Hatches in NJ?

[JeffK]

When I read the comment that there are no hatches in NJ, sadly I had to reluctantly somewhat agree. 8 to 10 years ago that was not the case. The sulphur hatches on all the local rivers were excellent. The sulphur spinners still form clouds, but, the hatches don't seem as good. Generally I don't think much of the Hendrickson hatch, but, one day when I was teaching my daughter to fly fish on the Muskie she caught 10 fish in an hour on Hendricksons; that's a hatch! That same year we hit great hatches of October caddis that were a true size 10. Finally, when driving home from the Pequest on July or August evenings 7 years ago I had to wash my winshield from all the smashed caddis and may flies. I am hoping that the drop off in hatches is due to the droughts over the past years (in 2002 the Muskie was over 80 degrees for 100 days). However, development in the headwaters of the Musky and South Branch has quickened with added siltation and thermal pollution, a new sewer plant is located in Long Valley (over the past two weeks fellow TU members have noted turds three separate times in the river in Long Valley; DEP is investigating), and malls are popping up every day. Lets hope these trends can be reversed; regulations mean nothing without clean water. At least I spent the day at the Connetquot were the usual Gazillion fish were biting in beats 16-13, 10-9, and 27 and higher. Even caught one at 8, which is usually poor for me.