trout on the feedbag before the rain

[acabtp]

well, the weather report had said it was supposed to start raining here around 4 am tuesday, but when i got up, things were still dry, so i decided that i ought to try to get some trouting in before the rivers get blown out from all this rain we are supposed to get

got down to the black river around 10:30 and started working my way around. it was pretty cool this morning (air 44° down there), so after running some of my favorite lures through high probability holes without bumps, i figured the trout were being lazy. so i switched over to drifting baits which was immediately productive.

after picking away at a some generic we-ground-our-fins-off-at-the-hatchery stocker rainbows for a while, i brought one with a full set of fins and good coloring to the net just after noon. took a few pics and some underwater video of the release (link below)
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/vlcsnap-2014-04-29-23h36m28s1.png

unfortunately, while standing in the very spot where i caught the above pictured rainbow, i was mugged. for my fishing spot. luckily i remembered my new-for-2014 policy of "video the muggers", so here's the video of a talk with the guy (http://youtu.be/BJM3f9Y6qRc)
all in all, i was on the river for about six hours total, covered a mile of water, twice, and this was the only other person who was fishing today. simply blows my mind that while i was working a spot, he just walked right up and started casting into the same hole. if i'd kept fishing, we'd have been tangled, so i had to wait for him to move on. it's really like nobody gives a damn about courtesy anymore. the guy even had the balls to threaten to call in a false report to NJ DFW on me as he was leaving after i talked to him (for what, who knows). sigh... even down at the black river, there always has to be a reminder that this is still new jersey...

moved on downstream well past the guy and kept picking away at the rainbows.
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/20140429_124850.jpg
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/20140429_134830.jpg

it had been sprinkling on and off after noon, but around 2pm, the rain started to pick up, and the fishing caught FIRE. i was losing bait or connecting with a fish on almost every cast for the next hour and half. i lost count how many i landed. all generic stocker rainbows so i didn't bother with more pictures, until...

i hooked up with this nice wild brown
http://www.tombeauchamp.com/misc/fishing/20140429_145019.jpg
after the hookset, it jumped nearly three feet out of the water and then did two more jumps before coming to the net. definitely wild judging from the coloration, size, and fact that no browns were stocked there this year. probably must have swam down out of one of the WTS tribs. nice to finally get something different, been catching nothing but rainbows all season.

the rain cleared a bit around 3:30 and the bite died down then as well. got back to my truck, changed out of my waders and gear, and on the road just as the rain picked back up. good timing. if we get all the rain they are talking about, probably won't be back on the rivers until next week, so i was glad to get out there today.

underwater video of the nicer looking rainbow and wild brown being released is at http://youtu.be/Gt-PP0YHGSI

[buzzbaiter]

Black /Lamington does have a resident wild brown population. There aren't many because of summer thermal issues but they are there. What helps is the fast, rocky water which means good oxygen levels even in water that occasionally pushes 80F in summer.

[Mikey topaz]

Ughhhhh i was really hoping it wasnt one these fine guys on the site but its a small world i guess.... I dont know who pissed in ur cheerios buddy but god damn! One angler on the whole river your complaining an over a stocked fish? And worried about a tangle? Guess you need some casting lessons?Lmfao!!! Next time u can follow me down the river and make a youtube video of me going behind you cleaning up!

[jimmythegreek]

great looking fish, nice job, and good quality video too.....BTW I get the whole "mugged" thing but that is a popular spot and ive fished WAY closer to guys than that and havent felt mugged, regardless if its a stock day or a nobody is there day. And for the record I kno that "other" fisherman in the video and hes a great guy and excellent fisherman, hes on this site

[gwl2oneida]

One other guy, other side of river and upstream. Are you kidding? What's your recommended radius buffer zone? And to video and initiate the argument? Ok.....

[Bicey]

I thought the whole "mugged" thing was a joke.....cuz I recognized the guy in the video. I don't know either of ya but I thought it was a "parody" post and you were having a little fun with it.

