Big R report 6/17/12

[Lard Almighty]

Met up with my brother at the Raritan River by Roberts Street at 1:00. Water was at normal summer levels and a little stained. Within 10 minutes I hooked into a scrawny, spawned out shad on a white Mr. Twister right off the dam. Another hour and a half yielded no other action besides a few pecks from rock bass. Saw a few fish rising here and there, but they weren't biting. Lots of people were taking advantage of the free fishing day.

We had some time left before we needed to head over to the folks' house, so we hit up the Nevius Street dam. My bro got a small rock bass off the dam on a rapala, and my Mr. Twister was eaten by the smallest striped bass I have ever seen; could not have been more that 4" long. I guess that's a good sign though, as this year's striper run has produced some babies. After that the only other action was when I missed something pretty nice on a senko right by the foot bridge piling. The hook pulled before I could get a look at it, but I'm guessing it was likely a smallie. We were out of there by 4:00. Lots of clowns fishing from the bridge, of course not catching anything.

Kind of a disappointing day, but very nostalgic for my brother who hasn't fished the Raritan in about 10 years. The water is plenty warm to go without waders now. Anyone who wants to fish the Roberts Street dam better hurry; it's going to be gone in a month!

[Gatto1227]

Nice report. That damn was my hot spot early this year for walleye and smallies but I haven't pulled anything out there that last 4 trips. I've been hearing a lot about the dam removal. What's this supposed to accomplish?

[bigfishy]

I'm sure Lard will have a better response...

Just imagine what rivers were like before ppl...
Fish could roam freely from ocean to as far as they desired..
It also cuts down on siltation which is better for the streams ecosystem
all together...DAMS = destruction of a streams ecosystem...

With most of the dams in NJ no longer serving a purpose there
is NO reason not to bring them down..

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by bigfishy

With most of the dams in NJ no longer serving a purpose there
is NO reason not to bring them down..

Unless you own property on such a river. The dam makes it a lake front property. Here is where the trouble starts when bringing down a dam.
Ever been to Lake Solitude?

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-d.../post_267.html

[bigfishy]

Very familiar with solitute and butress....
Still have to argue that ONLY good things would come with the removal
of both in that particular instance...While i don't own a "created" lake front
property, I still believe that OUR environment is more important than
ANY vistas or views..

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by bigfishy

Very familiar with solitute and butress....
Still have to argue that ONLY good things would come with the removal
of both in that particular instance...While i don't own a "created" lake front
property, I still believe that OUR environment is more important than
ANY vistas or views..

Me too...but when you follow the money you will get the real story... environment be dammed. (No pun intended)

[bigfishy]

Well said !! C.R.E.A.M.

[Lard Almighty]

Green Earth < Green Money. Sad but true.