[AndyS]

8/25/25: Water 78* @ 318 CFS

Went to work early around Orlando Park in Raritan Borough, was able to pull some make-shift raft off the banks, found a jacket in the water. Early morning bug hatch was insane again. Went over to Manville and worked the area at Duke Park. Pulled a quick five. Went below the park and pulled 7 more and put them on relatively high ground for now, the area was completely trashed with Modelo cans, they keep cutting the lock on the gate and partying down there. I called the number on the gate to get it locked (AGAIN)
I can ALMOST say the river is tire free from the Headgates dam to Finderne Ave overpass in Manville.......ALMOST. And that is a far cry from just 15 years ago when the entire river was polluted with hundreds if not thousands of tires.
Looked for a low impact wade/fish so I went in at Basilone statue and walked up. Low and gin clear water with bluebird skies made for tough conditions. I think I hooked 6 SMB and landed 3 of them. Hooked a nice one that went completely berserk and shook the hook. Saw NO tires fishing this stretch just Geese, Cormorants, Snowy Egret, Osprey and Kingfishers, the edges are CHOKED with baitfish. Interesting wading as there were times I was up to my waist in Milfoil.