Looking for tips on d&r canal and Raritan(South Bound Brook area)

[thmyorke1]

These waters are the closests to me. Raritan is fun to wade through and the d+r is fun to walk the trail and cast out when you find a clearing.

Are there any experienced anglers share some tips? I'm interested in all species.

So far I have experience with hotdogs for cats and carp but have only gotten one bite, which I lost when I was new to fishing and probably had a terrible knot. And that was in the d+r canal. But lately nothing has been attacking my hotdog+jello recipe.

Thanks in advance!

(New to the forum as well)

[Skunk City]

Leave the hotdogs and jello for the kids, pick up a dozen shiners and rig them on a slip bobber set-up. Anything, including the bass, pickerel, muskie and walleye in there should willingly devour a well presented shiner.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Skunk City

Leave the hotdogs and jello for the kids, pick up a dozen shiners and rig them on a slip bobber set-up. Anything, including the bass, pickerel, muskie and walleye in there should willingly devour a well presented shiner.

I hear efingers is closing, if not already, they still carry them? I could fish for bluegill and keep the small ones for bait.

[23cardinal]

U could grab a c ast net for shiners too. There's also a lot of stores in the north part of the state to get live bait. (Not sure exactly where u are, tackle and field in wanaque is excellent)
Sometimes even a simple worm is a great skunk breaker.

+10 to skunk for the slip bobber thou.
Deadly and doesn't mess up ur presentation

[Mikey topaz]

Always did good at any of the locks.... fish shiners in the back wall of the lock and just as the current starts to ease off half way down the wall big bass and catfish were always there

[Jigman13]

Call Frank's hardware in Franklin. They carry shiners sometimes.

[AndyS]

Jigs and various sinking/ floating lures maybe ?

[gratefuldad]

Anything and everything in the canal. I target bass with soft plastics when water is warm and weedy as well as top-waters like buzz-baits & frogs. Spinner Baits, swim-baits, Rapalas, etc during cold water. Pickerel, Pike and Musky in there too so if you break off chances are it was one of those. I'll use a lightweight leader at times.

Find a good brush pile and target pan fish with shiners.
Chicken livers is my go to Catfish bait.
Carp... find a mulberry tree in the spring. Corn is always good too.

If you have access to a canoe or kayak I highly recommend this over walking the tow path.

[Punkinhead]

Slip bobber and shiner very effective. Also chicken liver with minimal weight depending on where you are. I used to catch eels and chunk them up for Bait too. Behr bait and tackle in Lebanon has shiners just call before you go.

[acabtp]

if you get a cast net, be careful where you use it because they are prohibited to be used in trout stocked waters or any freshwater lakes/ponds

baitfish regulations are on page 31 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2016/digfsh16.pdf

barrel style minnow trap probably the way to go if you can't find a place that sells bait locally