Ken Lockwood Gorge

[Matt D]

I have not been seeing many posts about trout anymore but for anyone interested to gorge is still producing nicely. I took a drive there yesterday around 1 in the afternoon. It was a hot day however the fish were still very active. I stated with F-3 Rapalas and spinners and did not have much success. I had a couple following my lure but they would not take it. I switched to a small 1/64 ounce jig and immediately had some action. In the next four hours i caught 9 browns, 5 rainbows, 3 brooks. All fish but one 16.5 inch rainbow were released to catch again another day. The key for me yesterday was fishing the jigs slow through faster deeper water, and when the fishing slowed change the jig color. I would have had some more pictures but my phone died quickly after i arrived at the gorge.

[AndyS]

1/64th is just right for in there. Probably the most heavily stocked stretch of water in New Jersey. I'll hit in up in November, till then nice catchin' !!
Did the no kill go into effect yet for that area, and the BFB ?

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Did the no kill go into effect yet for that area, and the BFB ?

Not sure exactly what you mean. The signs that are posted in the gorge allow 1 fish over 15 inches except from March 18 to April 6. I personally prefer not to keep trout from the gorge because it is beautiful in there and want to keep all the trout in there, however the one rainbow i kept was caught in heavy current which made the fight long. The fish was very tired and instead of him possibly dying and being wasted, he was a great meal.

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by Matt D

Not sure exactly what you mean. The signs that are posted in the gorge allow 1 fish over 15 inches except from March 18 to April 6.

The changes are just proposed, and would not go into effect until the 2014-2015 season. Here are the two things that Andy is talking about:

The proposed amendments to the 2014-2015 Fish Code will include the following:

• A change to the trout fishing regulations for the Big Flat Brook (Sussex Co.), from the Rt. 206 bridge downstream to the Roy bridge, to Catch & Release Only - Artificial Lures Only.
• A change to the trout fishing regulations for the Ken Lockwood Gorge section (Hunterdon Co.) of the South Branch Raritan River, to Catch & Release Only - Artificial Lures Only.

You can read more about the rest of the proposed changes at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/news/...de_changes.htm.

You can read about the process that NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife uses to adopt these changes at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/codechange.htm.

If you like/dislike the changes, here is the schedule for the NJ Fish and Game council meetings: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fgcnclmtg.htm

[cmoran719]

thanks for the report! good to know it is still so active. Were many people fishing there?

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by cmoran719

thanks for the report! good to know it is still so active. Were many people fishing there?

There were only about 5 - 10 cars in the parking area when i was there. However that was a monday from about 1pm to 5pm. On weekends its still pretty crowded though.