Expanding my home range

[kindanewbie77]

So I've cleared it with my wife...Friday is the day that I can get out for the first time this year. Was thinking about going to Van Campens Brook, but have never been there. Firstly, where is the best spot to access, and secondly, as I have been skunked every time I have gone this winter, what sort of water should I be fishing, I know it is an obvious sort of question, but I just cant seem to dial it in for winter fishing and find myself getting very discouraged....any and all help or insight is appreciated!

 

[Bamboozle]

Kindanewbie:

This time of year I let the fish tell me where to fish. In other words I work the likely AND unlikely spots with a fly I have confidence in until I get results and then I skip all of the spots that look similar to the unproductive ones. Deeper holes sometimes pay off but usually for me it's the holes with some water moving a bit faster like at the heads or tails of the really slow pools. Many times I do best in the deeper riffles or deep channels. You really have to experiment. Fish during the warmest part of the day which is usually midday to early afternoon and don't expect to see a lot of fish activity.

VCB is a small stream but the ideal place to catch a few trout this time of year. If I was you I would try bead-head nymphs under a small indicator, casting upstream to all likely spots. I'm not talking about bottom dredging but rather an indicator placement that keeps the fly just above the bottom. You'll be surprised how stupid those wild trout can be when they're hungry.

As far as the "best" access I have no idea. I have only fished it in the Delaware Water Gap National Rec Area along Route 606/Old Mine Road although that was a while ago.

Good luck!

 

[JeffK]

The most popular lots are by the gorge section which are both on Old Mine Rd. There is a lower gorge lot near the creek and an upper gorge lot with a bit of a hike in. The gorge is beautiful, but also hard used. Can try below the gorge for less pressured fish.

Can also park at Watergate where a few decent holes are or at Millbrook Village which is the access to the whole upper section of the stream.

I would also suggest small beadheads - PT or GRHE should do the trick. Generally I like indicators, but if the water is clear and at the falls which are hard fished I would try going without an indicator to avoid spooking the fish.

 

[kindanewbie77]

Thanks for the insight. I have been using beadheads all winter, in various sizes, usually not with an indicator, but maybe that's why I've had shitty luck...who knows? At any rate, I am home tomorrow, so I plan to scope out that area with my daughter in her backpack...hopefully the snow doesn't hit while I'm out. The weather for Friday is cold, cold, cold so I might be postponing the trip we shall see!

 

[DAG_NJFISHING]

...I have been skunked every time I have gone this winter, what sort of water should I be fishing, I know it is an obvious sort of question, but I just cant seem to dial it in for winter fishing and find myself getting very discouraged....any and all help or insight is appreciated!

I have also been fishing this winter for the first time and started fishing this past summer been skunked may times. Hit the KLG upper section three times and caught a sucker, and had a couple of trout on for a couple of seconds, I have also hit the Musky TCA and have caught one fish each of the two outings I have gone, and I find that even though I have not caught many fish the ones I caught I owe a lot of gratitude to the guys/girls that I see fishing during the winter months. I approach them introduce myself and tell them I'm new to fly fishing and they are great, they tell me the best nymphs to use for the river, what are the best spots in the river to fish. One guy, actually gave me a two hour guide of the Musky teaching me some techniques.

So my best advice is make friends and have conversations in the river, and you will learn a lot from all the experience fly fisherman/women out there during the winter.

 

[Ryan R]

So I've cleared it with my wife...Friday is the day that I can get out for the first time this year. Was thinking about going to Van Campens Brook, but have never been there. Firstly, where is the best spot to access, and secondly, as I have been skunked every time I have gone this winter, what sort of water should I be fishing, I know it is an obvious sort of question, but I just cant seem to dial it in for winter fishing and find myself getting very discouraged....any and all help or insight is appreciated!

VCB is basically all within the Delaware Water Gap Nat'l Rec Area and therefore it's 100% publicly accessible. To fish it successfully, I'd suggest you plan to hike and cover water. Hiking up into the watershed is have the fun of fishing these mountain streams. It's pretty easily accessible from the lower end, along Old Mine Road, upstream to Millbrook Village. Upstream of Millbrook the stream moves away from any roads and just requires hiking up thru the mountain to fish. Fishing it on a weekday can be a treat. It's a nice stream to fish with gorgeous scenery, especially for NJ. Dunnfield Creek is another nearby option, accessible at the Water Gap lot for Dunnfield Trail and the AT.

If you're the type that's skittish of black bears, winter is your time to fish the VCB. Very little chance of an encounter then, however during Spring and Summer you've got an awesome chance. Another thing to be aware of is the timber rattlesnake, which is found in that area. Though I have yet to see one anywhere for that matter (probably just jinxed myself.) When hiking just be sure to peek over to check the other side of deadfalls, logs, and big rocks before stepping over them. As long as you don't surprise them by putting your foot right in their face like that, they'll warn you of their presence as you approach. Again, in winter snakes are not really something to be overly concerned with.

 

[kindanewbie77]

I actually made it up there today to do a little pre-game recon. I find that when I hit a new spot for the first time I spend more time trying to find it, and less time fishing. So I loaded my daughter in the car and drove up there! We hiked for about an hour, and saw some fishy waters, so heres hoping that the weather holds out for my trip...

 

[AKSkim]

I actually made it up there today to do a little pre-game recon.

Did you take any photos of the creek?

 

[kindanewbie77]

Yeah I did, but the flippin camera died halfway through the walk...not really pictures that will show any holes, more pictures of ice formations and the like...it will be charged and ready for my return visit!

 

[AKSkim]

Ok, I'll give you a pass this time.

But take a lesson from BRK TRT, he shoots photos of the stream, you don't have to give up the honey holes, but it is nice to look at the stream never-the-less.

 

[kindanewbie77]

Mea culpa ! I know BRK TRT does a fantastic job with posts, and the food pics...well that is the icing on the cake! I don't subscribe to the not sharing honey holes theory...I'll tell anyone where I fish and post pics of the spots too, makes no difference to me at all. I give you my word, there will be pics after the trip!