Wild Brookie in an urban creek?

[njmultispecies]

So I have been exploring local ponds, rivers, and streams. So I fished this creek that runs through my town. Threw a trout magnet with no luck or a while. Then, I found some holes with a very healthy population of pumkinseeds and creek chubs. (Some of these creek chubs were above the 7 in mark.) Then I spotted something bigger dart upstream. I thought nothing of it at first, making a cast toward that general area convincing myself it was just another chub and kept fishing. Then I saw it again, this time stopping near me, within eyes view. It was a brookie, a nice one too. Nearly fainted, considering the patterns on the fish and the fact that I was fishing next to a gas station. Casted my trout magnet past him, tried to get a bite and spooked him. Fished for another 30 mins there with no trout. Came back later to fish but didn't see it. Is it possible that there are wild reproducing trout in this creek? Keep in mind it runs past a bunch of stores and businesses and is full of trash Or do you think it was a leftover stockie? Just a little report/story and tight lines.

[Chrisper4694]

well my first thought is, you're mistaking it for something else, and the water was playing tricks on your eyes, but hey you never know! could've been from a club stocking or something. the state didn't stock any brookies for the past few years so if its a stocker it's been holding over for a while.

only way to find out for sure is to catch it! looking forward to seeing a pic!

[Adrenalinerush]

You can answer your question by asking yourself a few. Forget where the stream is and consider the following:
Does it have good water flow year round?
Does the temperature get much above 72 degrees in the summer or is it possibly spring fed in the area you saw the fish?
Despite the urban setting and the fact that it is "full of trash" is the water dirty of generally clear and clean?
Does it run into a larger stream or river that hold brook trout or one that has been stocked with brook trout in the past?

[Mark B.]

In the mid 1980’s, @ the urging of the now defunct Toms River Trout Unlimited Chapter, NJDF&W back pack electrofished Toms River in Jackson. The anglers were sure that they observed juvenile, naturally reproduced Brook Trout. Though, they never caught any.

What they were seeing, which we collected, were Eastern Mudminnows. Through the water, they can look trout-like.

They can tolerate low dissolved oxygen & acidic water.

[briansnat]

It's possible. I know people who have caught wild browns on the Pequannock where it runs through the center of Bloomingdale behind gas stations, laundromats and nail salons.

[Chrisper4694]

In the mid 1980’s, @ the urging of the now defunct Toms River Trout Unlimited Chapter, NJDF&W back pack electrofished Toms River in Jackson. The anglers were sure that they observed juvenile, naturally reproduced Brook Trout. Though, they never caught any.

What they were seeing, which we collected, were Eastern Mudminnows. Through the water, they can look trout-like.

They can tolerate low dissolved oxygen & acidic water.

i'm going with this^

[NJ Dave]

It's possible. I know people who have caught wild browns on the Pequannock where it runs through the center of Bloomingdale behind gas stations, laundromats and nail salons.

Ditto on that. Have caught plenty of true wild fish in that river. Small fish that fight well.
C & R on all of those

[23cardinal]

Ditto on that. Have caught plenty of true wild fish in that river. Small fish that fight well.
C & R on all of those

That's my home turf! Lol

Not all the browns in the pq are small, some 12 in plus. The upper waterway is pretty secluded, but even the track in Bloomingdale is good. The wanaque has the some type of fish in spots. Like he said, clear water , spring or reservoir fed, stays decently cold. Not totally impossible, depends on the water source

[njmultispecies]

You can answer your question by asking yourself a few. Forget where the stream is and consider the following:
Does it have good water flow year round?
Does the temperature get much above 72 degrees in the summer or is it possibly spring fed in the area you saw the fish?
Despite the urban setting and the fact that it is "full of trash" is the water dirty of generally clear and clean?
Does it run into a larger stream or river that hold brook trout or one that has been stocked with brook trout in the past?

The answer to all those questions is yes. It has all of the needs for trout.

[njmultispecies]

In the mid 1980’s, @ the urging of the now defunct Toms River Trout Unlimited Chapter, NJDF&W back pack electrofished Toms River in Jackson. The anglers were sure that they observed juvenile, naturally reproduced Brook Trout. Though, they never caught any.

What they were seeing, which we collected, were Eastern Mudminnows. Through the water, they can look trout-like.

They can tolerate low dissolved oxygen & acidic water.
The fish I saw had a red-ish fin and underbelly. It looked nothing like that.

[Jigman13]

Like this?

Chub...

[Skunk City]

Like this?

Chub...

Aka Pike Candy!

[Jigman13]

Nom nom nom nom... lol

[antgogz]

If i had an idea of where you were maybe it would be understandable. However, nothing surprises me anymore. My buddy has caught rainbow trout in the passaic river miles away from any stocking, and i once saw a monster brown trout caught in the same area. Healthy looking too. But i guess you dont know til you catch it right?

[Lard Almighty]

People are catching redtail catfish in Secaucus, so why the hell not?

[23cardinal]

If i had an idea of where you were maybe it would be understandable. However, nothing surprises me anymore. My buddy has caught rainbow trout in the passaic river miles away from any stocking, and i once saw a monster brown trout caught in the same area. Healthy looking too. But i guess you dont know til you catch it right?

Amen!
+100 to lard!
Njfw released a water quality report a few years back.lists local streams of water was capable of holding native trout. It's been a godsend.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/cwfmp/53-74.pdf
This is where they say they've seen trout. You can also google your stream and see what it's classified as and what it's demerits are

And yea they stock the Pompton- it flows to the Passaic. It makes for some fun. Watched a pike demolish a stockie I lost by the old a/p McDonald's

[Chrisper4694]

anything is possible for sure, can't argue that!

