Sad to say that the year is finished for camping.
I pulled the camper up the hill from where it stays all Spring, Summer and Fall down by the Pine creek. The winter weather is too wet/Snowy to leave your camper down for fear of flooding. so yet another year is over.
This Summer was very dry and I did not go to the camp much at all after the middle of June, and when the rain finally fell it was way into Sept already. Back in July three inches of rain fell and the fishing was good for about 3 days and that was all., other than that it was dry.
When they said rain was coming in the last week of Sept I went out and found fish then a near flood! rain total was 2.61 for the 29th. And it rained again Mon and Tues nights this week so the water was up and the fishing was spotty, but got a few and one at 18 1/2 inches about three pounds., all Browns, all in the camp. These fish are spawning now like the the Brook trout and the Rainbows, and ALL should be returned to the creek so they can get on with the spawn!
I am looking forward to next year and hope that it will be more like last year 09, the wettest in many years. The wettest month believe it or not was August 5.90 inches fell.The fish were able to stay put and that made it the best year Ive had yet on the Pine creek! I hope it happens again!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
North central region trip oct 1st
I went out to the camp the last week of Sept and found the water VERY LOW as I had expected. Generally after the middle of June the water levels are low on the Pine creek, but this year its lower than Ive seen it in years.
The weather channel has said that rain is on its way, they were not kidding! Between weds and thurs the area got almost three inchs of rain according to the reports, but I think we got more as the creek came up almost to my camper. I had the truck backed right up to the trailer and was ready to pull out if the creek came up any more, but at 9 oclock thurs nite the creek crested and I could relax.
In the days prior to that I did fish the upper section of the Pine with a few fish here and there and one at 17 or so that shook off right at my feet, the very next cast I was clobbered by a very heavy trout that bit right through 2x tippet swimming off with my Zonker and leaving me feeling like Chief Brody in Jaws when he saw the shark for the first time "I gotta get bigger tippet" at least fluorocarbon 2x anyway. I gave it 24 hours and went back the next evening but they were havin none of it. oh well I,ll get another chance at that fish as nobodys out fishing now that its bow season.
Now is the time for big trout and they want big stuff like size 4 zonkers,clousers mudlers and such. An egg sucking leach is not at all a bad idea as these trout are spawning now. You can bet I,ll be back at that pool next trip out, and I,ll be ready THIS TIME!
The weather channel has said that rain is on its way, they were not kidding! Between weds and thurs the area got almost three inchs of rain according to the reports, but I think we got more as the creek came up almost to my camper. I had the truck backed right up to the trailer and was ready to pull out if the creek came up any more, but at 9 oclock thurs nite the creek crested and I could relax.
In the days prior to that I did fish the upper section of the Pine with a few fish here and there and one at 17 or so that shook off right at my feet, the very next cast I was clobbered by a very heavy trout that bit right through 2x tippet swimming off with my Zonker and leaving me feeling like Chief Brody in Jaws when he saw the shark for the first time "I gotta get bigger tippet" at least fluorocarbon 2x anyway. I gave it 24 hours and went back the next evening but they were havin none of it. oh well I,ll get another chance at that fish as nobodys out fishing now that its bow season.
Now is the time for big trout and they want big stuff like size 4 zonkers,clousers mudlers and such. An egg sucking leach is not at all a bad idea as these trout are spawning now. You can bet I,ll be back at that pool next trip out, and I,ll be ready THIS TIME!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Friday Sept 17th
I had a class to teach for four guys new to Fly Fishing. When they scheduled it they asked if they could learn casting where they could catch a trout,
Usually I would bring beginners to a pond or a lake where it is wide open so they wont have any thing in their way while they learn casting but thought, I know a spot on the south branch of the raritan river they could cast from and that place has a lot of trout! and can be good fishing.
. They bought new stocking foot waders for this class and did not know that they needed boots as well, so when we met up at the river they had these waders on OVER THEIR SHOES! They looked like Dr Suess characters. I told them that by the time we get from the truck to the water they will have ruined the new gear but they did not worry much about it and who could blame them. whatareyagonnado?
It had rained the night before and the river was up a little and off color a bit, And thats great for fishing streamers so thats what they all got tied on their leaders. Olive zonkers size 6. I have to say they were casting pretty good out the gate and even got a bite or two here and there. When I would take a rod from someone to show a cast, I would then show how to strip the fly back towards you in a short quick manner and hooked three trout that way, then handing the rod back saying "Here quick, your hooked up!"
these were all 10 to 12 inch trout that are stocked over the spring. They all had a good time, the class went easy and not one of my rods got broken., so I would say it was a success.
Usually I would bring beginners to a pond or a lake where it is wide open so they wont have any thing in their way while they learn casting but thought, I know a spot on the south branch of the raritan river they could cast from and that place has a lot of trout! and can be good fishing.
. They bought new stocking foot waders for this class and did not know that they needed boots as well, so when we met up at the river they had these waders on OVER THEIR SHOES! They looked like Dr Suess characters. I told them that by the time we get from the truck to the water they will have ruined the new gear but they did not worry much about it and who could blame them. whatareyagonnado?
