camping on Horton Brook and Russell Brook

[rustyspinner]

ok I'm planning my insane "isolation-man fish camp" this year, I hope to time it for the Hendricksons.

I usually camp on the state land up on Russell Brook along the Beaverkill, which is pretty insane in early season, it can get cold and wet as hell in there, and you have to bring good wood, firestarter, (fatwood and duraflame logs!!!) and an electric fan to get a coherent fire going because it's so damp. But i know where to get some amazing hardwood that once you stoke it for half an hour, burns steadily all night.

But I love this time alone. After about 3 days of this, I become gregarious again. Saving 50.00 a night buys a lot of food and gas, but this type of camping is hard work.

I called the Ranger about Russell brook. These guys are the coolest BTW.
Apparently the road is closed just after the Russell Brook campground, and I'm pretty sure he said BOTH bridges got washed out in the last flood. But you can still acess it from the top road, and camp anywhere down to the first bridge, as long as you are 150 feet from the stream and not between the road and stream.

Which essentially means...... you have to wade the stream in a lot of places to set up. Ugh.
This changes everything, trust me. I may try to bring an extension ladder to build a foot- bridge, however! But you get some privacy.

I'm wondering if anyone has been down this road recently, and are BOTH bridges in fact gone? I think he said BOTH.

Also, has anyone camped up on the state land along Horton Brook? I'm wondering if that might be a little easier, but I know Horton Brook is a tiny stream. Then again, less crossing hassles.

Pls any heads ups, most apprec.

[bkill]

I dont know of any state land on Horton Brook..There is some state land off Dry Brook Rd, make a right at first fork about 1 mile up Horton Brook rd. I havent been up this road in a while so cant say what shape it is in...Your best bet is to camp around Russell Brook and enter from the top off Morton Hill Rd which can be accessed from Morton Hill or Tavern Rd off Rt 206 or Horse Brook Rd off Old 17. Again, I havent driven on these roads since last June so dont know what shape they are in...There is also state land off Morton Hill which you can access and camp..

You can always camp at the Covered Bridge State CG on the Upper Bkill,it isnt crowded in the early season..Not what you intended but there is always the Private Campgrounds also. Good Luck...See ya on the water..

[BIGBOW]

This is exactly where I head for a while to start my season the right way. I haven't been to the area since Novemeber, but at that time quite a few floods had rolled through already and I had to take some detours to Russell Brook. If your fishing the Beaverkill you might want to hit some of the smaller pools in Russell Brook. There are some nice trout in there if you can find them. I'm sure if you called the campground they could inform you about the bridges. Covered Bridge Campground is nice, but it sounds like you want your site to be a little more primitive. Enjoy!

[rustyspinner]

Thanks, good idea, It's usually ok until mid-may, then after memorial Day, all hell breaks loose, people firing 30-06's at beer cans, etc. I've camped at Russel many times. Please folks, if you fish this stream, put 'em back! This stream helps the wild brown pop in the BK.

I've stayed at all the campgrounds, Covered Bridge too, I just want a free camp for a couple days then I'll come down to BS and swap flies and brag, etc.

Did you know a guy from NJ was finally arrested a few years ago when they somehow proved that he shoved his wife off the waterfall at the upper lake? She fell to her death. He claimed she slipped.... The horror.

So be careful on the state land. Different scene entirely.

[flyI4]

I was up there last year and although it is true that the road is closed after a certain point you still can walk the stream somewhat easily from the remains of where the road was. Being that the road is closed, it will also mean that less people will be fishing up there to far which leaves alot of water for you to fish with likely no fisherman. Lots of brookies and browns up there although im not to sure you would want to be messing with 6-8 inch trout that time of year when 18-20 inch fish will be gorging themselves on hendriksons on the larger rivers. Goodluck it will be a good time to go

[tompg]

Hey Rusty,

Did you ever head up the mountain for this trip? I camped at the state spots several years ago and I want to go back with some of my kids. I just need to know how accessible everything is or is not. When I went years ago there was a parking area at the trail head for Trout pond and I believe mud pond. The appeal is that the camp sites are not a very long hike and there is an outhouse. My kids are girls. I am trying to figure if I can make to the site on a Friday night before dark and if multiple trips back to the car for supplies is feasible.

Thanks,

Tom

[AKSkim]

I usually camp on the state land up on Russell Brook along the Beaverkill

Hello can you please give me directions from Clinton NJ to Russell Brook.
Thank you.

[Rusty Spinner]

Hello can you please give me directions from Clinton NJ to Russell Brook.
Thank you.

AK Skim is njflyline

Does anyone care that this thread is a year and a half old??? Me neither...

[tompg]

AK Skim is njflyline

Does anyone care that this thread is a year and a half old??? Me neither...

I'm reading it 12 years later

[FIN-ITE 34]

Rusty, how did that trip work out and were BOTH bridges out?

[Rusty Spinner]

Rusty, how did that trip work out and were BOTH bridges out?

That's a different rustyspinner than me and I don't think he's posted in 12 years or so.....

[FIN-ITE 34]

That's a different rustyspinner than me and I don't think he's posted in 12 years or so.....

Well you could have made up a story to entertain us all. I wonder if his posting ceased right around the time of that camping trip?...