South Branch Of the Raritan River

[randyg]

I have gone out trout fishing every year since I could remember with my father, not only on the opening day but also on Tuesday's stockings and every weekend in April, May, and some of June. We usually fish the stretch behind the old lipton tea factory before The Falls. I have seen drastic changes in the fishing over the years. For instance when I was younger, we got there at 4 am and were met by a handful of other guys and we all ran to get equipment at our favorite spots. In those days you caught your limit in about an hour or two of fishing. In the last 5 years we have gotten to the hole to see nobody around. We would fish for 3 hours with one rainbow to show for it. With that said, I have seen a big increase in productivity later in the year like in mid to late May. I was wondering if anybody else has seen this and if anyone has an explanation. I know major storms can wash them down a ways and muddy water can be difficult to fish but this hasn't been the case all the years because I talk to other guys who fish the same day with the same conditions and do well.

I am not saying that I have to catch fish to enjoy fishing. In all honesty, I'll probably still go to this same spot simply because it's in complete privacy and allows for a relaxing experience.

Has anyone else seen this trend of fishing?

[AndyS]

Allocation Changes
Spring trout allocations are calculated annually using a computerized database. Individual allocations may differ from previous years if there is a change associated with the waterbody (such as a fishing regulation change, or a new or dropped stocking point). Newer technology (GIS mapping) is now being used to update our trout-stocked waters database so this year there are more changes than usual. The most significant changes are described below, and an overview of the trout allocation methodology appears on page 6 in the Freshwater Digest.

The miles of stocked water for eight trout-stocked streams was adjusted (stocking points dropped, and/or mileage recalculated) resulting in changes to their allocation. Using GIS, the mileage was re-calculated on six waters, resulting in allocation increases for Beaver Brook (Hunterdon Co.), Clove Brook, Honey Run, Wallkill River, and the S/B Raritan River, and a decrease for Beaver Brook (Warren Co.). Several stocking points were eliminated on the N/B Metedeconk River (vicinity of Rt. 9) and Pequest River (upstream of Rt. 46), which reduced the stocking mileage and, in turn, their allocations

I don't know if any of this helps but I found it on the F&G website.