Raritan/Passaic headwater Brown trout

[thmyorke1]

Stocked streams have been running high ever since november 3rd.
Fortunately WTS clear up fast, and between the frequent monsoons the last two weeks I went out 3 times for trout.

Still havent cross a brookie off the list, but still have plenty of WTS to explore
as long as the weather stays nonlethal this winter.

All caught on 2 lb test, barbless jigs, most with tiny white mister twister, a few on black/olive marabou.
jigs i use are have these trout magnet sized hooks but have a lot of lead on them, like 1/16th oz, really useful for getting down into plunge pools, dont need to mess around with splitshots.








Thorns have been a pain in the BUTT so bring handled hedge clippers

[ALS Mako]

Sweet looking browns. Way to find the fish.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Those are fantastic Browns my brother. Beautiful for sure! I hope your checking spots downstream from there. Great catching!!!

[FASTEDDIE29]

The 1st and 3rd fish pictured are spawned out females for sure. Making babies!!! YEA BUDDY!!!

[JDTuna]

Beautiful browns man!

[AndyS]

Isn't the headwaters of the Passaic the Great Swamp ? I know several headwaters on the Raritan watershed, one of them is Budd Lake.
Cool Browns, just need this weather to calm down a bit so we can get back on the big water again before everything freezes solid like last year.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Isn't the headwaters of the Passaic the Great Swamp ? I know several headwaters on the Raritan watershed, one of them is Budd Lake.
Cool Browns, just need this weather to calm down a bit so we can get back on the big water again before everything freezes solid like last year.

Yes, great swamp is one of the headwaters of the passaic watershed. Other headwaters of the passaic watershed come right out of the hilly regions that also make up some Raritan headwaters.

[NJSquatch]

Watershed Map

https://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/docs/watersheds.pdf

[Hookmanski]

Nice trout man!!! way to find em. What are you doing on Sunday? Wanna go after the LL with me?

[akoop]

Nice job, small water wild trout are so much fun!