Raritan River float trip 6/21:

[AndyS]

Launched at the statue in Raritan around 6am. Got off to a fast start and got around Nevius St. falls.
Threw mostly a very large swimming lure down the middle of the river, kinda doing the blind squirrel looking for a big fat nut type of fishing, all or nothing. Other times it was a small Rapala or a jig. I am a total hack at bass lures, what I know about throwing bass lures you could fit in a thimble. I held my own with the too tiny floating Rapala. I caught enough fish from start to finish, plenty of foot long smallmouth, and the one big boy. I hit one stretch of water and it was kick butt !, it didn’t look any different than the other stretches, it just held lots of fish. Took out at the 2nd Rt. 287 crossing at 2pm. I didn’t see any garbage or dead fish, I did see lots of carp, both in the water and jumping all over the place. I’ll definitely do this float again, maybe with some real bass lures next time. Got back to my car in Raritan and it had a parking ticket on the windshield, I guess you can’t park on that patch of dirt behind the statue ?

[AndyS]

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[AndyS]

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[FASTEDDIE29]

Nice trip you had there..... Where the hell are the fish pix?:D

[AndyS]

You know what a foot long smallmouth looks like, so I didn't take photos of every fish, just the biggest, around 18 or 19".

[AJFISH13]

What size rapalas Andy? Me and my dad use no. 7 and occasionaly no. 9s.
I can tell from the pic you were using black and white. Stained water use colors that stand out(vampire might be a better color). Hey, who cares how much you know about bass lures? I sure don't know a lot, I just use what works for me. Sounds like you had a very good day, I really need to give the Raritan a shot, pass over it whenever I fish up there.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Thats a nice smallie there, big bulging head! Whats a smallie??????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????

[Mike M]

Sounds like a nice relaxing day;)

[catfishonthelake]

Nice fish. Nice Thermos. Gotta love that Stanley Thermos.

[AndyS]

That thermos is the best, gotta have my kawfee !!

Photos are in chronological order. The 5637 is the local Manville job.

Like I said, I used a saltwater plug most of the day, right down the middle, the other lure was a Rapala F-9 Original Floater (way too small)

[AJFISH13]

F-9 is a size larger than what I normally use. They are HARD to cast into the wind or with too heavy a rod, don't be afraid to go light. If your catching fish, then there's nothing wrong with the lure.

[Tommy]

Sounds like a nice day on the river,
Congrats on the fish
How was the water in that section, did you drag much?

[Lard Almighty]

I've wade fished from Nevius down to the old railroad bridge. That stretch always produces.

[AndyS]

Only had to drag once or twice, lower section was a good workout, lotsa rowing. As you can see from the photos, it is rather remote for a built up area, saw a fox and some wild turkey.

[dboyd101]

I need to get my hands on a boat somehow. These trips look absolutely awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[maddhatterr]

glad you got out Andy...wish I was there...maybe next week we'll hit the hatchery if the weather looks good....:)

[RockFish]

That is an awesome float trip. Might have to try that one. I usually drop the canoe anywhere upstream of DIP dam

Last week I saw a boat trailer parked in the street across from the boat launch. I guess it's OK to do that.

Did you walk back to pick up your car. ha-ha

check your pm