Garden State Trout

I went to my favorite NJ WTS on Saturday and was greeted by about 15 yards of large fallen trees including a hemlock with about a 3 foot diameter trunk halfway down my usual trail. I had to crawl and lift myself thrugh the barrier for 15 minutes. Howeer, the fishing was excellent with some surpising insect activity. I caught every trout but one using a variety of sizes and colors of Len Wrights Fluttering Caddis dry fly. Most of the brookies were in the smallish 5 inch or less range with one about 7 inches. The non-brookie wild trout were substantially larger and I landed five very strong fish all 10 inch plus. But then I had to crawl my way out through the path and by that time I was one big cramp. I did well limping and fishing downstream and called it a day when I got to my car. Dozens of little trout and few nice adults and my spirits were high as I struggled to remove my wading boots. Too late for Advil when I got home but a sure remedy was to sit outside with my feet up and enjoy a good scotch and maduro cigar. Too much winter inactvity!

Where I fished Sunday was similar! Those snow storms did a numbers on the tree but those who press on will be rewarded. Nothing wrong with keeping some on the lazier people away!

Yes - I did not see another person and it was a Saturday.

The downed trees are a real PITA. I don't mind when they're in the stream but most of the damned things are on the trials.

The storms put a hurting on the trees. Minus going around the trees its a great day you had there