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  #1  
Old 04-05-2020, 06:23 PM
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Hookmanski Hookmanski is offline
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Default Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Saturday i hit up a WTS looking for some wild browns. I haven't had much luck with them in NJ, and wanted to break that streak. Fished from 8am to noon, only saw one fish which I spooked. I threw the kitchen sink but came up short. Ran into a fellow NJFer (across the river, practicing social distancing ). Good to see you man!

Fast forward to today. I got up at the crack of dawn. Not to fish, but to move the rest of my belongings out of my childhood home. After being on the market for over a year, it finally sold and the closing is coming up. I drove the hour to get there and moved things all day long. Halfway through the day, I came across my childhood trout rod, the one I used every time I went trout fishing with my dad. I also found 2 old, random spinners in a drawer. My house was a 5 minute walk from a trout stream and I used to take that walk as often as I could. So after finding the rod, with 5-10 year old 8 pound test on a half working reel, i said "what the hell, one last walk."



I walked down the trail my friends and I used every time we went exploring in the woods. I have two holes that I know always hold fish, and with only about 30 minutes to spare I figured I would focus on those 2. I got to the first one to find a few feisty rainbows, hooked one but ended up losing it. Got a few more swipes, but the fish got smart and stopped following. Onto the next hole.

Usually I fish this hole from the opposite side of the stream, but with my sneakers and khakis I wasn't in a position to do any crossing unless I was willing to drive home with cold wet feet. I gave it a few casts and thought, "Well, doesn't seem like anyone is home, but it was great to get out here one more time." Right after thinking that, i got WHACKED. Thought at first i was snagged until the fish came barreling out of the water flying feet into the air. I reeled him in and was shocked to find a wild brown trout had bit my spinner.



In all 20+ years of fishing this stream I had heard of browns lurking around but had never caught one, let alone seen one. To catch it on a partially broken Garcia Trout rod from the 80s or 90s with old mono on the very last day I will ever step foot in my childhood home was an insane feeling. Took the walk back home with a smile ear to ear, asking myself how that just happened.

I will miss that house. I will miss that town. But I will always return to this stream. There is no other place like it in New Jersey.

Hope everyone is staying healthy and safe, and fishing when you can. Tight lines!
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Old 04-05-2020, 06:49 PM
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thmyorke1 thmyorke1 is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

nice! it's never too far away when it comes to feisty wild trout
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Old 04-05-2020, 07:23 PM
Mikey topaz Mikey topaz is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

That’s a awesome report. Great memories! Good job Brandon!
Ps I got ya man I’ll hook u up with some good water for wild browns if ya need
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Old 04-05-2020, 07:27 PM
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DanH DanH is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Wow!
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Old 04-05-2020, 07:45 PM
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Nice write up .
Special things happen at special times .
IMO it’s not by chance .
Congrats on a very special memory.
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Old 04-05-2020, 08:24 PM
Jerzguy2 Jerzguy2 is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

That was one wonderful story, really wanted to ask you what stream it was. I think this is the week I actually give the old reservoir that I fished over 50 years ago a shot.
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Old 04-05-2020, 11:49 PM
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

I feel your pain, having to leave a childhood home myself back in 2015.. That rod and reel should always remain with you after that day of fishing and getting a wild brown trout out of that place that you fished as a kid and the fact you landed that fish on old mono and you did not loose it is cool, well done great report
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Old 04-06-2020, 02:42 PM
Rickhem Rickhem is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Great story, thanks for posting that up.

And the great thing about fishing, is that once you make the effort to get a line in the water, you just never know.
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Old 04-06-2020, 03:13 PM
Pondhopper8 Pondhopper8 is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Nice job, beautiful fish
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Old 04-06-2020, 03:39 PM
nate01 nate01 is offline
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Default Re: Bittersweet Troutin' this weekend

Wow—that’s just awesome
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