Raritan river shad and trout 4/17/17:

[AndyS]

Gotta early start and banged around the ribber, not fiishin'. Headed up to Duke Island Park and talked to 2 guys there. One guy said he released 6 caught on "the cheese" and another guy released a few and had a nice 17"er on the stringer.
Met up with the Rutgers peeps and got in the water by da laddah. The 4 of us casted our arms off and I was able to score one on the UL. Each year I am amazed at the size of these fish and how hard they fight. The American Shad we PIT tagged was like 2 feet long and musta gone 6lbs easy. We grinded it out for a few more hours, nothing.
Still had some time so I shot up to Duke Island Park and got 3 rainbows in short order. Nothing just below the shale flats, fish were holding in the slower deeper water further down. One was photo worthy. Hoping for a SMB so I could get the RR Tri-fecta. Love fishing that big water, NO RIVER TOO LARGE !!

Disclaimer: I was able to target American Shad on the Raritan river ONLY because I was with the Rutgers crew involved in PIT tagging. There is a moratorium on targeting shad on the Raritan river due to low numbers. If you want to help during the day during the week they will be pulling the seine net and rod and reel fishing for shad and river herring.
IMO- you wanna catch shad, go to the BIG D !

[thmyorke1]

So how do you *not* target shad? Use larger hooks? I'd think other species like trout need those smaller hooks.

Good report, sounds like another fun day on the Raritan. You suggest wading near the ladder section? I know you can't get too close to it in person.

[Chrisper4694]

saweeeeeet!

[AndyS]

Not targeting shad means no tackle like flutter spoons or shad darts. I caught one on a 3/32 black marabou jig one year.
Wading is tough no matter where you go on the river.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Not targeting shad means no tackle like flutter spoons or shad darts. I caught one on a 3/32 black marabou jig one year.
Wading is tough no matter where you go on the river.

I could actually handle the east end of Duke island park, you know where those flats are that grow vegetation in the summer.

It got rough trying to get on the other side however. Probably is now with the water higher.

All depends how heavy the current is + if the bottom is flat and even. And the ladder seemed the opposite for 50 yards

[kcritch]

Sounds like a nice day you had there Capt. Cool stuff.