Pounded the trout and got a real big surprisei

[Cuz]

Decided to go trouting after being in N.C. for three weeks.
First hit the Pohatcong Creek with fair results. Kept two out of eight. Then I headed to the Musky near Bloomsbury. I was surprised to find the water high and very discolored. I almost didn't get out of my truck. But it was a long ride just to turn around. Best choice I ever made. I pounded brown trout one cast after another in the fastest dirtiest water I think I ever fished. I don't know how the trout could see my butterworms. Then my rod doubled over and a fish ran downstream 60'. After fifteen long runs in a strong current and twenty minutes later my imaginary 8 lb. trout turned out to be 4 lb. channel catfish. And on a butterworm.
This was without a doubt the best fight I ever experienced in a stream. Carp and suckers are not even close. How she got through all the dams, spillways etc. from the Delaware River is a mystery. By the way. I fished a few miles without another fisherman in sight. The fish are still there. Go get 'em.

[AndyS]

Cuz, you have to get in touch with the watershed. Knowing the South Branch clears up 1st because it drains off Budd Lake. 2nd is the North Branch which forms in the hills by Natirar, and joins up with the Lamington further down the road. The Musky at this point is raging. They are taking thousands of gallons of water out of Lake Hopatcong, that in turns flows into Lake Musconetcong and the then forms the Musconetcong river as it flows out of there.

Great report going into late June, keep going.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musconetcong_River

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Cuz, you have to get in touch with the watershed. Knowing the South Branch clears up 1st because it drains off Budd Lake. 2nd is the North Branch which forms in the hills by Natirar, and joins up with the Lamington further down the road. The Musky at this point is raging. They are taking thousands of gallons of water out of Lake Hopatcong, that in turns flows into Lake Musconetcong and the then forms the Musconetcong river as it flows out of there.

Great report going into late June, keep going.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musconetcong_River

Thanks for the update. For some reason the high fast dirty water didn't effect the trout feeding that day. Strange.
I only wish someone took a video of the fight in that kind of water the channel catfish gave me. I'll never forget it. By the way, she was full of roe. Supper next week.
We went striper fishing the next day and we slaughtered them on live bunker. So now I have striper fillets in my freezer too. See the saltwater report on this web-site. Two good weather and fishing days in a row. Freshwater and saltwater. That's the way to enjoy retirement.

[NorthJerzyG]

NICE!! Sounds like a great day out. Love catchin some channels, I just havnt given them any attention this year. Soon enough, lol...........

[NorthJerzyG]

What # test were you using? I know they pull some serious drag on light line, lol.......

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by NorthJerzyG

What # test were you using? I know they pull some serious drag on light line, lol.......

Four pound test. That's what worried me during the battle. Trilene XT.

[Doug Vitale]

Nice catfish out of the Musconetcong, Cuz!

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by Doug Vitale

Nice catfish out of the Musconetcong, Cuz!

Thanks son, for posting my pride and joy best fighting stream fish ever. How about teaching an electronically challenged old guy how to post pictures?

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Cuz

Decided to go trouting after being in N.C. for three weeks.
First hit the Pohatcong Creek with fair results. Kept two out of eight. Then I headed to the Musky near Bloomsbury. I was surprised to find the water high and very discolored. I almost didn't get out of my truck. But it was a long ride just to turn around. Best choice I ever made. I pounded brown trout one cast after another in the fastest dirtiest water I think I ever fished. I don't know how the trout could see my butterworms. Then my rod doubled over and a fish ran downstream 60'. After fifteen long runs in a strong current and twenty minutes later my imaginary 8 lb. trout turned out to be 4 lb. channel catfish. And on a butterworm.
This was without a doubt the best fight I ever experienced in a stream. Carp and suckers are not even close. How she got through all the dams, spillways etc. from the Delaware River is a mystery. By the way. I fished a few miles without another fisherman in sight. The fish are still there. Go get 'em.

I no longer target channel cats, but get a few every year here in NY state while smallmouth or walleye fishing.. They fight like a gamefish, not a "bottom fish".. Fast and agile, hard hitters, and they don't give up... A cat fights harder and faster than most trout and bass do IMHO... When I used to fish for them at night in the Susquehanna River, I used 8 or 9 foot salt water rods with #20 line.. A 10 pounder simply could not be stopped on a rod that would manhandle a big trout or bass.. they would break you off on a rock or stump every single time... Some people eat them, but they taste like swamp muck to me... I set them free... Nice catch on a little trout rod.... bob