[Skunk City]

That's considered "mugging" now? :confused:

I personally feel the content of your video was more "Jersey" than a guy fishing the opposite shoreline of a state stocked Trout river. Nice fish though.

[kcritch]

Sorry but I agree with the others...that is not a mugging in my book.

Great pics of the fish and good report otherwise though...let's just stick to that kind of stuff...much more pleasant for all involved that way.

[Madman9132]

There's no way anyone could consider that being mugged... Everyone has a favorite spot they like to start then work there way down river. That guy/ mugger is one of the best fishermen i know and always plays well with others. I fished that very hole you guys are fishing at on opening day with 10 other guys working the same hole. Guess what not one tangle. I get it some people like to fish alone. maybe you can buy some nice real estate on mars or something, but even then the reality that Jersey boys are everywhere.... Bwaaaahahahhahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[acabtp]

well i disagree with you guys. this wasn't opening day, not a stocking day, no other fishermen around... there was no possible reason to get into a hole that somebody else was working. just go around and then come back to it later when it's empty.

to me it doesn't matter what side of the stream or how far away someone is... when another fisherman comes along and makes you change how or where you were fishing, you've been mugged.

[acabtp]

That's considered "mugging" now? :confused:

I personally feel the content of your video was more "Jersey" than a guy fishing the opposite shoreline of a state stocked Trout river. Nice fish though.
you do not see this as equivalent to the recreational kayakers cutting between you and the shoreline you are working (which we both have complained about many times)? same idea, some guy comes through and you have to wait for them to leave before you can continue fishing the way you want to fish.

Black /Lamington does have a resident wild brown population. There aren't many because of summer thermal issues but they are there. What helps is the fast, rocky water which means good oxygen levels even in water that occasionally pushes 80F in summer.
good to know. there certainly are plenty of plunge pools aerating the water.

[Mikey topaz]

I started at the top of the hole just like your suppossed to properly enter a hole with another angler: then took one cast working the rapids and right away you jump down my throat! I could see your argument if i had casted across your line or somthing but i didnt! Just a tip for ya right where you were standing in the water they sit right there !

[Jenger]

Wow.. we don't live in Wyoming people, NJ is very densely populated. If you want to fish without seeing a soul, head north. That man was doing nothing wrong IMO Ive fished in way worse situations, but making a video and crying over it makes you look bad.

[baetis]

If I went to a river that was empty but for one other fisherman I'd probably not fish the same hole the other guy was fishing even if the hole can accommodate 10 guys on opening day. I understand why he did - there was certainly room for both of you guys to fish. Not a mugging, but a very slight inconvenience. For NJ certainly nothing to ruin your day over.

[ithaca10]

I guess you won't be posting any more videos with guys fishing in NJ streams. What crawled up your butt that day.

[jimmythegreek]

you do not see this as equivalent to the recreational kayakers cutting between you and the shoreline you are working (which we both have complained about many times)? same idea, some guy comes through and you have to wait for them to leave before you can continue fishing the way you want to fish.



u gotta remember that when ur working a river theres a pattern to where ur casting and where ur lure ends up, theres a current situation, its different than being on a lake where u can cast anywhere from shore or a boat. honestly I dont care if its mikey in that video or joe shmo, he was upstream working fast water on the other side and ur basically in the pool downstream, u guys are nowhere near "tangling" IMO. I get theres nobody out there and u feel its "your" spot for the time being, but making a video and calling it mugging is a little much regardless of who it is on the other end of the gopro.

Think of it this way......if he walked up to that spot and was like "hey bro ur "so and so" from NJF I recognize u" and u guys started BSing u woulda both kept fishing and had a nice little chat and went on ur ways saying nice to have met you and so on.

