Trout Stream Condition Update

[Billfish715]

With lots of fishermen headed out to their traditional opening day fishing spots, I thought it might be a service to everyone by providing some observed stream conditions by our members. With the recent rains, the streams have risen in most of the state. Some streams have been affected differently than others. With all of the anticipation for the opener, it might be worthwhile to know what to expect before arriving at the stream.

If you can report any stream conditions and locations, it might be a real help to our members before they head out especially if the anticipated thunderstorms roll through today or tonight.

I rode past Spruce Run Creek today and you would hardly know that there was much rain. The Creek was in great shape. It was clear and in late spring conditions. The Musky in Hampton was clear and high but not flooded. The same could be said about the So. Branch near Clinton. The Passaic river in Millington was high but very fishable.

For those of you with any up-to-date stream information please post it. I know there are sites with stream-flow rates, but it's not the same as a first-hand report about clarity, relative depth, and recommended wading or fishing tactics.

[Walleyed]

I live a mile off the pequest, the river is high and moving, but as of this morning, still below flood.

[NJSquatch]

Good resources. Some gauges have predicted stages and flows.

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=phi

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/current/?type=flow

[Castaway]

The musky in Bloomsbury was very high and looked like chocolate milk at 8am today. I'm shocked it was clear in Hampton. I took a quick video with my phone but I have no idea how to post it.

[Jigman13]

Down by east Brunswick. Just saw animals pairing off and marching towards a huge wooden boat.

[kcritch]

Down by east Brunswick. Just saw animals pairing off and marching towards a huge wooden boat.

HA...we think alike dude. See my post on Eddies opener thread.

[thmyorke1]

I was out yesterday but before this rainfall we're getting right now (wow lightning :eek:)

If this is the last of the rain until next week, opening day should have easy water right?

I was at middle brook west branch, and it looked exactly how it was last summer although a tad bit higher with it's tributaries flowing in. It seems like the sunfish + suckers are still in the reservoir cause I saw 0 fish that day.

Down by east Brunswick. Just saw animals pairing off and marching towards a huge wooden boat.

+1

[FASTEDDIE29]

Rahway River, Cranford, Kenilworth, Winfield area! A tad high and very chocolatey in my opinion. Might be ok by Saturday though! No worries dudes!!!

[Billfish715]

The musky in Bloomsbury was very high and looked like chocolate milk at 8am today. I'm shocked it was clear in Hampton. I took a quick video with my phone but I have no idea how to post it.

Clear is a debatable word. The Musky was high and will not be getting much lower by 8:00 A.M. on Saturday. (I'd be very careful wading....very careful!) The river near Hampton was not brown by any stretch (this morning) but it was not gin clear either. Given the amount of rain we've had, it certainly was not muddy under the circumstances. The stretch below Hampton picks up lots more silt from the tilled and untilled farmland in that valley so yoohoo colored water is more likely.

My choice for the opener will be the smaller, rocky brooks that will drop and clear much quicker than the bigger rivers. By next week, that all changes.

[hammer4reel]

was past the SB in Flemington this evening.
River was screaming, and looked like yoohoo

[slim]

Decided to drive past the musky by Warren glen after work since that's where I planned on going for the opener. Plans have changed! Water is rageing chocolate milk. Guess I'm gonna have to hit one of my smaller spots.

[troutaholic]

good luck to all, i will work sat. so that i can take off a day in the middle of the week .

[23cardinal]

A friend scoped the rockaway at Boonton. High- very fast flow- off clear, not its usual but not bad. Powerville falls was cranking (he sent me a picture)
Pequannock thru butler Bloomingdale is over the low banks in the stonier sections- prob as high as I ve seen it in the last 2 years. Water is fairly clear- but caution to those wading/walking - the recently covered sections have last years under growth /leaves ect - slippery as hell
Wanaque below Pompton lakes is turbid but moving and not overly high- also that was 2 days ago now- probably moved up-
Passiac by roseland is well over its banks into the swamp and chocolate milk. Opaque.
Pomptom river isn't that bad- but it is high-and never clear any ways(2 days ago)

[Billfish715]

Thanks for all of the intel. It sounds like the smaller brooks will be the way to go. Keep the updates coming. It really is a help to our members in making a choice for Saturday.

[GDubya07]

Rahway River, Cranford, Kenilworth, Winfield area! A tad high and very chocolatey in my opinion. Might be ok by Saturday though! No worries dudes!!!

I second your opinion sir , drove by this morning and yoohoo right now and high

Just be careful everybody

GDubs-:cool:

[Polelock]

SB Neshanic is raging chocolate milk this morning..

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thanx for the reports guys. Very helpful thread for all! And thank you Billfish! Great idea!!!:D

[crewchief2]

As of 6am this morning, Stony brook in Hopewell is about 6 feet above normal and looks like hersheys syrup.

[Hookmanski]

Gonna hit my secret spots on spruce run creek Saturday, hopefully it stays clear!

[Humanzee]

I'm in Morris county. The Muskie is about 200 feet out my front door. Nice thing to have.

The water is high, no doubt. But between last night and this morning, it has cleared up pretty good. I'd be there's close to a foot of visibility.

Lake Hoptacong is not at flood stage (9.5). Its high, but not flood stage. Of course Hopatcong is where it all starts for the muskie. So the water level will remain the same (give or take) over the next 24 hours.

Obviously if you follow the Muskie towards the Delaware, the farther west/south you go, the worse the visibility will be due to all the other tribs and run off feeding into it.

[Billfish715]

The Rahway River above Rt22 looked very good. It was lower and cleaner than I expected it to be. I haven't looked downstream much farther. I've seen opening days that were much, much worse. If I weren't working tomorrow, I'd be out there. But it is good to have a heads up about what to expect.

The Greenbrook below Seeley's Pond actually looks like a small trout stream should look.

Spruce Run Creek looked inviting as well.

[ScowardNJ]

Live report at the Ramapo in Mahwah. It's flowing full bank and even out of bank at some locations.