[Jigman13]

A couple nights ago, 8/30/18, I was getting antsy. I spent the earlier part of the week sick with a nasty summertime head cold and just started to feel better. Around 1015 PM I grabbed my keys and off I went to the mighty Raritan.

Upon arrival I cut off the soft plastic I had on and tied on a fresh, out of the package plug & pattern that's been producing for me all summer.

Get down to my spot and the flow was quiet nice. Very clean water and scattered leaves. Three or four casts and nada. Adjust a bit, take a few steps to the right and pitch my plug behind some boulders. I slowly retrieve the plug and about half way thru my cast my 7'6 temple fork outfitter rod just loads. A second or two later slow steady line starts peeling from my 2500 ballistic reel.

A short but high pressured battle ensued--but it felt long. I knew it was a nice fish by the weight but wasn't 100% sure of the species until I had it right by the bank. The turbulence and swirls it made with each swipe of its tail were vast in the moon light. I started sweating.

I clicked on my head lamp and saw the glow--half dollar sized eyes. My brow was drenched. Sweat was beading and running down the sides of my head and back of my neck. She rolled a bit broadside, facing upcurrent. She was massive.

She looked spent and in one fell swoop I wound down, bent over keeping tension and slid my hand firmly and securely under her gill plate, lightly pinning her to the graveled bank. Put my rod down and secured the catch with both hands. Game over.

Pulled my tape out of my bag, stretched it out and laid her beside it and that's when it really set in...I finally cracked the 30" walleye mark--and on the mighty Raritan.

Snapped a few shots as best I could and got her back in the water. I kind of trapped her between my boots while holding her face-first into the current. It only took about 10 seconds before she began to fight me off. Cautiously I released my grip and off she swam, steadily into the depths as her glowing eyes vanished. Epic...

I've spent countless nights, hundreds of hours and many skunked trips over the past 5 or 6 years on just the raritan river with the dream of a 30" walleye. I've been fortunate to land several from 26"-29". I can rest a bit now and enjoy a few more nights each week getting sleep versus pacing my house...maybe not. We'll see. Check her out below. Thanks for reading fellas...