Raritan river Rainbows and Tiger trout 11/22/17:

[AndyS]

Looooong post:

Started up by the Headgates dam just around 8am or so in the rain. Got a nice one by the dam, then moved down to the big water run below the falls. One of my favorite spots, something to be said about standing in almost chest deep water and hooking a good sized trout. Moved down below the shale flats where past years this section has given up some nice trout in November, worked it hard, nothing. Packed up and went to Robert Street. Nothing at the top of Robert street so I made my way down to where the dam was removed. Hooked a trout that went absolutely ballistic !! 2 jumps strait up into the air, thought it was a brown by the coloration, had my drag smokin' ! What a fight this little guy gave me, a Tiger trout, thing barely sat still for a photo. Had a few other solid hits here also but just couldn't connect. Packed up and went to Nevius street bridge, nailed a solid Rainbow out of one of the deep holes there.

I passed on fishing Somerville and Manville as I had fished these areas recently and caught nothing, went to the fish ladder falls. There was another angler there, first he fished off the wall then donned a pair of waders and joined me in the river. We weren't far from each other when he turned to me pale as a ghost. He said that a monster Rainbow trout followed his Rapala snapping at it right to his feet, said the fish was better than 2 feet long.
We fished and talked more. Told me of a nice brown trout he caught there as well a 27" walleye that he took home and ate, said it was one of the best tasting fish he had ever had. We talked more about the fish that followed his lure, said it had a big pink stripe but questioned that it may have been a pike, pickerel or muskie being so long. I said I think it hard for an esox to open it's mouth so wide, swim and snap at the same time because their mouths are so large, I have had trout swim and snap at lures before. We talked more and the angler was determined to catch this fish, I said if it lit up like it did you have a pretty good chance, we fished some more. Nothing came of it so I wished him luck and moved on.

Went down to the Piscataway bend, a favorite off season spot but by now the wind was howling and got leaves on every cast so I packed it in.

Had 2 eagles fly over me up at Robert St. also.

Jersey chrome ??? Time to break out the egg sacs ?? Well after all it is the Raritan river and we all know that just about ANYTHING can happen on this river

[AndyS]

and a few more ...............

[Hookmanski]

WOW! I love tiger trout, never had the privilege of catching one though. Great report Andy, I wish I had as much time to fish as you!

[thmyorke1]

DAAAAAAMN! A TIGER!!!??

Phenomenal catch!

I wonder why that cool trout was doing in the main stem?

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by AndyS

as well a 27" walleye that he took home and ate

Ugh. This is awful to hear. Keep an 18-20". Leave the big girls alone!!!!

Great post though Andy. Good to read you're getting out to fish! Gotta love the Raritan. That tiger is awesome looking.

[Eskimo]

.


Sounds like a great day.
I wonder where that Tiger Trout came from. I guess it was stocked by a private club upstream.

.

[JDTuna]

Awesome, Andy! Could be a wild tiger you got there!

[NorthJerzyG]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Ugh. This is awful to hear. Keep an 18-20". Leave the big girls alone!!!!

Great post though Andy. Good to read you're getting out to fish! Gotta love the Raritan. That tiger is awesome looking.

While I agree with you that smaller eyes would prob better eating, isn't 18" the state wide keeper size? I could be wrong cause I've never kept one??

Real nice fish here! Tiger trout is a beaut!! One I haven't caught yet!!

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by NorthJerzyG

While I agree with you that smaller eyes would prob better eating, isn't 18" the state wide keeper size? I could be wrong cause I've never kept one??

Real nice fish here! Tiger trout is a beaut!! One I haven't caught yet!!

Yea, 18" min. 3 fish.

[Mark B.]

Nice trout, Andy.

Walleye: The best tasting freshwater fish.

Occasionally, I keep one. You guys should too.

NJDF&W’s Hackettstown Hatchery can always make more.