Opening Day NJ Trout Opinions ?

[NJ Dave]

Opening trout for me is Monday at 11 am. No crowds, no early start, and a little sun on the water.
I will say opening day is always a good time. Not so much the fishing but sitting around watching the maniacs two feet up each others buts tangling lines, standing in the water scaring the fish, and watching the frustration.
Its nice to walk down and away from the crowds and return with fish.
The part of opening day I miss is the parking lot bbq with my friends grilling up Portuguese chorizo sausage and fresh trout and laughing about.
Working weekends puts a damper on this.
Being my usual stream is not getting fish this year due to the disease I'm not sure my Monday will even happen.
Good luck to all and have fun.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by sportfishingusa

Wish i knew where to go and how to catch them, i would like to go.. lol

Anyone in the local monmouth county area wanna give me a little help, i would greatly appreciate it.. I am lost when it comes to fresh water.

This should help some.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/accesswater.htm

Or this which is up to date as of today

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2...s14_county.pdf

As for how just go out with the lightest rod and line you own and throw some small spinners or spoons.

[Eskimo]

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Look at it this way, -no matter how artifical of a fishing experience opening day feels like, at least you're not fishing in an indoor pay-lake.

In Korea, they have indoor fishing facilities stocked with carp. For a small hourly fee, you can sit there and catch-and-release stocked fish.

Now don't you feel better about opening day?

[Almaink]

I'll hit the D&R Canal in West Trenton just like I've been doing for the last 10 or so years. Lots of room if you walk 50 yards away from the crowds. Plus most people leave after fishing about an hour or less.

[shrimpman steve]

Originally Posted by sportfishingusa

Wish i knew where to go and how to catch them, i would like to go.. lol

Anyone in the local monmouth county area wanna give me a little help, i would greatly appreciate it.. I am lost when it comes to fresh water.

Hey big man
Anytime you want, take the 90 minute ride up to me and bring waders. I'll get u some fish!

[EJS]

Xperks22, that's a great question. Given the limited stocking geographically, numerically and time frame, I think it's going to be a real shit show! I would say strategy is go where people aren't! Don't be afraid to travel a mile up or down stream and find a hole.

Holdover trout should be present from fall stocking and with the high water you may see some spring stocking there as well!

Condition will be stained at best. I have been looking at the USGS flow data for the South Branch from middle Hunterdon County into western Somersett County. Water is up at about the 6' mark, so conditions will faster currents. River is muddy to stained right now, depending in where you look.

I would say get up early, go scout as any rainfall today/tonight could drastically change conditions for tomorrow. Look at the smaller trout stocked streams. Granted they will most likely not have a 6lb rainbow doing a backstroke in there, but will clear faster and offer sufficient stocking numbers!

[xperks22]

EJS, Thanks I will be on the Ramapo for the 8am start. Any specific colors that your prefer to use for working spinners in dirty water ?

[Chris1129]

I was going to take my 4 year old down to Spring Lake, but after reading some posts from years past about the overcrowding and the madness I think I'll pass.

Gonna stay local I think. As of now I'm thinking of attending the event at Nomehegan Park in town and try to put my son on a few trout. Also may try Milton Lake or some spots in Cranford on the Rahway River.

Do these spots get crowded? Haven't fished opening day trout since I was a kid with my Dad.

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by Chris1129

As of now I'm thinking of attending the event at Nomehegan Park in town and try to put my son on a few trout. Also may try Milton Lake or some spots in Cranford on the Rahway River.

Do these spots get crowded? Haven't fished opening day trout since I was a kid with my Dad.

Milton--yes... People actually start showing up the night before sometimes. Then it usually stays crowded until 1-2 PM. Not sure if it's chocolate milk, either. It flows pretty good through there after a good rain. I know that the Rahway River in Cranford/Winfield Park gets pretty packed too. Past few years I swung thru some spots and they were seemingly 'fished out' by noon. We had a lot less water last yr, though. You can also try the back of Rahway Park but it, too, may be crowded.

Regardless of all that, hope the kid has fun. I'm taking my five yr old out tomorrow! Looking to get him his first trout.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Chris1129

I was going to take my 4 year old down to Spring Lake, but after reading some posts from years past about the overcrowding and the madness I think I'll pass.

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I think opening day of trout season isn't the best day to introduce a kid to fishing, unless it's set up just for kids. Some towns have fishing derby just for kids where they stock a little pond.

In my experience, the best time to introduce a kid to fishing is when the sunfish are spawning. In four-to-six weeks you're going to see a lot of sunfish move shallow and build nests close to the shorline. If you fish a good nesting area, it will be non-stop action. Perfect for a little kid with a short attention span.


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