Garden State Trout

On Sunday, I fly fished the Big Flatbrook no kill zone downstream of the Rt 560 bridge. With last weeks rain, the water flow and level was good. I fished upstream and downstream of Warner's Hole. I didn't catch a thing, and didn't see any trout at all. There were a bunch of anglers there, and everyone else had the same experience as me. I guess they stocked this area last week, but I couldn't find them. It was OK though. The weather was great and it was nice to be out there.

I was up there with my dog, first time I've tried fishing with him. We had a blast. Finally managed a few In a popular hole probably missed more than I stuck but it's been a while and my main goal was the dog enjoying himself. Weather was beautiful.

not sure if thia helps. im not familiar with the big flat brook.

They dont stock that area as much as their is plenty of natural producing brook trout in that area. They usually throw more stockies down from the bridge into general regulation area. the brookies was probably hiding out from the limited stockies they did throw in there thou

kype wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:03 pm

Screenshot_20221018-190144.png

not sure if thia helps. im not familiar with the big flat brook.

well this explains the lack of stockies in that area

Troutman wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:04 pm

They dont stock that area as much as their is plenty of natural producing brook trout in that area. They usually throw more stockies down from the bridge into general regulation area. the brookies was probably hiding out from the limited stockies they did throw in there thou

Which bridge are you referring to? If the Roy bridge, the area not stocked is waaaaay downstream. My understanding for not stocking that downstream section was due to the flow, it was a wild torrent of water.

cappy wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:41 pm

Troutman wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:04 pm

They dont stock that area as much as their is plenty of natural producing brook trout in that area. They usually throw more stockies down from the bridge into general regulation area. the brookies was probably hiding out from the limited stockies they did throw in there thou

Which bridge are you referring to? If the Roy bridge, the area not stocked is waaaaay downstream. My understanding for not stocking that downstream section was due to the flow, it was a wild torrent of water.

I was referring to roy bridge when they fall stock. I heard it was flowing pretty heavy last week or so when the residual hurricane came thru

The entire river system was flowing heavy, went from 30 cfs to 1000 overnight down at the gauge.

cappy wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:40 am

The entire river system was flowing heavy, went from 30 cfs to 1000 overnight down at the gauge.

Too bad they couldn't have safely stocked it then, at 1000 cfs those fish would have spread way out. Would have made for even better holdover fishery.

Drossi wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 20, 2022 1:25 pm

cappy wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 20, 2022 2:40 am

The entire river system was flowing heavy, went from 30 cfs to 1000 overnight down at the gauge.

Too bad they couldn't have safely stocked it then, at 1000 cfs those fish would have spread way out. Would have made for even better holdover fishery.

I don't think hatchery fish would have survived in that torrent. Stream bred, even holdovers know where to go as the stream level and flow rises, fish straight out of the hatchery, no way. In the upper sections where they did stock they are spread out, every fisherman I spoke with said they are far and few in between. Speaking for myself I had to work for the fish I caught, and they all took naturals. I don't fish Weners' - LOL I had an egg pattern on top with a soft hackle or small GRHE on the bottom.