Lower South Branch/Main stem Raritan river 4/10/17:

[AndyS]

Original plans were to go trout fishing starting at Duke Island Park and work my way down through Somerville, looked at the water, meh.
Started working my way UP the lower South Branch. Got 1 at Three Bridges and another at some cliff near the RR tracks. Worked up stopping at Camp Carr where a guy said he caught 6 already, a few anglers out today. Weird having Monday off as I get to fish with all the retirees and unemployed. Stopped at the water company pump station, a few anglers around. I was totally out of sync working my way UP the river. Water got clearer the further up I went. I usually start at the top and work my way down river, going with the flow. Just coming off an awesome West Branch float in NY I was like , meh.
Decided not to go up any further so I peeled off Rt. 78 to Rt 22 and stopped in at the new tackle store (can't remember the name) I picked up a new vest since mine was shredded and I also picked up the B&G 1500 Daiwa, SWEET freshwater reel at a great price. I also got my spools refilled on the machine while I was there. I see the new store carries marabou jigs !!! I also picked up some shad darts for the Rutgers crew that will be PIT tagging American Shad on the Raritan river again this year.
It was still kind of early so I stopped in at the fish ladder falls, met a few NJF guys there Weird place as you can fish it for hours then suddenly for like 2 hours all hell breaks loose then it goes back to being quiet again. I got a small LMB and fellow NJF angler got a toad SMB, a smaller LMB and he missed a small walleye, then it went back to being quiet, very strange.

[23cardinal]

Sounds like a great day! Isn't fishing during the week nice. Makes u wanna work nights like me?
I've always wanted a diawa love running into NJF guys.

I usually like working down to up, for wading but also for clarity
I like the one shot of the piggie

[AndyS]

Photo doesn't do that SMB justice. Thing was thick ! I like wading from top to bottom, (jig fishing) Daiwa rocks for freshwater !

[Jigman13]

If you like daiwa peep the ballistic. So nice I bought it twice lol

[thmyorke1]

That smallie is killer

[FASTEDDIE29]

I know that angler! Nice BRONZEBACK! River looks great Andy!!!

[logs22]

Andy - Where is the best place to park to access the river by the dam/fish ladder? I have looked on google earth and don't see much parking on Weston Canal road. Any help appreciated, would love to fish there sometime.

[AndyS]

There really isn't any parking there, just small dirt pull offs. Best time to do your scouting is in the middle of the winter.
Don't pin your hopes standing on that wall donating lures all day. Sure the fish tend to bottle up there but standing there you are fishing 0.00000001th of that river. Look at all the spots. Duke Island Park, Robert St, Nevius St., Orlando Park all in Raritan Borough. Upper and lower Peters Brook Greenway in Somerville, Finderne Farms in Bridgewater, Duke Park in Manville, Queens Bridge in Bound Brook, Riverside Park in Piscataway, DeMott Lane, Johnson Park, Boyd Park, Edison boat ramps and so on.
You really want to fish a large river properly get a canoe or kayak.
The guy who caught the SMB spends all his time on the D&R canal and says the fishing rivals that of the Raritan river.
In the back of Manville there is a boat launch and took my 14ft boat down the Millstone and up the Raritan river through Manville.
Gotta move around, just like the fish

[NickM221]

It was nice to meet you both! Glad to see you guys actually caught some fish! I checked out other spot down river that you suggested, but had no luck. Hopefully next time the fish will decide to cooperate before I leave