South Branch Advise

All about trout fishing in the great Garden State!
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coaltrout
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by coaltrout » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:29 am

I recognize that run in the third pic. Good spot for smallmouth too.

Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:35 am

Your rite about small mouths being there in the summer months. That 3rd pic had a small dam there at 1 time. A small part of the foundation still exists there. Smallies hang there all the time
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Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:42 am

Image
caught this little guy there
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njcatchrelease
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by njcatchrelease » Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am

Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:12 am
Im fortunate to find alot of these remotes spots as I traveled down from Clinton SBR all the way down to Dukes Island main stem on kayak and fished all of them. Marked alot of them gps to return on foot to fish them again :D
That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
Tight Lines

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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am

njcatchrelease wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:12 am
Im fortunate to find alot of these remotes spots as I traveled down from Clinton SBR all the way down to Dukes Island main stem on kayak and fished all of them. Marked alot of them gps to return on foot to fish them again :D
That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
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njcatchrelease
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by njcatchrelease » Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:04 am

Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am
njcatchrelease wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:12 am
Im fortunate to find alot of these remotes spots as I traveled down from Clinton SBR all the way down to Dukes Island main stem on kayak and fished all of them. Marked alot of them gps to return on foot to fish them again :D
That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
That sounds great, I'll be doing that paddle this year.
Tight Lines

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Rusty Spinner
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Rusty Spinner » Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:31 pm

Drossi wrote:
Thu Jan 03, 2019 5:54 pm
BillSmith wrote:
Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:40 am
Plenty of great water well below the KLG and Clinton.
I don't for the life of me understand the hard one people have for KLG. It's pretty but not remote, its most often crowded, the fish are pounded into submission. There's more than a handful of jerks whether they are sporting fly tackle or spin gear that make it less than enjoyable for the others whether they are sporting fly tackle or spin gear. As stated there is plenty of under fished good water not named KLG.

KLG just gives the disgruntled something to complain about.
It's one of the most scenic river (not smaller stream) areas in the state. That along with so much big pocket water is the draw. The overhead shade and the once stately hemlocks that remain add to the ambience. Agreed that it is over-hyped and over-fished, but it is worthy of some effort just for the scenery IMO.
"A sinking fly is closer to Hell" - Unknown

Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:58 pm

njcatchrelease wrote:
Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:04 am
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am
njcatchrelease wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am


That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
That sounds great, I'll be doing that paddle this year.
Pm if your interested in paddling it together. Company is always welcome on the river.
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BiggerThomas
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by BiggerThomas » Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:05 am

Speaking of the Raritan and kayaks, I have been thinking about launching from Donaldson Park in Highland Park and kayaking (or, yakking, perhaps? It is the latter half of the Raritan after all :lol: ) down to Perth Amboy where the river enters the Bay. Anyone ever do this section of it?
"Most anglers spend their lives in making rules for trout, and trout spend theirs in breaking them."

-From Letters to Young Fly-Fishers, (1926) Sir George Aston,

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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by robtf » Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:48 pm

be prepared for stripers, at least in the spring :D
----

living in the land of clammies

Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:31 pm

robtf wrote:
Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:48 pm
be prepared for stripers, at least in the spring :D
That will be the best part of the trip there :) :)
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BillSmith
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by BillSmith » Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:04 am

NOW is the time to drive around, do your scouting, look into permits for launching etc. You can launch at Boyd Park, Donaldson Park, Edison Boat Basin launch and Sayerville. Don't forget about the South River also. We catch these in Bound Brook in the spring on the Raritan river.
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Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:12 pm

BillSmith wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:04 am
NOW is the time to drive around, do your scouting, look into permits for launching etc. You can launch at Boyd Park, Donaldson Park, Edison Boat Basin launch and Sayerville. Don't forget about the South River also. We catch these in Bound Brook in the spring on the Raritan river.
That spot is very productive ;)
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lightenup
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by lightenup » Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:49 pm

Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am
njcatchrelease wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:12 am
Im fortunate to find alot of these remotes spots as I traveled down from Clinton SBR all the way down to Dukes Island main stem on kayak and fished all of them. Marked alot of them gps to return on foot to fish them again :D
That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
Help me out here..The Rte. 31 bridge in Clinton is above the Clinton falls? By that new Hotel, or did you launch under the rte 78 Bridge, or the old rte. 22 bridge below the falls?

Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:34 pm

lightenup wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:49 pm
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am
njcatchrelease wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:18 am


That is exactly what I was thinking of doing this year. How was the trip via kayak? Any issues? Where did you put in and take out at?
I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
Help me out here..The Rte. 31 bridge in Clinton is above the Clinton falls? By that new Hotel, or did you launch under the rte 78 Bridge, or the old rte. 22 bridge below the falls?
It was the 2nd bridge after the falls. I thought that was RT31 :?: . You mite be rite about being the old RT 22 bridge. Its on the same rd as krausers
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lightenup
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by lightenup » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:17 pm

Troutman wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:34 pm
lightenup wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:49 pm
Troutman wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:32 am


I launched under Rt31 bridge in Clinton. I took out before the headgates dam Bridgewater. Very nice paddle in between. Soooo many spots in between to fish without other fisherman in sight.
Help me out here..The Rte. 31 bridge in Clinton is above the Clinton falls? By that new Hotel, or did you launch under the rte 78 Bridge, or the old rte. 22 bridge below the falls?
It was the 2nd bridge after the falls. I thought that was RT31 :?: . You mite be rite about being the old RT 22 bridge. Its on the same rd as krausers
Yes, that is ole Rte. 22..I grew up about 8 houses up the road...I could wade that part of the river blindfolded. :D

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Rusty Spinner
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Rusty Spinner » Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:51 pm

lightenup wrote:
Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:17 pm
Troutman wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:34 pm
lightenup wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:49 pm

Help me out here..The Rte. 31 bridge in Clinton is above the Clinton falls? By that new Hotel, or did you launch under the rte 78 Bridge, or the old rte. 22 bridge below the falls?
It was the 2nd bridge after the falls. I thought that was RT31 :?: . You mite be rite about being the old RT 22 bridge. Its on the same rd as krausers
Yes, that is ole Rte. 22..I grew up about 8 houses up the road...I could wade that part of the river blindfolded. :D
Boy, you're a homebody aren't you? :)
"A sinking fly is closer to Hell" - Unknown

Troutman
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by Troutman » Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:39 pm

lightenup wrote:
Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:17 pm
Troutman wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:34 pm
lightenup wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:49 pm

Help me out here..The Rte. 31 bridge in Clinton is above the Clinton falls? By that new Hotel, or did you launch under the rte 78 Bridge, or the old rte. 22 bridge below the falls?
It was the 2nd bridge after the falls. I thought that was RT31 :?: . You mite be rite about being the old RT 22 bridge. Its on the same rd as krausers
Yes, that is ole Rte. 22..I grew up about 8 houses up the road...I could wade that part of the river blindfolded. :D
Nicee fishing spot. But gets pounded by the chain & bucket guys during stocking season :(
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lightenup
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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by lightenup » Sat Jan 12, 2019 1:13 pm

Rusty Spinner wrote:
Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:51 pm
lightenup wrote:
Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:17 pm
Troutman wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:34 pm

It was the 2nd bridge after the falls. I thought that was RT31 :?: . You mite be rite about being the old RT 22 bridge. Its on the same rd as krausers
Yes, that is ole Rte. 22..I grew up about 8 houses up the road...I could wade that part of the river blindfolded. :D
Boy, you're a homebody aren't you? :)
Haha, I haven'e fished there in years, but the river also hasn't changed much there...I remember on the bank opposite the Amoco gas station, was where I killed my last trout on purpose. This was before I became a snooty fly only guy. I was fishing fatheads, got a hit, and reeled in half a fathead...put a new one on and pow, I caught a 16 inch Brookie that fought like a wild animal. I killed it, took it home and cut it open, full fins, pink flesh..it was a wild fish. I was 15 years old and never felt so guilty in my life as I let it freezer burn..last trout I ever killed on purpose....that was 33 years ago....

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Re: South Branch Advise

Post by rollcast » Mon Jan 14, 2019 6:48 am

lightenup wrote:
Sat Jan 12, 2019 1:13 pm
last trout I ever killed on purpose....that was 33 years ago....
Not trout, but...

The last fish I almost killed, I took two bluegills out of the canal many years ago. Walked the fifteen minutes to the car, drove ten minutes home and put them in a bucket filled with water while I took a shower. Fifteen minutes later I went out to clean and gut them, they were swimming around in the bucket! I felt so guilty that I drove back to the same place I caught them and let them go.

I never purposely killed a fish since, That was almost forty years ago.

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