Variety Village on the Musconetcong--7/31/2021

[BiggerThomas]

I'm posting this in the NJ Trout Fishing forum because, well, it's been slow, plus I had intended to catch trout in NJ when I went to the Musky today; however, it didn't really turn out that way

I had no luck nymphing (scud + hare's ear combo) so I switched to a dry fly (R. Wulff). I spent the rest of a morning catching a mix of red-breasted sunfish and shiners--all on top, so it was a blast. Cool air temps (57 this morning), blue skies, a peaceful stream, and not a soul to be seen. Pretty decent for the dirty and dense "armpit of America"

[Rusty Spinner]

Upper river above Point Mountain?

[Troutman]

looks closer to mansfield lower section

[BiggerThomas]

40°51'11.5"N 74°48'42.1"W

[Rusty Spinner]

looks closer to mansfield lower section

That's what I thought. But Mansfield is well within the upper 1/3 of the river. If we are correct in our guess of location, no surprise at no trout. That section routinely sees summer water temps exceed lethality for trout and into the low 80s. We think of Point Mountain and below as year round trout water. Above it, the remaining stockies will perish once temps get that high and any wild trout will move well up into their natal tributaries for thermal refuge.

[cappy]

The coordinates provided are in Hackettstown.

[Rusty Spinner]

The coordinates provided are in Hackettstown.

So 82 degree water then

[Troutman]

The coordinates provided are in Hackettstown.

So 82 degree water then

[BiggerThomas]

The coordinates provided are in Hackettstown.

So 82 degree water then

Hmm, that warm, eh? Maybe I don't have a leak in my waders, after all....

[Troutman]

So 82 degree water then

Hmm, that warm, eh? Maybe I don't have a leak in my waders, after all....

[Rusty Spinner]

So 82 degree water then

Hmm, that warm, eh? Maybe I don't have a leak in my waders, after all....