[JimmyLivebait]

I have fished with mikeytopaz for over 15 years and he is one of the most courteous,friendly,and helpful and knowledgable fishermen out there and anyone here who fishes with him will agree. And not for nothing I don't believe you can post a video of someone without their permission especially negative unless it's involving the public interest and safety. This to me is deformation of character towards a good natured guy. If this was me you were shooting a video of trying to make me look bad I wouldn't take this nearly as nice as Mikey is. It really makes me sick to think that a fellow "fishermen" would really take their time out from fishing to make a video just to bash them on this site....great way to make friends. Next time maybe try having a nice friendly fishing convo or hey nice day ain't it type of conversation...it's a lot easier to make friends that way

[acabtp]

Wow.. we don't live in Wyoming people, NJ is very densely populated. If you want to fish without seeing a soul, head north. That man was doing nothing wrong IMO Ive fished in way worse situations, but making a video and crying over it makes you look bad.
how does it matter what state it is in? this wasn't some crowded 2 acre hook&cook park pond, or collier mills on opening day, this was a section of river a mile long with only two people fishing it all day. so because it was in NJ, and NJ is densely populated, this is ok and to be expected? but in Wyoming it would not be ok? just trying to understand your point.

I started at the top of the hole just like your suppossed to properly enter a hole with another angler: then took one cast working the rapids and right away you jump down my throat! I could see your argument if i had casted across your line or somthing but i didnt! Just a tip for ya right where you were standing in the water they sit right there !

haha ok i see what happened here... there actually is no way, reason or need to "properly enter a hole with another angler"; that's probably what got this whole mixup started, honest mistake

there were no fish sitting in the 4" of water i was standing in, you can actually see that in the video where i released the rainbow

glad to see that both of us had a good day despite bumping into each other. they really should make up some NJF hats or something, let people know they might be talking to someone they recognize from the board. might have gone different, who knows? anyway, i've got no reason to hold a grudge, so no hard feeling; see you out there next time mikey, i'll make sure to say 'hi' nice and friendly :D

[Jenger]

Wyoming is the least densely populated state.. With plenty of room to be about and do what you'd like, alone.

I agree with jimmythegreek 100%.

And no it is definitely not illegal to film people in public. I think it would be illegal to make money off that footage though (without consent)

[acabtp]

I have fished with mikeytopaz for over 15 years and he is one of the most courteous,friendly,and helpful and knowledgable fishermen out there and anyone here who fishes with him will agree. And not for nothing I don't believe you can post a video of someone without their permission especially negative unless it's involving the public interest and safety.
maybe someday i'll have the pleasure of fishing with him again and find that out for myself

in NJ you can make video or audio recordings of whatever you want in public places, like state parks

[JimmyLivebait]

If I'm wrong I'm wrong about posting videos but I really hope you do run into him and see that he is a great guy and fishermen.

[FASTEDDIE29]

KEEP CALM AND FISH ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:d

[baetis]

People need to think of trout streams like urinals at a stadium.

If you walk into a bathroom and there are 5 urinals with someone at #1, you don't use urinal #2. You give the guy some room and you use #5. If someone else comes in, they use #3 so there is still a spot between everyone. You need to carry the urinal etiquette over to trout fishing.

[jimmythegreek]

glad to see that both of us had a good day despite bumping into each other. they really should make up some NJF hats or something, let people know they might be talking to someone they recognize from the board. might have gone different, who knows? anyway, i've got no reason to hold a grudge, so no hard feeling; see you out there next time mikey, i'll make sure to say 'hi' nice and friendly :D

there we go, very well said........just a honest mixup thinking mikey was some sandbagging mofo from who knows where, like he said small world, who woulda known u were fishing w a fellow NJF'er :)

like others have said on this thread, hes a standup guy and a great die-hard fisherman, stuff happens ................

..........lets put this one to bed fellas, whos got fish porn to post up?

