North Branch Raritan

[thmyorke1]

Last week fished NB between natirar park and peapack brook. Not much action till I got to the train bridge, some dink smb and fallfish. I would recommend fishing the lower bottom of natirar as it looks nice for holes. A few weeks back up in natirar I saw a few trout swimming. One was a large rainbow trout at least 12 inches.

Went out again today but down by Branchburg. Waded up a hole mile and smacked up a bunch of dink smallies. Spotted some big ones and landed a 14 incher. One huge one nipped the end of my grub. Damn. My heart stops whenever I see those dark things emerge from nowhere.

Deep slow holes didnt produce much, but rather shallow parts.

Not much weeds growing compared to previous years. Water was also clear.

Saturday morning I fished around nevius and someone pulled a HUGE smb out of shallow, fast, water. Wish I could have seen it up in person, i was down the river watching. Had to be at least 20 inches.

Also caught my pb crappie from the rockaway river

https://i.postimg.cc/Y2ypkN4x/smbNB14.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hPzKGJTR/NBpic.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/zBzJD0Sx/12crappie.jpg

[Esox Luciano]

Sounds like your weekend went a whole lot better than mine, lol! Congrats on the PB black crappie!! Nice smallie too and great pics!👍

[thmyorke1]

Sounds like your weekend went a whole lot better than mine, lol! Congrats on the PB black crappie!! Nice smallie too and great pics!👍

I mean i nearly skunked twice on the raritan myself friday n Saturday. That nb wade was to just get redemption lol.

How was ur weekend? On the passaic?

[AndyS]

The North Branch is underrated when it comes to SMB, nice report !

[Esox Luciano]

I mean i nearly skunked twice on the raritan myself friday n Saturday. That nb wade was to just get redemption lol.

How was ur weekend? On the passaic?

Weekend was slow pickuns. Yea, started on the Passaic and only got a few dink bass. Then was able to fish Point View Res with only panfish to boot. What a workout in this heat!!!

[Sako1]

A few nice fish during late summer, well done.

Any problems fishing Natirar, I assume they allow fishing but do not stock it? I was up there last w/e walking around with wife for exercise, checking out the stream.

Dave

[thmyorke1]

A few nice fish during late summer, well done.

Any problems fishing Natirar, I assume they allow fishing but do not stock it? I was up there last w/e walking around with wife for exercise, checking out the stream.

Dave

I believe there's a designated fishing spot but I never had problems, even on weekends, fishing beyond of that spot.

Not stocked but it seems trout have no problem swimming up to that stretch (until they hit the dam) could be holdovers or peapack brook fish taking a trip.

[bigfishy]

Weekend was slow pickuns. Yea, started on the Passaic and only got a few dink bass. Then was able to fish Point View Res with only panfish to boot. What a workout in this heat!!!

Only had one good trip this yr at point view, in june...
Skipped the last two weekends....oh well ,always next yr

[thmyorke1]

I hit the lamington last night, running very shallow. Still found fish biting in just-deep-enough water, some in high current. Nothing big this time but average fish was a few inches bigger. Found 6-12 bass per run.

Watch out for turtles as they seem to be active mating. Spotted three on the wade back when it was getting dark. I never had one snap at me but i worry sometimes when i see those huge heads lurking where ill be putting my feet.