Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

Last Thursday was the beginning of a nice run for me. It started late Thursday night (Friday morning) after a great hockey session which left me filled with energy despite it being after midnight. I was off Friday so I stopped at a local Union County spot where I know I won't get hassled for fishing in the middle of the night. Earlier that day when I was packing a few poles in the car I was looking for a lure I could tie on just to hold the line on a baitcaster and grabbed the first one I saw (a huge buzzbait that had been sitting in my glovebox for past year since I never use them). When I got to the pond I didn't want to waste time tying on a new lure so I just started tossing the buzzbait while perched precariously on a laydown that enabled me to make long casts parallel to the bank. Three casts in and I get slammed just a few feet from where I was standing (thank you trailer hook). I am not sure what I was happier about, the fact that I finally caught a fish on a buzzbait or that the aforementioned fish was close to my PB (at least in weight - est. 2.5-3.5 lbs - super fat but not too long).

Friday I had off so I spent a few hours prowling along the Rahway River in Cranford hoping for some stockies and maybe bass. I caught a few dinks and gills on a tube and then landed a small 'bow on a craw colored squarebill crank. The fish must have already been caught and released because it was pretty battered when I landed it. A quick pic and then the 'bow swam off so a third angler (or a cormorant) can enjoy it.

Monday I worked from home and the conditions in the morning were too perfect for me not to go and take a few casts. I went back to the pond where I had luck on Thursday with the buzzbait and figured, lets give it another try. Standing on a different laydown I once again cast parallel to the bank and burned the lure back to me. After 3-4 casts I landed another respectable LMB and with that catch the buzzbait is now officially part of my arsenal.

Around dusk I decided to head to Echo Lake to see if any of those breeders were still swimming around. I threw tossed a CD-5, gulp minnow, vibrax spinner, Joe's fly spinner, and not even a bite. Finally as I was leaving I hit up a spot where I had caught a nice trout back in Feb. and started throwing the same blue and orange husky jerk that worked back in Feb. On the first cast something big missed a strike right at my feet and I was convinced I had located a breeder. I kept hammering the same spot and within ten minutes I hooked and landed a real nice bass. Not what I was targeting, but beggars can’t be choosers and decent largies are few and far between in lower Echo Lake.

I hope everyone else's season is getting off to a good start!

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

Nice run indeed, lots of hot bites going on, just a matter of finding the time to get out there!

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

Union County smackdown. I love it.

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

read your DM.

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

my neighbor caught a 19" rainbow @ echo a few days ago, the stockies coming from my side of the river are stuffed with snail shells, not sure how to match that hatch

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

topwater action in april....nice!

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

Thanks for the message, check your PM I sent a response/question.

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

How has the fishing been over on the south side? I took the kayak out last Friday to Bloodgoods and paddled up the River all the way to the Parkway. I saw a few stockies nothing great. The stretch just downstream of where the river passes under the Parkway has a lot of promise. Rocky bottom and some nice deep holes (I had a depth finder and found lots of 8-10 ft. holes - upstream of parkway dam I have located just one hole over 8 ft deep and it is way up in Kenilworth). Not sure why I never seem to catch anything over there.

I have mostly fished the Nomahegan stretch of the river. I also fish the Dam by North union/Grays funeral home almost every night while walking my dog but no luck as of yet. Once water temps start to rise they love to congregate below that dam.

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

I've fished there a few times with no luck. I work in downtown cranford on weekends so it seemed like great spot to get a few casts in before or after work. Any luck above that damn? There seems to be a little access between the completely open path and houses.

Re: Buzzbait Largies and a Rahway River Stockie
 

Some healthy lookin' LMB's !!