It had rained the night before and the river was up a little and off color a bit, And thats great for fishing streamers so thats what they all got tied on their leaders. Olive zonkers size 6. I have to say they were casting pretty good out the gate and even got a bite or two here and there. When I would take a rod from someone to show a cast, I would then show how to strip the fly back towards you in a short quick manner and hooked three trout that way, then handing the rod back saying "Here quick, your hooked up!"
these were all 10 to 12 inch trout that are stocked over the spring. They all had a good time, the class went easy and not one of my rods got broken., so I would say it was a success.
Sunday june 6th trip
I took Adam W. over to the Pohopoco Creek in Parryville to fish the Damm. Here we found lots of fish working on what looked like 14 Cahills about 8:15 am and by 10:00 we caught many. then we went to a 16 tan body elk hair Caddis and caught more., just for fun i tied on a green body bead head caddis nymph and got a couple on that too., Then switched to a 16 sulfur and they took that for a while as well. Most of these Fish were Brook Trout that had been recently stocked one or two Rainbow Trout with a few Brown Trout that have been in a while and at least three of those Browns were native as we have lots of wild browns in this Creek As Adam was visiting Jim Thorpe with his wife that weekend, he said "Iv,e caught enough trout, lets stop now so I can get back sooner to be with my wife" He then said "This was the best day fly fishing Iv,e ever had in the East" That was at 2:30 pm. I wish more trips were like this one! We really hit em good!
Beach Trip, New Jersey shore, July 15th
I Have been in Manasquan NJ visiting friends this week. My best friend Carl Danish use to have a bait shop at the inlet called The Fisherman's Cove. it was the only building on the west side of third ave at the water and this was also his home.
It was so peaceful and quiet there that when I came to visit him for a few days, I never wanted to leave, and often did not! as Carl would say "stay another day whats your hurry?, STAY!" So like a good dog I would.
Back in 95 the State got control of this 90 acre piece of Heaven and turned it into a public use area for everyone. So as much as we miss the cove, at least its NOT CONDOS! Carl still lives in town and has a private slip he keeps a 13ft Boston whaler in. I keep my Johnson 25hp motor on it so I can run around in it chase Stripers all I want and not worry that I'm going to maybe have to fix his motor if something were to break. its my motor so I can beat it all I want,and nobody's worried about it. You know how borrowing things can be?, Murphy's law is STRICTLY ENFORCED!! The boat on the other hand is a TANK! So long as I keep it off the Jetties It will be fine!
From the slip its no more than a 5 min ride to the Manasquan Inlet. Unless its blowin!, I "Go outside" all the time. When you grow up "Down the Shore" as I did, you went out in the ocean with small boats as much as the Weather and your Parents would allow. Its like when people down here ask me about fishing in the Mountains, "Don,t you worry about Bears" I tell them NO! just like here you don,t worry about Sharks RIGHT?
then they gain Perspective. I can put this boat right in close to the beach and cast my 9wt all day.
Funny how The Who's Quadrophenia still makes the hairs on my arms stand up here at the beach! But at home in Jim Thorpe its not got the same affect.
I use a 350 grain sinking line and a saltwater leader and flies made with clear epoxy over them. these look like spearing, and lately I have been catching a lot of fluke off them bottom on them, but Clousers or any large Streamers will work. Just let the line sink to the bottom and slowly drag it across. ITS FUN!!
These fish are mostly "Shorts" but I release the keepers anyway. If you fish from the beach you can do just as well. However!, you MUST HAVE A STRIPPING BASKET!! otherwise the Waves take line back and forth up and down the sand at your feet, making it VERY hard to cast. Also I find it will ruin the line after some time.
These Fluke should be here for the rest of the Summer, so if you can, get to the beach and Fish, DO IT!! Its so HOT and the water is BEAUTIFUL!! Remember! SUMMER IS LIKE A FISTFUL OF SAND!
It was so peaceful and quiet there that when I came to visit him for a few days, I never wanted to leave, and often did not! as Carl would say "stay another day whats your hurry?, STAY!" So like a good dog I would.
Back in 95 the State got control of this 90 acre piece of Heaven and turned it into a public use area for everyone. So as much as we miss the cove, at least its NOT CONDOS! Carl still lives in town and has a private slip he keeps a 13ft Boston whaler in. I keep my Johnson 25hp motor on it so I can run around in it chase Stripers all I want and not worry that I'm going to maybe have to fix his motor if something were to break. its my motor so I can beat it all I want,and nobody's worried about it. You know how borrowing things can be?, Murphy's law is STRICTLY ENFORCED!! The boat on the other hand is a TANK! So long as I keep it off the Jetties It will be fine!
