Garden State Trout

Just starting to hear reports about early sulphurs showing on our northern trout waters. I typically target their presence by May 11 and no later than the 15th, so this is basically normal. It is one of NJ's best and longest hatches (Invarias, dorotheas and Light Cahills are the main "summer sulphurs" we have on our waters). And trout feed heavily on them, beginning with nymphs and moving to emergers and finally to duns then spinners before a given evening is over. Our Invarias are between a 14 and a 16 and the Dorotheas are usually a size 18. A size 16 covers that hatch, especially here in NJ for stocked rainbows or wild browns and brookies wherever they are found.

I hit up a WTS this morning. Yes they were hatching, not in great numbers though. No risers, however I did catch a bunch on top with an x-caddis. I didn't have Sulphers in my bag.

Before the rains drove me away last evening the caddis were busting on the Rockaway. Only sporadic risers but the wet fly takes were savage, especially on the top dropper that was dancing near the surface.

No sulphurs seen but that stream doesn't have a good sulfur hatch usually until later in the month May into June. Then it gets overtaken by the Iso's, then it gets too warm.

A few sulphurs on the Flatbrook yesterday. Some caddis and a March Brown or two

Castaline wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 11:07 am

A few sulphurs on the Flatbrook yesterday. Some caddis and a March Brown or two

I saw a few pop off last night but alas the river was hammering high and the color of weak coffee.

Drossi wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 12:23 pm

Castaline wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 11:07 am

A few sulphurs on the Flatbrook yesterday. Some caddis and a March Brown or two

I saw a few pop off last night but alas the river was hammering high and the color of weak coffee.

Nice. We need another day or two of no rain to get the freestones back to fishable levels. I haven't fished in NJ in two years, but have plans to fish the sulphur hatch on the Musky once that river drops some more.

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Thu May 15, 2025 10:18 am

Drossi wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 12:23 pm

Castaline wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 11:07 am

A few sulphurs on the Flatbrook yesterday. Some caddis and a March Brown or two

I saw a few pop off last night but alas the river was hammering high and the color of weak coffee.

Nice. We need another day or two of no rain to get the freestones back to fishable levels. I haven't fished in NJ in two years, but have plans to fish the sulphur hatch on the Musky once that river drops some more.

I was hoping to hit either the Musky or FB tomorrow morning. What do you feel is a safe flow for either?

cappy wrote: ↑

Thu May 15, 2025 11:18 am

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Thu May 15, 2025 10:18 am

Drossi wrote: ↑

Wed May 14, 2025 12:23 pm

I saw a few pop off last night but alas the river was hammering high and the color of weak coffee.

Nice. We need another day or two of no rain to get the freestones back to fishable levels. I haven't fished in NJ in two years, but have plans to fish the sulphur hatch on the Musky once that river drops some more.

I was hoping to hit either the Musky or FB tomorrow morning. What do you feel is a safe flow for either?

The Flatbrook. That river is fishable today and was most of the week, but the Musky remains well above the 400 cfs max I set for myself for that river at 558 and there's a line of storms that will hit it in about 90 minutes that looks like it could dump another inch or so of rain in a short time midday today.

Ended up fishing the FB before the storm hit. I did well with streamers.

cappy wrote: ↑

Fri May 16, 2025 3:04 pm

Ended up fishing the FB before the storm hit. I did well with streamers.

Nice! I fished the salt this weekend on a buddy's new 23' Tidewater CC for big (huge) bass before coming back inside to finish with some fluke. We also got into small, school sized blues.