Scouting some spots / stocked - observations

[Michael82929]

Didnt some traveling this weekend to check out some of the spots - see how the fish were holing up since the water was soo low

I couldnt believe where some of these fish were holing up, One spot literally caught my eye by seeing their backs in the water.. mind you.. there was deep water 20 ft in front of these fish - but they wanted to stay in this little ripple.. I could have picked them out with my hand...

Then their was another spot - literally threw over 100 fish off this spot and walked it from top to bottom and didnt see a trout.. and I could see everything in the water.. I couldnt believe it... didnt even spook a trout...

Hope we get that rain for these fish to spread...

[AndyS]

Thanx for putting in the leg work, good follow up on the fall stocking.

[cantcatchme]

Checked the Metedeconk by my house twice. The usual holding spots were void of fish. I can usually spot them in the 3 spots I would fish this time of year. Didn't see one. I proceeded to walk the banks and even threw a few casts with a plug. Any idea if they put the numbers they say they put in this year? I know the deal with fall fish and how they feed. I know this river really well and can usually find a pair or two together.

[Michael82929]

I dont know if that was even stocked.. was it suppose to?

[cantcatchme]

It says so and I was at another access on the same river about a mile or so upstream. I saw one dead brookie. They obviously stocked that spot. Was just wondering about numbers.

[Michael82929]

Stocking in the fall is different from the spring stocking

For instance, when I had one run, had a driver that never did the run and thats is a little more common(not much) in the fall vs you know who your gonna get every week in the spring.

Also the number of stops are less, and less frequent (especially with low water) - you tend to keep the number of fish for each stretch to the formula but throw in fish based on water level.

So for instance, I know the streams I stock like the back of my hand (and may forego a spot) based on the terrain and double up little further down stream or upstream. Not becuase I dont want to throw the fish there.. but if you have very lil water access, you may see more dead trout like the one you saw.

I did another run last week where I loaded this area. great water upstream and down - and walked it and was baffled by not seeing one fish in the water from eye sight.. not even a spook.. definately was a chin scratcher.

If you saw a dead 16 inch brookie - then they stocked the area...

[cantcatchme]

I knew it was stocked because of the dead fish I saw. That should be a dead giveaway. This is the South Brach of the Metedeconk, which even at low water levels has plenty of water. The same can't be said for some of the spots on the North Branch. I was a bit more interested in the numbers rather then if it was stocked of not. Not to big of a deal. If they are there I will find them. Thanks for the reply.

[kmaty]

Yesterday morning after striper fishing all night got yhe trout itch headed over to check out duke island as ive only fished it a handful of times but figured water level would be one of the best and closest to home fished it for about a hr and a half beating up the smallies and sunnies on some extra egg sacs from up north that i figured i just give a try after a while with night crawlers salmon eggs and some cast with a yo zuri pin nothing but small mouth decided to head a lil further up the first to check out the north branch section in bedminster nowi could see them but couldn't get them going headed over toward the phohatcong first spot. 4 second nothing and 3rd another . Then checked ot the musky and again watched around 5o fish swimming in the slow water. Just a couple spots i have checked out my self