First Post

[jas160]

Hey guys, wanted to introduce myself and ask for also some trout tips. My name's Jason and I'm mostly a bass fisherman on lakes and ponds. I've lurked on the forum for some time, but this will be my first post. I'm from Middlesex county but am currently staying out in Phillipsburg with some friends. There was a fire in our condo about a month and a half ago and we were displaced near all these fast moving trout waters. The fastest moving water I'm used to fishing is the D&R canal in Blackwell's Mill LOL.
I had the chance to stop at the Musky after work yesterday around 7pm. I noticed at least a dozen fish rising and splashing at the surface. This was in calmer, slower moving water above a small set of rapids.
I threw everything I could at them in the limited time before the sun set: Blue fox vibrax spinner, blue fox minnow spinner, Gold and orange yozuri minnow, small jointed rapala, and even a trout magnet small worm. Nothing!
I noticed that some bugs were out while I was fishing. If the fish are rising so frequently, are they feeding on top water insects? If so, what is the best tactic while spin fishing? Thanks for any advice.

[bigboy5522]

Yes sometimes the trout are keyed into flies and will ignore anything else. On Sunday the trout were rising frequently and the fly fisherman out fished the bait fisherman.

[Rich196]

Jason, Welcome to the site, all though I'm not a trout fishermen, and no help to you...LOL just wanted to welcome you, and tell you that your at the right place for help, I'm still new here, and I all the people on this site have been great answering any questions I have had. Rich

[River Renegade]

Some days trout will only go for flies, other times it's spinners/spoons or bait. You just gotta bring lots of those each time you hit the water. Good luck.

[Delawareriver]

Couple guys mentioned nothing you can do if they are rising on hatching flies and this is very true to a point. If you cast your lures and bait to these fish and it's ignored the best thing to do is to keep moving. Fish other slow pools, or fast water till you find agressive trout. IN my trout days guys would constantly asked me how I consistently out fished the majority of other guys both in numbers and trophy breeder trout and it was pretty simple. Run and gun. I was constantly moving looking for aggressive trout. I very rarely slowed down to pick away at picky fish. Wasn't that I was better or doing something special but I put my lures in front of the most trout as I could and in return found the most trout willing to bite. One of my tactics for when many of the fish were educated and keyed in on insect hatches and I didn't feel like breaking out the fly rod is to carry a small float (trout magnet one works well) and a couple of nymphs. Basically can get away with a handful (hares ear, prince, pheasant tail, cooper John in a few different colors) I would cut a piece of 12" leader, tie on a weighted one with a bead head the tie the leader to the shank of the hook and tie on an unweighted nymph so they end up about 8-10" apart. Usually went with a flashy one for the bead head and a more natural one for the unweighted one to cover both basis then it was just adjusting the float up and down to get the right depth. Caught hundreds of trout this way but even more on the lures you mentioned already. Takes time on the water but you will learn your own tricks of the trade

[jas160]

Thanks for the replies. Since I am new to the area I am just finding spots that look like they hold fish (Pohatcong Creek, Musky, ect.). I only fished the one spot yesterday because there was only 30 mins of sun left, it was raining, and I had dress shoes on to trudge through the mud. I will definitely try to pick up some flies after what I saw yesterday. I appreciate all of the information guys.

[baetis]

Is there a chance that the rising fish were chubbs and not trout? Could explain why the lures didn't get any attention at all, or some really wise stockies.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by jas160

Thanks for the replies. Since I am new to the area I am just finding spots that look like they hold fish (Pohatcong Creek, Musky, ect.). I only fished the one spot yesterday because there was only 30 mins of sun left, it was raining, and I had dress shoes on to trudge through the mud. I will definitely try to pick up some flies after what I saw yesterday. I appreciate all of the information guys.

If you have a smart phone download the NJFGW pocket ranger app. It will show you the locations of places to fish for trout along the streams and rivers. Also check out http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/accesscnty.htm