Musky....which end to fish?

[boom2it]

I have never been out to either the Musky or the SBR, but an thinking of venturing over tomorrow or the next day. I have been researching maps and threads to try and figure out where to go, but without actually going out getting lost and searching, I could look at google all day and still not figure it out where best to start. I am in Bergen County and will most likely start from Rt80 and head south along 57 following the musky from there. I guess my questions are, how is the Musky broken up? There is the stretch below Hackettstown, Beatyestown I believe that is supposed to be very good. Then there is a Gorge area? and then the area below the Finesville Dam? I would rather not end up driving more then fishing, any ideas or pointers would be much appreciated.
Another good question, if you had your choice and were going to try the SBR or the Musky for the first time, is one better then the other? By better, is one river more accessible, more scenic, more bugs, more fish? etc etc etc....

Not looking for that secret stash, just some good accessible spots. There is a conservation area also correct? Is that a C&R area? Are there any "Catch and Release only" areas along these rivers, or NJ for that matter? If not there should be.
Thank you

 

[Stonefly]

Both ends and the middle.

 

[jamiep]

Both ends and the middle.

Wow Funny guy

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Where to start? Both rivers have lots of wild and holdover trout in addition to the recent fall stockers. The Musky is the ONLY river in NJ right now with decent flows and that is only because they are lowering Lake Hopatcong 5 feet to allow homeowners to repair boat docks this year (every 5 years). The upper Musky that you would hit from rt. 80 is pretty much seasonal water and most of the trout you will find there right now were just stocked the other week. The middle and lower river are colder due to the limestone influences and fish better year round. That limestone also adds important aquatic insects such as scuds. On average, the Musky has more biomass of aquatic insects, but that doesn't mean it "fishes better" than the SBR which is a classic freestoner. On both rivers the state owns lots of accessible land along the rivers for angling. Check out the NJ F&W website under "Wildlife Management Areas" (WMA) for PDF maps of these locations. There is also township and county owned lands and State Parks lands (on the Musky) as well as individual landowners that allow access.

Currently NJ has no C&R only trout streams although I agree that our state should be doing more towards conservation of our trout. Both rivers have Trout Conservation Areas (TCA). The Musky currently has one (Pt. Mountain) and the SBR has two (Ken Lockwood Gorge and Claremont). As for hatches at this time of year, you aren't likely to run into much - at least from a dry fly standpoint although it might happen. Try nymphs and streamers in the fall and winter months unless you find some Baetis or midges hatching. Good luck

 

[BIGBOW]

Rusty's the go to person for this river and I'd have to agree with all he mentioned. I'd hit the TCA or WMA, as you'll find more accessible and open areas and all are beautiful. As far as flies, I love the PT or HE with a scud dropper combo.. gives you a good chance of a take. Might want to swing some streamers and buggers too. Let us know how you do. I might venture out there this weekend myself. Good luck.

 

[Bubba Zinetti]

The Musky is probably my favorite place to fish. There is so much water, and so few crowds. The TCA at Point Mt. Bridge is a good starting place. If you fish is hard you can do it in about 2-4 hours. Last year, a gentleman on the TristateTrout website (could've been Rusty, I'll have to check) gave me a few spots to check out. All of them have been place I have fished and enjoyed.

This time of year there really aren't crowds, the cold keeps 'em away.

 

[Stonefly]

Really good holding water on state land just below the Finesville Dam. I helped stock some real good size rainbows the other week. Also the state land below the Bloomsbury Dam. As Brain said check out the WMA on the state site for these areas.

 

[RobM1981]

Hi,
Where is the state land below the Bloomsbury dam? I know that dam well, but don't know how to access that stretch of river without walking across someone's lawn (which I don't do).

Where can you park and get access?

Thanks!

 

[JeffK]

The WMA land is actually about a mile or so downstream. Turn right by the deli (forget the name of the street) and keep going straight on the dirt road when the paved road goes to the left and becomes Milford Rd, There is a dirt lot on the left just before you get to private land.

A fair number of people have been fishing the Point Mtn TCA, but there are plenty of fish and it is a beautiful place to go. I have been seeing much less pressure just up or down in the open water.

If you are heading on Rte 80 the quickest spot is probably taking 46 West at exit 26. The Musky crosses Rte 46 at the Pump House restaurant 10 miles or so from Rte 80. Park there and see the dam removal site - plenty of fish are hidden in the pocket water. For upstream sites, cross the Muskie and make a hard right at the first light onto Willow Grove St - it's just 100 yds or so from the river. Just past the hospital is Stephens State park which is pretty and well stocked. Back on Willow Grove the next right turn is the upper end of Stephens State park and a short ways up where a concrete drive angles off is the Saxton Falls Dam.