[Mark B.]

Scroll towards the bottom of this: http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/rules/njac7_9b.pdf

All NJ waters are listed by drainage. They are classified:

TP – Trout Production (trout can reproduce).

TM – Trout Maintenance (trout don’t reproduce, but the water remains cold enough for them to hold over the summer months).

NT – Non Trout (no reproduction, no hold over,…..the water gets too warm in the summer).

[23cardinal]

Scroll towards the bottom of this: http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/rules/njac7_9b.pdf

All NJ waters are listed by drainage. They are classified:

TP – Trout Production (trout can reproduce).

TM – Trout Maintenance (trout don’t reproduce, but the water remains cold enough for them to hold over the summer months).

NT – Non Trout (no reproduction, no hold over,…..the water gets too warm in the summer).

Missed that link. T.y.

[antgogz]

Amen!
+100 to lard!
Njfw released a water quality report a few years back.lists local streams of water was capable of holding native trout. It's been a godsend.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/cwfmp/53-74.pdf
This is where they say they've seen trout. You can also google your stream and see what it's classified as and what it's demerits are

And yea they stock the Pompton- it flows to the Passaic. It makes for some fun. Watched a pike demolish a stockie I lost by the old a/p McDonald's

Wow that must have been cool to watch. I have yet to fish the pompton. Any trout in the passaic are def coming from there then.

[NJSquatch]

Njfw released a water quality report a few years back.lists local streams of water was capable of holding native trout. It's been a godsend.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/cwfmp/53-74.pdf
This is where they say they've seen trout. You can also google your stream and see what it's classified as and what it's demerits are


The stream classifications mapping can also be found on the NJGeoWeb under the Water layers group (Surface Water Quality Classification).

http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm

[yumasdad]

I would tend to believe that there are plenty of streams which still hold wild brookies.
Look streams that are spring fed & rocky with a consistent flowage & you will find them. If you do I would suggest not fishing for them but they tend to be so in tune with vibrations that you may never see them. They are the smartest most beautiful fish in the country. IF YOU MUST FISH FOR THEM PLEASE BEND DOWN ANY BARBED HOOK, WEAR LATEX GLOVES AS TO NOT DISTURB THEIR SLIME COATING.

I told someone once about my little nuggets & came back to find a dead fish in a pool. He was promptly banished form any honey holes & cut him out of my life.

In fact I know if two streams in WAYNE alone that have a healthy breeding population but you would be better off getting a truth out of the HILLIARY beast.

[MudCat08]

I told someone once about my little nuggets & came back to find a dead fish in a pool. He was promptly banished form any honey holes & cut him out of my life.


Well that's a tad harsh ain't it?

My only brook trout i ever caught was a wild 8.5 incher on a dry fly from a brook in Bergen county. They definitely exist, but they tend to be tiny.

[yumasdad]

Well that's a tad harsh ain't it?

My only brook trout i ever caught was a wild 8.5 incher on a dry fly from a brook in Bergen county. They definitely exist, but they tend to be tiny.


An 8" fish is a tropy fish, hope it swam away.

He worked it to a full count on a trip to PICATINNY-"don't worry, I know the guys who patrol here" They showed up with a jeep, no warning from him, he just booked off & left me to fend for myself with two guys with M16's and a radio. Ended getting escorted back to my car (with my gear too), waited for 2 hours no show so I left. He was already home, got a ride & no note. Special kinda fishing partner he was.

The raid on the spring creek was last straw...sorry I showed it to him.
Just happy I never showed my brownie spot!

Gotta know when to cut bait...

[june181901]

Was stationed on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan back in mid 60s and an 8.5 inch brook trout was something to talk about. needless to say that was not an urban location.

[MudCat08]

He worked it to a full count on a trip to PICATINNY-"don't worry, I know the guys who patrol here" They showed up with a jeep, no warning from him, he just booked off & left me to fend for myself with two guys with M16's and a radio. Ended getting escorted back to my car (with my gear too), waited for 2 hours no show so I left. He was already home, got a ride & no note. Special kinda fishing partner he was.

The raid on the spring creek was last straw...sorry I showed it to him.
Just happy I never showed my brownie spot!

Gotta know when to cut bait...

That doesn't sound like the best fishing friend for sure.. I agree with your decision.

I hope they start stocking brook trout someday soon - I've never seen a large one in person and I hear they have amazing colors as adults. The little guy i caught was really colorful too.

[23cardinal]

That doesn't sound like the best fishing friend for sure.. I agree with your decision.

I hope they start stocking brook trout someday soon - I've never seen a large one in person and I hear they have amazing colors as adults. The little guy i caught was really colorful too.

They were, and browns. Hatchery got a fungus, rainbows only. Supposedly the next few years they will agisn

http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2015/02/disease_risk_means_no_brown_br.html

[Ken Lyons]

I had a discussion years ago about that river with a guy from Fisheries. He was very high on it for trout. He said low water conditions are really better because of how much of the flow comes from springs.

[Chrisper4694]

I had a discussion years ago about that river with a guy from Fisheries. He was very high on it for trout. He said low water conditions are really better because of how much of the flow comes from springs.

that sounds legit to me, the stream we've been having success in has been very cold to the touch for a month and the trout are feeding very well it seems and releasing nicely.