From the slip its no more than a 5 min ride to the Manasquan Inlet. Unless its blowin!, I "Go outside" all the time. When you grow up "Down the Shore" as I did, you went out in the ocean with small boats as much as the Weather and your Parents would allow. Its like when people down here ask me about fishing in the Mountains, "Don,t you worry about Bears" I tell them NO! just like here you don,t worry about Sharks RIGHT?
then they gain Perspective. I can put this boat right in close to the beach and cast my 9wt all day.
Funny how The Who's Quadrophenia still makes the hairs on my arms stand up here at the beach! But at home in Jim Thorpe its not got the same affect.
I use a 350 grain sinking line and a saltwater leader and flies made with clear epoxy over them. these look like spearing, and lately I have been catching a lot of fluke off them bottom on them, but Clousers or any large Streamers will work. Just let the line sink to the bottom and slowly drag it across. ITS FUN!!
These fish are mostly "Shorts" but I release the keepers anyway. If you fish from the beach you can do just as well. However!, you MUST HAVE A STRIPPING BASKET!! otherwise the Waves take line back and forth up and down the sand at your feet, making it VERY hard to cast. Also I find it will ruin the line after some time.
These Fluke should be here for the rest of the Summer, so if you can, get to the beach and Fish, DO IT!! Its so HOT and the water is BEAUTIFUL!! Remember! SUMMER IS LIKE A FISTFUL OF SAND!
Monday the 22nd of March
Yesterday I went to the KEN LOCKWOOD GORGE in CALIFON NJ. Califon is short for California!
That is what they used to call this Town. I think because of how beautiful it is!
I heard from the guys that Fish there, that they just stocked a bunch of Brook Trout, So I Fished a big white Saltwater Clouser about 4 Inchs long. This thing belongs on a 4oz Hobkins ITS HUGE FOR FRESHWATER! But they catch trout in the Spring so I fish them. I,m using my 6wt sage sp with a rio 150 dc sink tip line leader down to 1x. this I call my Commercial rod. Water temp 49 degrees. I started catching these Brookies right away and caught 9 before the rain started to fall HEAVY! then they started to go nuts for it! I caught 3 more in the heavy downpour but have to quit cause of lightning,DAMM! I really wanted to stay but to much risk of a lightning strike hitting me. I really think that this part of the south branch of the Raritan River is the best, and should be fished by everyone at least once.
That is what they used to call this Town. I think because of how beautiful it is!
I heard from the guys that Fish there, that they just stocked a bunch of Brook Trout, So I Fished a big white Saltwater Clouser about 4 Inchs long. This thing belongs on a 4oz Hobkins ITS HUGE FOR FRESHWATER! But they catch trout in the Spring so I fish them. I,m using my 6wt sage sp with a rio 150 dc sink tip line leader down to 1x. this I call my Commercial rod. Water temp 49 degrees. I started catching these Brookies right away and caught 9 before the rain started to fall HEAVY! then they started to go nuts for it! I caught 3 more in the heavy downpour but have to quit cause of lightning,DAMM! I really wanted to stay but to much risk of a lightning strike hitting me. I really think that this part of the south branch of the Raritan River is the best, and should be fished by everyone at least once.
Saturday june 19th Trip
Took three guys out to the Lehigh River up in Whitehaven and Fished where the Haye's Creek comes into the river there. Dick, Stafford, Matt and I worked the river with small Caddis in the morning with little to no action. Only saw a couple of Fish rise. Water temp 69, air temp very high and sky clear. Then I made Sandwiches for lunch around 11:30.
After eating the fish started feeding off the surface on what looked like little Midge Pupa or something very small about a size 22. I put on what I thought should work a 22 spent wing Midge. These fish were picky to say the least. I hooked and dropped one fish while taking a knot out of Matt's Flyline. We Fished until about 2:00 then went to the Mud Run at Hawk Falls. On weekends this can be very crowded, not with Fishermen but with hikers,swimmers and the like. Lots of Bikini,s to add to the scenery! Here we saw no other Fishermen and had about the same action. But I did manage to miss one and catch another on a tiny Pheasant tail Beadhead Nymph.
As Dick was new to Fly Fishing I really wanted to get him hooked up so I took them all over to the Pohopoco Creek in Parryville. Here the story was the same, slow action. We fished hard and Dick did miss fish a number of times but no hookup. with more experience he will come along fine.
After eating the fish started feeding off the surface on what looked like little Midge Pupa or something very small about a size 22. I put on what I thought should work a 22 spent wing Midge. These fish were picky to say the least. I hooked and dropped one fish while taking a knot out of Matt's Flyline. We Fished until about 2:00 then went to the Mud Run at Hawk Falls. On weekends this can be very crowded, not with Fishermen but with hikers,swimmers and the like. Lots of Bikini,s to add to the scenery! Here we saw no other Fishermen and had about the same action. But I did manage to miss one and catch another on a tiny Pheasant tail Beadhead Nymph.
As Dick was new to Fly Fishing I really wanted to get him hooked up so I took them all over to the Pohopoco Creek in Parryville. Here the story was the same, slow action. We fished hard and Dick did miss fish a number of times but no hookup. with more experience he will come along fine.
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