Smallie smackdown on the Raritan

[Lard Almighty]

I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather we've had the past week to go after smallies on the Raritan River. My first stop was the Duke Island Park dam, and I found a bunch of smallies stacked up underneath the dam. Nothing big, but action was very consistent. Also, I was surprised by a leaping rainbow trout that was keen on the swimbait I was using. Shortly thereafter, however, I lost my last one on a snag, and the fish didn't want anything to do with the other lures in my tackle bag.

I stopped at Queen's Bridge looking for a kicker, and (surprise!) the only thing I got hits on was a buzzbait! Nothing committed, however, as all the fish were rolling behind the bait and not getting it into their mouths. Still, any action on a buzzbait in November is certainly noteworthy. Saw something HUGE splash downriver, and I don't think it was a carp, either.

All in all a successful fall outing. The bite is still on, don't put the gear away yet!

[xDirty]

Im pretty sure we are using the same swimbait, or there very similar, and whats weird is, its the only bait ive been mostly getting hits on also. In line spinners always trigger strikes too.

[AndyS]

Love the reports, and most of all the GREAT VIDEOS !! Thanx for posting.

[MudCat08]

I notice a pattern in the Ramapo - once November rolls around, all the big fish leave and the waterfalls are dominated by tiny bass and other small fish. The raritan looks to be the same way? I got quite a few 3" -6" smallmouth and largemouths this fall out of there (Ramapo), while in August and September there were schools of bigger 11"-15" fish in the same spots.

Awesome video as always dude

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great video dude. Looks like you were having fun out there on the river. I think you were looking for a monster Brown Trout!