[Jigman13]

Here's how I'd enter the pool...

http://themoviescore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/cannonball.gif

But in all seriousness... Mikey's a good guy. Def not the type to "mug" anyone. And he only likes being filmed when pulling 36"+ Northerns thru the ice--just an FYI lol...

I'm with FE... KEEP CALM AND FISH ON!!!!!

[acabtp]

People need to think of trout streams like urinals at a stadium.

If you walk into a bathroom and there are 5 urinals with someone at #1, you don't use urinal #2. You give the guy some room and you use #5. If someone else comes in, they use #3 so there is still a spot between everyone. You need to carry the urinal etiquette over to trout fishing.
this is the best analogy i have ever heard, about anything. very well played sir.

there we go, very well said........just a honest mixup thinking mikey was some sandbagging mofo from who knows where, like he said small world, who woulda known u were fishing w a fellow NJF'er :)

like others have said on this thread, hes a standup guy and a great die-hard fisherman, stuff happens ................

..........lets put this one to bed fellas, whos got fish porn to post up?
fish porn you say? how about that underwater trout video (i think everyone got fired up with the other vid and missed it hah)

http://youtu.be/Gt-PP0YHGSI

[bunkerbuster]

awww. ...a Walton's ending??? how come my misunderstandings always end with bunker snags across the river or 6oz. weights to the wheelhouse???? I gotta learn to be kinder....lol

[Cuz]

That's considered "mugging" now? :confused:

I personally feel the content of your video was more "Jersey" than a guy fishing the opposite shoreline of a state stocked Trout river. Nice fish though.

That's not even a close mugging. The man was on the other side of the pool.

I had an a**hole on the Pequest River last Friday wade right in the hole I pulled three trout out. I asked him to get out of the hole and move somewhere else. He refused. He stood 12' across from me casting at my feet. A REAL AMATEUR. He hooked a six pound trout and the idiot missed netting it three times. He tried to net the fish facing upstream! He dived on the fish trying to cradle it into his chest and landed face first in the water. Then he had to look for his fly rod which was under water like he was. Talk about FUNNY. I haven't stopped laughing all week every time I rehash that look of the water pouring off his Gilligan hat. He got Gods reward for being an unsportsman like mugger.

[Jenger]

Well.. Id like to think that those people are new to fishing, but I am sure there are some real a**holes out there. But what I saw in the video definitely wouldn't be something I would fuss over. I cringed when he shouted across the river at him, but to each their own.. You caught fish, he caught fish, I guess it was a win-win overall.

[briansnat]

I ran into not one, but two "muggers" on the Rockaway last week. I was fishing a hole with one other guy. He was on my side of the stream but far enough away that we didn't step on each other. We were working the opposite ends of the hole.

The hole there is maybe as third as wide as the one in the video and some guy comes down and sets up directly across from me, meaning he's casting into the exact same spot I am. I had to time my casts so his line would be downstream when I would cast upstream. As if that wasn't bad enough, a second guy comes along and stands about 15 feet to the right of the other guy, so now I have two to deal with.

OK it was a stocking day and there are only so many holes on this section of river but seriously dudes, WTF?

[Dave B.]

That's not even a close mugging. The man was on the other side of the pool.

I had an a**hole on the Pequest River last Friday wade right in the hole I pulled three trout out. I asked him to get out of the hole and move somewhere else. He refused. He stood 12' across from me casting at my feet. A REAL AMATEUR. He hooked a six pound trout and the idiot missed netting it three times. He tried to net the fish facing upstream! He dived on the fish trying to cradle it into his chest and landed face first in the water. Then he had to look for his fly rod which was under water like he was. Talk about FUNNY. I haven't stopped laughing all week every time I rehash that look of the water pouring off his Gilligan hat. He got Gods reward for being an unsportsman like mugger.

That's what I call 'Instant Karma'! Gotta luv it!

Oh, and regarding the wild browns in the Black, don't forget the 2 designated WTS tribs within the park which both have browns and to a far lesser degree some brookies.