2011, freshwater year in review:

[Lard Almighty]

For me the highs were very high, and the lows were very low. I did get a PB channel cat and brown trout, and experienced both the best bass fishing day of my life at Lake Champlain, and the best trout fishing day of my life on the West Branch (made all the better by being in the company of my dad).

Then there was the float trip down the West Branch where we followed a band of mud down river and caught nothing. Followed by the fishing trip to Lake Champlain that was over before we even took a cast, thanks to our guide skipping town two days before.

Good or bad, I could never complain about the company. The year kicked off right with the NJF Opening Day at Duke Island (I only wish the fish had been notified). Catfish Night Out was another classic, with beer and ball-busting being flung around faster than the chicken livers. I traded trout tips with shucker when we busted up on some small-water trout in the spring. Then there were the epic hikes with Doug Vitale as we tried to unlock the mysteries of the Manasquan River (it's a mudhole; mystery solved ). Andy and Wilson were great company at the West Branch, and we all put a hurting on some big West Branch browns.

Even when the fishing wasn't so good, the smiles never faded. I can only hope to be so lucky next year. Here's to another memorable year of freshwater fishing.

[fishermanv]

I wish I could have gotten out more this season but we were able to check out some different waters like the mudhole manasaquan and hockhockson. Son caught his first rainbow trout. The early months were tough.. I'd come on here and see Lard catching early season fish and go out and get the skunk! Also enjoy following CatfishOnTheLake's daily adventures.. Got some great advice in PM's from the member's here. All in all, didn't get out as much as I wanted but was enjoyable.

[lunkertaker]

I always have a great time fresh water fishing! Caught a lot, missed a lot of bites, and missed a lot of trips I wish I could have taken.

Am at the mercy of every other weekend and vacation days due to work schedules of my wife. My luck this year seemed on the side of nature: too windy, too cold, too hot, raining, hurricane, snow storm. All these on the days I had to go fishing...CRAP! Not making excuses, just I need a better break in 2012.

Greatest Memories in 2011 for me...as always, fishing the pads at Farrington Lake and Assunpink for LMB (and of course the ever present freshwater bluefish), Man I always do well with these!

Goals for 2012...Fish more often on my boat and try a few new spots that I have heard of but not fished before.

[Skunk City]

Overall, I'd say I had a pretty good fishing "season" this year. Fished a lot of new bodies of water and set some new personal bests. Here's a few of my better catches, starting from my first fish of the year, a trout on a wacky rigged senko lol.

[shucker]

I had a pretty good year,I usually fish the salt but took to the fresh this year and learned allot.

[jmurr711]

horrible for bass, insanely great for carp!

[bunker dunker]

i was a great year in the sweet water.lots of fish and fun.the night bite on the lake was epic with lots of eyes and stripes.the spring crappies were awsome as were the perch.the shad were think in the river with quite a few
double digit days.glad everyone had a fun and safe 2011,now lets givem hell in '12.

[Moz]

I had a very good year, I managed to get out quite a bit and fish waters out of state and country. I caught a lot of nice LMB this summer, I had a nice streak of catching LMB at 2 LBS or more every time I went out between July and August.

Highlights were my second GoldenTrout out of RVR which was my first tagged fish.
My biggest ever LMB down in Florida.
My biggest LMB in NJ out of the swimming lake at RVR
My first pickeral also out of the swimming lake at RVR
My biggest perch caught in Sweden this past summer.
All fish with the exception of the perch were released.