Yesterday I fished a 1/2 mile stretch of the 'Squan and despite conditions that I believed were ideal for troutin', I was rewarded with only two stockies. I was disappointed but not surprised.
One does not simply walk up to the Manasquan River and expect trout.
I have fished it for years and come to know it well. If there is a more challenging stream to fish in New Jersey, I haven't seen it. Both the conditions on the banks and in the water can easily frustrate fishermen who are accustomed to the more "classic" trout fishing experience. Anglers usually go home cursing and swearing that they'll never return, and many never do.
The banks tend to be high, muddy and overgrown with brush. The water is usually murky but can improve to "misty" if it hasn't rained in a while. Branches growing over the water and fallen tree after fallen tree will hinder your casting ability.
If you try to wade into the river to give yourself more space to cast, and you don't slide down the bank, you will often sink almost up to your knees in mud.
Despite these challenges, there are not a few sweet spots that often hold good numbers of trout. If you can skillfully cast your bait over a fallen tree or past some branches blocking your view, you might be able to get a strike.
The Pequest hatchery does stock about 9,000 trout in the 'Squan every spring, and these are scattered among about ten stocking points from Howell to Wall. Back in 2005 a fisherman did land a 10 lb. rainbow trout.
Here's a photo of one of the river's more open banks.
https://www.nynjtc.org/sites/default...gstaff2014.jpg
https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/..._riv_grway.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QR8M7N4LBJ...2+MSQUAN-3.jpg