For the lower river, from the Pump House turn back east on Rte 46 and make a right at the first light onto East Ave. Then make a left at the tee on Mountain Ave and another right on Rte 57 west towards Washington and Phillipsburg. Rte 57 follows the river down to Point Mountain Rd at the lower end of the Point Mountain TCA. Anywhere you see the river and it looks good you can park and fish.

Going downstream from Point Mtn is slightly more complicated - but is still easy. Basically between Asbury the lower end of Asbury (can fish below the dam in town) and the Rte 78 bridge it is private club water. Just upstream of the bridge in Butlers Park is another posted property. However, the rest of the river all the way to the Delaware is generally friendly to anglers.

 

[Ryan R]

Hi,
Where is the state land below the Bloomsbury dam? I know that dam well, but don't know how to access that stretch of river without walking across someone's lawn (which I don't do).

Where can you park and get access?

Thanks!

You should really visit the Division's website, they have pretty good directions for all the access sites on our rivers and streams and the Musky has some extensive access listed. The state land below Bloomsbury dam is off Willow Street in Bloomsbury I believe. The directions will even describe landmarks, etc. other than street names (some of these places are accessed by nothing more than an unmarked dirt lane) to look for.

I searched it yesterday to make sure I could drive down an old farmer's field road to access the river (it even described precisely where to turn into the field at a billboard). I did have to click a couple pages past the original fishing access site to find exactly what I was looking for but it was there and only took me a minute to find what I wanted and then some.

 

[RobM1981]

Got to the site, but can't find the Bloomsbury area. Can you post a link? I'd send this private, so as to not look dumb, but I figure might as well share the question...

 

[boom2it]

Decided it was to windy today, and would be fighting leaves all day.
Looking forward to trying some of the areas mentioned.
Thank you very much for all the input
Gene

 

[onemorecast]

Decided it was to windy today, and would be fighting leaves all day.

You will be fighting leaves for weeks. Just go!

 

[Jheaney]

i had a chance to get out yesterday, and hit the Musky, Rick i happen to hook one of those pigs you dropped in , with the high water , he took all of my floating line , 100 + into my backing though i was steelhead fishing , Prince Nymphs where the ticket from about 2pm on the fish where all over it , fished by tri county fire off 57 and had the river to my self .there s plenty of leave s but the rewards are worth the effort . again kudos to the state and the volunteers , and who changed the food at the hatchery i would like to buy them dinner ! these fish are super! I wish we could get flows like this in the summer time .does any buddy know when they are going to stop releasing water ?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I wish we could get flows like this in the summer time .does any buddy know when they are going to stop releasing water ?

I forgot to ask Helen Maurella from Parks how far down the lake is when I saw her at a mtg. last night, but I know a week ago they were only down about halfway. If it rains a lot on Sat/Sun then it will take them longer. If not, these flows will diminish in about 2 or 3 more weeks from what I can gather. I'll find out more when I'm back early next week and try to post something here.

 

[Ryan R]

Got to the site, but can't find the Bloomsbury area. Can you post a link? I'd send this private, so as to not look dumb, but I figure might as well share the question...

Here you go, hope this works for you http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/accesswater.htm

If not you can get there in about 3 clicks from the DFW homepage. From the home page on the sidebar menu go to Fishing, on the dropdown menu click Places to Fish, then click Streams and Rivers Page, near the end of the paragrapho on that page, click on either waters listed by county or alphabetically. I clicked alphabetically and then scrolled right down to Musconetcong River and Bloomsbury is right there along with several others. It appears not all the access sites and directions are listed on just one quick page. I think that might have to do with the fact that the various public accesses throughout are not all under the same program. But they're all fairly easily found with a little hunting and clicking.

When you're actually along the river look for the small, white with green-lettering diamond-shaped placards on either trees or telephone poles along the river. That inidicates DFW-owned land you can use to access. On the Hunterdon County side of the river look for larger yellow, diamond-shaped placards on trees or utility poles- these inidicate County Park land or Public Nature Preserve land you can also use to access the river.

And of course the stocking signs tend to indicate water that is publicly accessible, even if it's privately-owned. That's not a guarantee of access but the state is only supposed to stock and place those sign on properties that allow public access to the water. A very small number of a-hole landowners in the past, throughout the state, have allowed the state to stock water on the landowner's property with an understanding from the ladnower he/she will allow the public to access the water only to have the landowner put up a posted sign after the state stocks it! Personally, I haven't run into it on the Musky but it did happen on Beaver Brook at the 519 bridge in White Township. The state no longer stocks there as a result of being burned (I also sent a friggin' email alerting the state after I saw the posted sign go up over the stocking sign after it was stocked.)