Musky Fall Trout Fishing Tomorrow?

[logs22]

I have off tomorrow for the Jewish holiday and was happy to see that the Musky and Pequest both get their heavy fall stocking that same day. Is anyone else planning on hitting up any of the rivers being stocked this week? I know traditionally the bite doesn’t pick up until a week or two after the fall stock but having the day off I can’t pass up the opportunity (even if the weather looks crummy). Plan is to head to spruce run early to check on my boat which I am getting ready to sell (pm me if anyone interested in a 12’ jon boat with bow and stern trollers, batteries, etc) and then continue north on 31 to the Musky. Is this stretch of the river generally productive? Not sure of how far upstream the river gets stocked. I will likely then work my way downstream towards the confluence with the Delaware. If anyone is interested in joining shoot me a PM. Will likely also stop by the North Branch on my way home as well, I think it gets stocked today.

[thmyorke1]

There are holdovers in the musky so maybe you will encounter them. I did a bit of exploring there recently. Went to confluence of delaware and worked my way up and didnt find any fish. However at a 2nd spot upstream from that I found a nice rainbow, some smb and a dink striper.

[Billfish715]

There is a good sycamore hatch going on now despite the extremely low water levels. As the weeks move on and we get some rain, expect the rivers to rise a bit and the maple hatch to take over.

As for the North Branch, the fairgrounds had about a dozen parked cars by the river. There were only about six cars on the side of 206 by AT&T but the park in Branchburg was well-attended. The water flow was very slow, however.

[Royal Coachman]

I was a volunteer on the smaller stocking truck on the Musky today. Threw in a bunch of nice-looking Rainbows with many fish around 20". I hope you caught some. It's my experience they don't bite well that first day but that doesn't mean you can't catch a few.

[AndyS]

Have fun catching leaves :) I like to wait till November why decide to eat and the leaves are gone.

[Angler Paul]

I was a volunteer on the smaller stocking truck on the Musky today. Threw in a bunch of nice-looking Rainbows with many fish around 20". I hope you caught some. It's my experience they don't bite well that first day but that doesn't mean you can't catch a few.

I noticed that too but why do they bite so well in the spring right after being stocked but not in the fall?

[Wilson]

I noticed that too but why do they bite so well in the spring right after being stocked but not in the fall?

My theory is the water temperatures in the rivers are much higher now than in the springtime stocking. Water temperatures at the hatchery are in the mid 50s year round.
I think the fish get a little shocked when they are tossed into like 65 degree water and take a while to acclimate. Just a theory......

[bigfishy]

My theory is the water temperatures in the rivers are much higher now than in the springtime stocking. Water temperatures at the hatchery are in the mid 50s year round.
I think the fish get a little shocked when they are tossed into like 65 degree water and take a while to acclimate. Just a theory......

If ya got out and fished once in a while you would know
the temps are lower than 65...nice theory though...I think its cause there big and fat as apposed to small and skinny in da spring...just my buck fifty

[Wilson]

If ya got out and fished once in a while you would know
the temps are lower than 65...nice theory though...I think its cause there big and fat as apposed to small and skinny in da spring...just my buck fifty

Ur right.....time to go back to the couch!

[Capt. Lou]

The issue in spring is that water is higher in most cases , and fish are not spooked as easily . Temps generally lower in early spring but by mid to late April generally ideal .
The higher water flows of spring may provide more oxygen in the water and trout even in lower temps may react better .
Yesterday’s temps in the 2 streams I fished were good but water levels low, so stealthy approaches are necessary to get hits .
Also many fish I feel regardless of water temp etc just need to acclimate to the new surroundings and may be off feed for awhile . This I know to be true since months from now I always get bigger fish , thru winter months .

[BT67]

how were flows? It appears everything is at a trickle. Ramapo is WAY down

[Drossi]

The issue in spring is that water is higher in most cases , and fish are not spooked as easily . Temps generally lower in early spring but by mid to late April generally ideal .
The higher water flows of spring may provide more oxygen in the water and trout even in lower temps may react better .
Yesterday’s temps in the 2 streams I fished were good but water levels low, so stealthy approaches are necessary to get hits .
Also many fish I feel regardless of water temp etc just need to acclimate to the new surroundings and may be off feed for awhile . This I know to be true since months from now I always get bigger fish , thru winter months .

Good assessment. I've seen much of the same. By Thanksgiving time they will be more apt to be caught than now.

[thmyorke1]

Father and I hit pequest today, both had off. Saw trout in one hole that would not take. Dad got sort of upset with how low it was and agreed the fresh-truch fish wouldnt take. We stopped at lamington and caught smallies although the action was pretty low compared to summer trips. Leaves werent too bad.

[anthrax2244]

IMO the water temp, air temp, and angling pressure will all determine if the fall stockies bite. With the low, clear water this fall, it’s not going to be a good, steady bite for awhile. Early morning will produce best. Not to hijack the thread, but I had some success on the upper nbr yesterday afternoon. 6 wild browns, 1 fall stockie rainbow and some small lmb and smb. For the most part, the fish you don’t see are the ones that will bite. I saw fresh rainbows swimming through 6” deep riffles. The water is very low.

[thmyorke1]

IMO the water temp, air temp, and angling pressure will all determine if the fall stockies bite. With the low, clear water this fall, it’s not going to be a good, steady bite for awhile. Early morning will produce best. Not to hijack the thread, but I had some success on the upper nbr yesterday afternoon. 6 wild browns, 1 fall stockie rainbow and some small lmb and smb. For the most part, the fish you don’t see are the ones that will bite. I saw fresh rainbows swimming through 6” deep riffles. The water is very low.

Agree, and Nice with the wild browns, Ive caught holdover trout in the upper NB but never a wild one.