Summer fun on the Raritan River

[thmyorke1]

Friday, for the first time, I stayed after-hours fishing. I started off around 7pm and got the only hit a 9:30. Which was a nice striper. It was pretty cool not seeing anything until my headlamp shined onto it. Should have started later and fished longer into the dark night.

I return next morning and yet again action is going slow. It's around 10am this walleye takes my jig. My biggest walleye so far.

Today I get to a very deep hole and start with a couple dinks. Some 2-3 inch smb chasing bait in the shallows and some hit my jig. While that happens a muskellunge cruises by, seems like it was investigating the commotion after I got hit by a dink smb.
It seemed like a solid color of green, no markings, so guessing not a hybrid? Not huge but a big fish for my standards.
I did my best to stay low while on the cove/island of the river. Proceed with a wire leader and a rapala. and then it happens- a nice hit, headshakes, and I spot something green :eek: ... just a smallmouth, lol. Never saw the musky show up again. But cool to see one! :D

https://i.postimg.cc/gcVxV8bb/IMG-20190712-211753799.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZKj0gmqf/IMG-20190713-093420227.jpg

Measurement was 25 in.
https://i.postimg.cc/B6WvDQhv/IMG-20190713-095306-b.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/qvRgHFhp/IMG-20190714-094426162.jpg

[icebadger]

nice catches form the Raritan River. that is a nice waldo for sure and that bronzback is a toad. for a split second that must have been cool to think that musky found your lure.still a nice fish just not that fish you thought it was. cool report

[AndyS]

You zig I zag ! Floated from Blackpoint Rd on the S branch to confluence of the N branch. Main purpose was to pre- scout the upcoming clean up July 20, did count about 40 tires in a 6 mile stretch, hope the weather holds and we can get this final stretch cleaned. The County has done a lot for access at both Blackpoint Rd and Nershanic, loads of kayakers later in the day, the whole stretch looked "fishy".
Glad you are getting some fish, a HOT spell is coming up later in the week, could use that release from Round valley soon :)

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great fish brother of the river! Glad to see you enjoying what she has to offer! Beautiful fish!!!:D

[Sako1]

Nice mixed bag, way to get em'

Dave

[JimmyL]

Amazing weekend on the river. Well done!

[thmyorke1]

nice catches form the Raritan River. that is a nice waldo for sure and that bronzback is a toad. for a split second that must have been cool to think that musky found your lure.still a nice fish just not that fish you thought it was. cool report

Thanks, Yes, it will go down as the most disappointing 12-16 inch class smallmouth to go down in my history LOL :D yet it was still a good catch in my book, because smb are just too damn fun. :p