Millstone River 6/7

[SkillfulAngler908]

Put my boat in yesterday with Gatto1227 above the falls at Wilhousky St. in Manville and went upstream from about 7:30-9. As soon as we dropped the boat in of course it started raining, so we fished under the bridge for about 15 minutes until the rain slowed down. Had a decent pickerel follow a couple lures back to the boat and not strike, then I hooked a chubby little bass that was sitting next to some structure right under the bridge. At this point, the sun started to come back out so we began to make our way upstream. The action was slow for a little while, until we got to some of our honey holes further upstream where I hooked a decent 17.5in pickerel. Shorty after this Gatto hooked up with a pickerel that went about 16in. Then I threw my husky jerk up along a submerged tree in some deeper water and watched it get slammed by a nice fish that immediately took off upstream. It was either a big pickerel or a pike, but I'll never know bc it spit the hooks on me shortly after hooking it. At this point it was beginning to get dark, so I switched to my Zara Spook and got another pickerel about 16in within a couple casts. We threw topwaters the whole way back until dark, but that was the end of the action. In total we boated 4 pickerel to 17.5 in and one LMB. Lures of the day were Husky Jerk blue/silver, strike king bleeding tubes, and Zara Spooks. Not too bad for a short trip, but I'm still looking for my Millstone River pike.

[Skunk City]

Be patient with the Pike, they can be tricky until you figure out a pattern. I hooked up with a BEAST yesterday on the Passaic that was very easily in the 35"-40" range that I lost after a ridiculous headshake and body roll next to my kayak .

[SkillfulAngler908]

That sucks man, there are definately some beasts in the Passaic! As far as the pike go in the Millstone, I personally don't think this river took to the stocking like the Passaic did, at least in the lower portion that I fish. We have had no problem boating 10+ pike almost every time we have been on the Passaic this year and this was the first year we have fished there. The Millstone on the other hand, is my hometown river and I only know of 2 ever being caught by any of the people I fish with. Pickerel are a dime a dozen, but the Pike population just doesn't seem to be that strong. I know there has to be a beast pike lurking in there somewhere though, so I will keep trying. Gonna hit it again later today, hopefully I'll have some pics to post.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Nice job!!! You'll get your monster PIKE this year.

[AndyS]

Great detailed report !! I guess you my be right about the pike not taking to the Millstone as well as they have on the Passaic, don't know why.
You hear some pike reports but they seem few and far between, maybe it is an access problem.
Keep going, there has to be some river monsters in there somewhere.