Fall Trout - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

BT67 · #1 10-15-2021, 09:13 PM

A buddy and I hit the Paulinskill today with high hopes of fat fall trout. Started before 8 to decent fall flows and limited leaves. 8 to 1...1 trout. Lunch and back on river 330-530 ZERO trout. Hit all the spring spots that normally produce...beautiful almost summer like day but the catching sucked. Tried the kitchen sink today and I'm pretty sure I didn't have a trout hit all day

. Didn't see any either

AndyS · #2 10-16-2021, 07:26 AM

These big trout are unlike their 10 inch stocked trout counterparts. The small fish need to feed readily after being stocked, the larger fish have built up body fat and go weeks without feeding. Remember these large fish have been eating pellets for what, 3 or 4 years. Don't get discouraged, head out November 1st after the leaves are gone and these fish start to put on the feedbag.

Jerzguy2 · #3 10-16-2021, 10:38 AM

Should have seen the circus on the Musky on Wednesday around noon. They had just stocked a popular bridge pool earlier that morning. A couple of fish seen on stringers and 12 -15 guys walking through the center of the pool, guys casting spinners from shore, what a s - - t show. I was just going by, no way I would subject myself to that. How all these over 60 guys got the word that it was being stocked that morning, including a car from Pa. , I have no idea. Almost identical situation on Thursday. Surprised if some guys don't just wait with a net, to catch the trout as they are dumped out of hatchery net!

BT67 · #4 10-16-2021, 12:06 PM

Got some redemption on the Ramapo this morning. Got there o dark thiry and nothing for at least the first hour or 2 despite some fish swirling around. Finally located them at the back of a pool and went to work with trout magnets. Got 5 in short order and left feeling satisfied with a keeping a few for the smoker.

Like Andy mentioned these fall trout are not the spring type, they are larger and definitely don't act hungry or interested in most offerings yet seem to bite reactionary.

Cooler temps coming and the winds will have the rivers filled w leaves so I'll be on the sideline now til November.

AndyS · #5 10-16-2021, 09:03 PM

It was great when the State used to stock Brown Trout and Brook Trout in the fall, those trout had serious LOCKJAW for about 3 weeks. The Rainblows seem to be more reactionary strikes, like you said.

fishingbuddies · #6 10-16-2021, 11:56 PM

My friends and I went out twice..sections of the pequest and Rockaway. We could SEE the fish... sometimes they would chase. Trying to get em to bite was a different story. Best things that worked for us (we each had 1 to 3 each at each location).
Trout magnets or Joe's Flys. Here are some pics. My buddy by far landed his PB Bow. 21' long. 11' wide. Ide say a solid 4lbs maybe.

BT67 · #7 10-17-2021, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerzguy2

Should have seen the circus on the Musky on Wednesday around noon. They had just stocked a popular bridge pool earlier that morning. A couple of fish seen on stringers and 12 -15 guys walking through the center of the pool, guys casting spinners from shore, what a s - - t show. I was just going by, no way I would subject myself to that. How all these over 60 guys got the word that it was being stocked that morning, including a car from Pa. , I have no idea. Almost identical situation on Thursday. Surprised if some guys don't just wait with a net, to catch the trout as they are dumped out of hatchery net!

crazy, and based on this I wanted to give props to the number of guys who fished the Ramapo this morning in Oakland. I was on the river at first light and within and hour there were at least 5 other cars in the lot. Not one single guy came and crowded me in a spot where most knew the fish would be. I fished for 3+ hours by myself and turned the spot to over to another older fisherman who picked my brain a bit in a nice conversation and I saw him reel one in as I was packing up.

One other side note, on the my last fish of the morning I reached for my net only to realize it was gone

Must've come unhooked and floated down the river. On the way out I was engaged in conversation by a couple in an SUV who said "did you lose your net?" I said yes I did why? oh we saw it you put it down? and watched it float down the river

Thanks for the head up