Raritan River 5/2/12 - This changes everything...

[Lard Almighty]

I've been fishing the Raritan River for over 20 years, and never have I had a day like today.

The day started innocently enough at the South Bound Brook falls where it was go big or go home. I brought along some of my biggest baits, securely tethered to a medium-heavy baitcaster spooled with 20 lb. mono. Long story short, after I went all Jeremy Wade on the place, I only wound up with a small pickerel from the canal. So go big or go home turned into just go home.

After a stop for breakfast I headed down to the dam at the end of Roberts Street with normal-sized tackle. The water looked good; the flow was up a few inches, and the water was ever so slightly stained. That coupled with the cloud cover and light rain made for near perfect fishing conditions. I had a feeling something good was going to happen.

I just didn't imagine it would be this good.

Things started slowly, tossing around a Mr. Twister grub beneath the falls. After sacrificing a few to the river gods, I crossed over to the other side of the river and worked my way from the tail-out upstream. A few casts in, and I hook up with what felt like a good fish. I'll never know for sure, as it was off as quickly as it appeared. However, a few minutes later another fish struck, and this one held fast. It took me a little while to figure out what I had, but when I finally recognized what was on the end of my line, I could scarcely believe it.

My first ever shad.

I had seen shad in the river before, even seen some caught beneath the very falls I was now fishing. But I was never able to hook and land one for myself. Until this 16-inch silver bullet decided my jig looked tasty. After admiring my catch for a moment, it enthusiastically flopped from my grasp back into the river. And so another checked off the list.

I would have been pleased with just that, but the surprises didn't stop there.

I started tossing the jig around the falls, and after a few casts came tight on my second fish of the day. After a spirited fight I brought to hand a fish that I had only seen photos of from this river. I grinned from ear to ear as I triumphantly hoisted my first ever Raritan River walleye. Not a huge fish, but healthy and energetic as it swam away. This had already become a banner day, but it wasn't over yet.

I managed a little smallmouth below the falls before my dad joined me, after I had told him what I had caught today. I worked my way back down to the tail of the pool to cross over and meet up with him. However, I was stalled when another fish inhaled my jig, and put up a better fight than the other fish I had hooked today. After I saw the telltale white mark on the tail, I knew I had walleye number two.

As I plucked the jig from its mouth and laid it back into the river, this magnificent river I have fished for over 20 years, I marveled at how many secrets it still has hidden away. How much do I still not know about this water? What mysteries will be revealed to me in the future? Who knows what else is down there, swimming beneath the dark, swirling waters of the Raritan River?


Oh yeah, and my dad and I then went to Duke Island Park and caught a mess of trout. But who cares? I caught a shad and two walleye out of the Raritan River!

[acabtp]

cool! good day. sounds like the walleye are on the MOVE in the raritan lately

[lunkertaker]

awesome! man I thought the river had nothing but suckers, bluegills, and catfish..."This changes everything"....After Andy's report I was convinced and now I need to be hooked up...Yeah

Great report and video

[Tony Cav]

Nice.....Very Nice

[AndyS]

Great Report !!!!!!!

[Billfish715]

There are a lot of drainages that spill into that river. Those "eyes" have really found a home and must be reproducing in the river. Does anyone have a guess about where the "eyes" came from originally? There's a lot we don't know about the Raritan but are learning and discovering everyday.

[AndyS]

I think hurricane Floyd put alot of walleye into the D&R canal from the Delaware river. Then hurricane Irene sealed the deal by joining the Raritan river and the D&R canal. I guess it takes years to see the effects of flooding.
Either way I like what I see.

[Capt. Lou]

Never, ever miss the rising water day , like you I'll never forget today , but hey I'm back at it tommorrow who knows what can happen , more rain , can't wait to get streamside !
Fifty # bass , ten # fluke on hold it's big trout time!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Awesome report Lard. EPIC!!! Congrats!

[Jerseydix]

Great report and nice vids as always.