trout on the feedbag before the rain

[acabtp]

well, the weather report had said it was supposed to start raining here around 4 am tuesday, but when i got up, things were still dry, so i decided that i ought to try to get some trouting in before the rivers get blown out from all this rain we are supposed to get

got down to the black river around 10:30 and started working my way around. it was pretty cool this morning (air 44° down there), so after running some of my favorite lures through high probability holes without bumps, i figured the trout were being lazy. so i switched over to drifting baits which was immediately productive.

after picking away at a some generic we-ground-our-fins-off-at-the-hatchery stocker rainbows for a while, i brought one with a full set of fins and good coloring to the net just after noon. took a few pics and some underwater video of the release (link below)


unfortunately, while standing in the very spot where i caught the above pictured rainbow, i was mugged. for my fishing spot. luckily i remembered my new-for-2014 policy of "video the muggers", so here's the video of a talk with the guy
all in all, i was on the river for about six hours total, covered a mile of water, twice, and this was the only other person who was fishing today. simply blows my mind that while i was working a spot, he just walked right up and started casting into the same hole. if i'd kept fishing, we'd have been tangled, so i had to wait for him to move on. it's really like nobody gives a damn about courtesy anymore. the guy even had the balls to threaten to call in a false report to NJ DFW on me as he was leaving after i talked to him (for what, who knows). sigh... even down at the black river, there always has to be a reminder that this is still new jersey...

moved on downstream well past the guy and kept picking away at the rainbows.



it had been sprinkling on and off after noon, but around 2pm, the rain started to pick up, and the fishing caught FIRE. i was losing bait or connecting with a fish on almost every cast for the next hour and half. i lost count how many i landed. all generic stocker rainbows so i didn't bother with more pictures, until...

i hooked up with this nice wild brown

after the hookset, it jumped nearly three feet out of the water and then did two more jumps before coming to the net. definitely wild judging from the coloration, size, and fact that no browns were stocked there this year. probably must have swam down out of one of the WTS tribs. nice to finally get something different, been catching nothing but rainbows all season.

the rain cleared a bit around 3:30 and the bite died down then as well. got back to my truck, changed out of my waders and gear, and on the road just as the rain picked back up. good timing. if we get all the rain they are talking about, probably won't be back on the rivers until next week, so i was glad to get out there today.

underwater video of the nicer looking rainbow and wild brown being released is at http://youtu.be/Gt-PP0YHGSI

[buzzbaiter]

Black /Lamington does have a resident wild brown population. There aren't many because of summer thermal issues but they are there. What helps is the fast, rocky water which means good oxygen levels even in water that occasionally pushes 80F in summer.

[Mikey topaz]

Ughhhhh i was really hoping it wasnt one these fine guys on the site but its a small world i guess.... I dont know who pissed in ur cheerios buddy but god damn! One angler on the whole river your complaining an over a stocked fish? And worried about a tangle? Guess you need some casting lessons?Lmfao!!! Next time u can follow me down the river and make a youtube video of me going behind you cleaning up!

[jimmythegreek]

great looking fish, nice job, and good quality video too.....BTW I get the whole "mugged" thing but that is a popular spot and ive fished WAY closer to guys than that and havent felt mugged, regardless if its a stock day or a nobody is there day. And for the record I kno that "other" fisherman in the video and hes a great guy and excellent fisherman, hes on this site

[gwl2oneida]

One other guy, other side of river and upstream. Are you kidding? What's your recommended radius buffer zone? And to video and initiate the argument? Ok.....

[Bicey]

I thought the whole "mugged" thing was a joke.....cuz I recognized the guy in the video. I don't know either of ya but I thought it was a "parody" post and you were having a little fun with it.

[Skunk City]

That's considered "mugging" now?

I personally feel the content of your video was more "Jersey" than a guy fishing the opposite shoreline of a state stocked Trout river. Nice fish though.

[kcritch]

Sorry but I agree with the others...that is not a mugging in my book.

Great pics of the fish and good report otherwise though...let's just stick to that kind of stuff...much more pleasant for all involved that way.

[Madman9132]

There's no way anyone could consider that being mugged... Everyone has a favorite spot they like to start then work there way down river. That guy/ mugger is one of the best fishermen i know and always plays well with others. I fished that very hole you guys are fishing at on opening day with 10 other guys working the same hole. Guess what not one tangle. I get it some people like to fish alone. maybe you can buy some nice real estate on mars or something, but even then the reality that Jersey boys are everywhere.... Bwaaaahahahhahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

That's considered "mugging" now?

I personally feel the content of your video was more "Jersey" than a guy fishing the opposite shoreline of a state stocked Trout river. Nice fish though.

you do not see this as equivalent to the recreational kayakers cutting between you and the shoreline you are working (which we both have complained about many times)? same idea, some guy comes through and you have to wait for them to leave before you can continue fishing the way you want to fish.

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

Black /Lamington does have a resident wild brown population. There aren't many because of summer thermal issues but they are there. What helps is the fast, rocky water which means good oxygen levels even in water that occasionally pushes 80F in summer.

good to know. there certainly are plenty of plunge pools aerating the water.