Running and gunning on the Raritan

[Lard Almighty]

With the low clear water, I had an idea to hit up some of the deep holes on the North Branch to see if I could score some smallies. I hit up a bunch of spots between Bedminster and Natirar, managed two dink smallies, a little largemouth, and a few sunnies. I then went to a pond I found on Google Earth in Mendham, only to find it plastered with signs saying it was private. Based on the location, I probably should have known. On the way back I hit Roberts Street and Duke falls with some big baits to see if any big girls wanted to play, but no dice. As a last ditch effort, I fished a stretch in the park, and wound up with three smallies on a senko, including a pudgy one that was pushing a pound or so. A long, tiring day, but it beats sitting on the couch watching football.

Also, it's only mid-September, but there were some trees in the park in full fall colors! We're going to have a very early autumn this year.

[Jigman13]

High temps and no rain all summer equals dead leaves early!

Ya gave it hell. The raritan can be feast or famine. I've had fewer smallies this season and only two over 16" (one was a piggy). Still lots of bait All over. Past few times out the river's edge was loaded with fry, frogs and Crays. Water temps dropped quite a few degrees, too.

Friend of mine's son who lives in Mendham religiously sends me pictures of fish his boy catches from a private lake there. Assume it's the same place you tried fishing. Huge channels and some really nice large mouth in that lake. Couldn't believe the size and quantity of channels he was pulling out and this kid doesn't really know how to fish. Too bad you couldn't fish it but at the same time if it weren't private I assume there wouldn't be fish that size in there or at least thaequantity of fish that size. Plenty of places to fish in the state but if you know someone who can provide you access to that lake it's worth checking out.

[tycomps]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

With the low clear water, I had an idea to hit up some of the deep holes on the North Branch to see if I could score some smallies. I hit up a bunch of spots between Bedminster and Natirar, managed two dink smallies, a little largemouth, and a few sunnies. I then went to a pond I found on Google Earth in Mendham, only to find it plastered with signs saying it was private. Based on the location, I probably should have known. On the way back I hit Roberts Street and Duke falls with some big baits to see if any big girls wanted to play, but no dice. As a last ditch effort, I fished a stretch in the park, and wound up with three smallies on a senko, including a pudgy one that was pushing a pound or so. A long, tiring day, but it beats sitting on the couch watching football.

Also, it's only mid-September, but there were some trees in the park in full fall colors! We're going to have a very early autumn this year.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2RLj82tLiM

sounds like a slow summer for the river, going at sunrise I've been getting two dinks on topwater then nothing til leaving at noon. hopefully things will pick up for Saturday.

[AndyS]

The Raritan Headwaters private lake.

[AndyS]

Any place below the pump station at Hamden Road below the town of Clinton has loads of water. They are pumping Round Valley water into the South branch, the main stem of the Raritan river has loads of water also.

[AndyS]

Petersbrook Greenway in Somerville as well as Torpey section in Bridgewater and Duke Park in Manville are also some nice spots on the Raritan river.

[Sako1]

I used to live around the corner from that Raritan River headwaters pic in the earlier post.

Pretty place but I never really caught much of anything in there at all, seemed rather void.