Raritan Float: Eyes and Smallies

[SkillfulAngler908]

Floated about 6 miles of the lower Raritan with Gatto yesterday. The river was fairly murky but the action was steady throughout the day. A few minutes after launching I had a nice walleye follow back to the boat and turn off without a strike. No fish, but that got us pumped up for the trip. Floated about another half mile downstream to a deeper section. Fished it hard and we were just about to move on when I saw a big gold flash come and nail my bait. I set the hook and he started digging and pulling drag. Got him up towards the boat into view and it was a good 4-5lb eye. He took off again when he saw the boat and the hook came undone. Bummer, 0-2 on walleye in the first hour. Headed downstream after that and Gatto picked up a nice smallie. Shortly after that Gatto got bit close to the bank in a deep run. Saw it right after he hooked it, another big eye! Gatto fought him to the boat and I grabbed it when he got close. This one wasn't getting away, 24in 4lb. Beautiful healthy looking fish. That made the day right there. Continued on to "smallie alley" and picked up about 5-6 smallies between us within an hr or so. 2 small ones and 3 or 4 that went about 1.5lb. Headed down past the ladder to the big water and we noticed the boat started taking water, so we had to call it off early. Fun trip on an overcast, rainy day. Wish we could've put more casts in the lower section, but they're always next time. Bonus walleye pic at the end that Gatto got trolling the canal today.

[njfisherman1975]

Nice pictures...great job! Any advice on where you guys put in to float the raritan? I have not done it yer, and after checking out those pics...it has jumped to the top of the list. Any advice is appreciated...thanks!

[Moz]

Awesome on the Raritan. Great pics.

[lunkertaker]

nice fish guys way to go

[AndyS]

And I'm off all week !!! The weather may go sour and it will be enough to keep me off Merrill Creek looking for that state record brown trout.
Been hit by lightning once and that was enough. I can float bad weather, turn over the canoe on the bank and crawl under should it get really bad.
Is this report from the Delaware river, are you sure it's the Raritan, the river you never see anyone fishing ?
Thanx for posting guys. It is posts like this that we can use when we talk to F&G and ask them why they completely ignore the lower Raritan river.
NJFisherman, you can put in at Duke Island Park, but be back to your car before it gets dark. Or put in at Roberts St., that is where I put in.
You can portage the falls in South Bound Brook on either side of the river.
I came up with a trick for that as I get out above the falls, tie a rope to the canoe, kick it over the falls and walk along the concrete wall with the rope and get in at the bottom.
AGAIN, thanx for the report and pics. One more float and I should be ready for a night float in June some time.

[GetANet]

Looks like a good time, can't wait to do one soon myself. Lots of spots to hit this year!!!!!

[njfisherman1975]

Andy S...I appreciate the information on the put in spots. I have not fished the raritan yet...and the pics and reports that I see from everyone is making harder and harder to ignore. I know where duke island is...and I might have to put my kayak in and make a float trip to catch some smallies and walleye.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great catch on the mighty Raritan. Good job fellas. Nice Walleye! There's no fish in the Raritan.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great catch on the mighty Raritan. Good job fellas. Nice Walleye! There's no fish in the Raritan.

[huntcountypussbuck]

Like you idea of getting around the south bound brook falls AndyS! nice fish in this report. Jealous.