thanks to my Dad, I've been fishing for them since I was about 11.
Hi 46er,
I agree 100% on the fact that just getting outdoors is the seller for fly fishing and hunting for me. Theres a big difference from Ocean County trout fishing, which IMO is mediocre at best, and fishing a little farther north in the state. You really only have a couple rivers in our area, where wading can be muddy and/or casting in the brush difficult, especially when fly fishing. Not to say Im not on these rivers whenever I get the chance, but if you're willing to drive an hour or two, the fishing gets much hotter and the scenery gets better too. Its well worth the drive up to the state's NW corner where the trout and rivers are much more abundant (with much better bug hatches for the fly guys). Good season to all you.
Hi 46er,
I agree 100% on the fact that just getting outdoors is the seller for fly fishing and hunting for me. Theres a big difference from Ocean County trout fishing, which IMO is mediocre at best, and fishing a little farther north in the state. You really only have a couple rivers in our area, where wading can be muddy and/or casting in the brush difficult, especially when fly fishing. Not to say Im not on these rivers whenever I get the chance, but if you're willing to drive an hour or two, the fishing gets much hotter and the scenery gets better too. Its well worth the drive up to the state's NW corner where the trout and rivers are much more abundant (with much better bug hatches for the fly guys). Good season to all you.
All but one is like that. I don't bother with the others. That one has a year round trout conservation zone covering a mile of it. Nice gravel/sand bottom, cool temps thru the summer and some very nice trout. Come fall there are the occasional sea-runs in the lower stretches. Briars can be a problem, but the right gear and technique it's not too bad and it keeps all but a few at bay, which means seeing very few others, if any, on the stream
Total agreement about the northwestern streams, but it is a long drive. I only go when I can stay over.
Not a huge fan of the conservation area on that river, but there are some nice stretches of the river in its branches a little farther west.
I grew up in Vermont, trout fishing to me was hiking to back country beaver ponds and fishing small brooks that most people would overlook in some beautiful mountain country. This was an all wild brook trout fishery. I would also fish the streams with easier access that the state would stock.
I moved to and lived in Warren County for a few years before I moved to Ocean County. It was very much like living in Vermont. I moved there in September so I was thinking more about hunting than fishing but I saw the streams and I knew there would be trout come spring. So spring came and I went out to some places I scouted out before opening day. Well I was not the only one!!! I couldn't belive the amount of people fishing around one hole! It was almost elbow to elbow! That was the end of New Jersey trout fishing for me for awhile. I moved to ocean County and never gave trout fishing a thought.
A few years ago a new co-worker that fished asked me if I wanted to go with him on opening day so I gave it a shot again. We fished Echo Lake in Howell and Spring Lake, not your text book trout locations. We caught fish and the competion was not as fierce as N.W. Jersey. So I have gone the last few years. I have yet to try the Manasquan but that is on my list this season.
I am going to miss tomorrow and sunday due to being enrolled in states trapping course down in Millville. I will be out during the week.
Chris
I moved to and lived in Warren County for a few years before I moved to Ocean County. It was very much like living in Vermont. I moved there in September so I was thinking more about hunting than fishing but I saw the streams and I knew there would be trout come spring. So spring came and I went out to some places I scouted out before opening day. Well I was not the only one!!! I couldn't belive the amount of people fishing around one hole! It was almost elbow to elbow! That was the end of New Jersey trout fishing for me for awhile. I moved to ocean County and never gave trout fishing a thought.
A few years ago a new co-worker that fished asked me if I wanted to go with him on opening day so I gave it a shot again. We fished Echo Lake in Howell and Spring Lake, not your text book trout locations. We caught fish and the competion was not as fierce as N.W. Jersey. So I have gone the last few years. I have yet to try the Manasquan but that is on my list this season.
I am going to miss tomorrow and sunday due to being enrolled in states trapping course down in Millville. I will be out during the week.
Chris
Chris,
There are some very nice streams up in the northwest that hold wild, reproducing brookies and browns with very few that fish them. The state has identified quite a few as 'Wild Trout Streams', and list them in the rules booklet, but there are many more. Some you can step across. Most are unknown to 99% of the folks that chase trout in NJ. The fish are colorful and small, but the fishing is great fun. I've attached a link to a site that was a great help in getting me started on chasing the 'wild ones'.
http://www.wildtroutstreams.com/
I fish the Beaverkill pretty often but on the NY side. The VT side always seemed to have less fish. I never got the chance to fish the wild trout streams in VT because the ones in the Dacks kept me busy. Always wanted to though. Sounds pretty much the same with the beaver ponds and brookies.. cant beat it.