Raritan river, north branch, big brown trout!

[thmyorke1]

Let's start from the beginning of the day:

Nice weather this morning and I head to lamington. I hook into two rainbows at surprising moments but lose both of em on this blue+white 2 inch jerkbait.

I got a bit hopeless and disappointed but enjoyed hooking something at least.

I head to sporting life to take a break and then leave to a spot on the north branch I've recently gone to and saw fish.

I approach this big hole, and I knew this time to approach it a different way going around it and hitting the top of it first.

Toss out a floating rapala and moments later hook up. Big smallie. First of the season. Funny thing is a big momma was following the one I hooked. The other was well a +3 inches.

Pic:


Fish it a bit more and another but smaller one:



My plans were to check out the river upstream of this hole.

A bit of a hike! No fish in site so far.

I was almost to the spot I wanted to check out from maps view, but came across a very nice looking hole.

One of those deep slow moving holes beneath a cliff face.

I toss a black marabou jig inside, and as I reel it back in a big brown trout comes rushing it!

Misses first bit it kept chomping for the jig!

I hook up and it's a fun fight, more than that first smallie.

Pics:










I guess the hike was worth it. Definitely a fish to remember.

All fish released back.

[Detour66]

Nice fish and a good day out. I have been tossing spinners with no luck! Keep it going!

[kcritch]

Wow that's a great catch for the NB...I've never seen a brown out of the NB in all the years I've been fishing it. Very nice. And you gotta love them smallies...that's a nice fish for that river as well. Nicely Done. And the hike is always worth it...even if you don't catch a fish to remember.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by kcritch

Wow that's a great catch for the NB...I've never seen a brown out of the NB in all the years I've been fishing it. Very nice. And you gotta love them smallies...that's a nice fish for that river as well. Nicely Done. And the hike is always worth it...even if you don't catch a fish to remember.

Tbh your last two reports made me hit the NB. So thanks , I guess I wouldn't have bothered to go there if it wasn't for your reports.

[AndyS]

So glad they did that private trout stocking on the Lamington at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club/Golf Course, time to reap the benefits !!
The sun is your enemy when taking photos.
Great catch !!!!!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Where oh where did that Brown come from? Awesome fish for sure! Those Smallies are in perfect shape as well. Way to go man! Sweet bag o’ river fish!

[JDTuna]

Sweet dude! Nice smallies and a big old brown! Did ya get a tape on the brown? Congrats man. Exploring pays off!

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by JDTuna

Sweet dude! Nice smallies and a big old brown! Did ya get a tape on the brown? Congrats man. Exploring pays off!

Thanks. Tried but pic didn't come out nice. I just know it's my pb lol.

I'm guessing 16 inches if you compare it to the smallmouth pic.

[Mikey topaz]

Your on a hot streak this year... Keep up the good work man

[AndyS]

Can only hope Fiddler's Elbow keeps stocking those Brown Trout