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:
https://i.imgur.com/ofuCOE4.jpg

Fish it a bit more and another but smaller one:

https://i.imgur.com/xgUp7oZ.jpg

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. :eek:

Pics:


https://i.imgur.com/Usls2aS.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YANwA6H.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RgWsMBO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Csgxs2s.jpg

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]

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]

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 :D

[AndyS]

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

[AndyS]

With the restoration project for the Lamington River complete, we are happy to introduce a fly fishing program at Fiddler’s Elbow for the upcoming season. The river will be open to fly fishing this spring from sunrise to sunset. Fly fishing is being added to the already unparalleled array of amenities here at Fiddler's Elbow.
Fly fishing has recently been added to our list of amenities. The Lamington River is open to fly fish from sunrise to sunset. There are nine pools on the property, stocked with 400 trout. We have a catch and release program and participants are required to take an orientation class which is taught by expert fly fishing instructors.

[thmyorke1]

With the restoration project for the Lamington River complete, we are happy to introduce a fly fishing program at Fiddler’s Elbow for the upcoming season. The river will be open to fly fishing this spring from sunrise to sunset. Fly fishing is being added to the already unparalleled array of amenities here at Fiddler's Elbow.
Fly fishing has recently been added to our list of amenities. The Lamington River is open to fly fish from sunrise to sunset. There are nine pools on the property, stocked with 400 trout. We have a catch and release program and participants are required to take an orientation class which is taught by expert fly fishing instructors.

400 for 9 pools! Surely some of those trout got a bit claustrophobic and swam off for new real estate.

I sent an email to the folk at Fidder's seeing if they have any more details. Will post here if I get any more info

[Hookmanski]

Awesome fish man! We should link up sometime soon, I need to test out those smallie jigs you gave me!

[FishOnKV]

Great brown and smallie.. Looks like the hike was well worth it!

[ALS Mako]

Congrats on the brown. Gorgeous specimen. The smallie ain' t bad either. Love exploring rivers.

[Chrisper4694]

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.

unless you have midget hands that fish is def bigger than 16 inches if you ask me!