Rahway river

[liamhunter]

Hey,

was just wondering if anyone has ever fished the rahway river. I have heard it holds a substantial amount of wild trout. I have cought about 3 wild rainbows there in about the 3-6 inch range. Just wondering if anyone ever fishes it thanks.

 

[MR.MCR]

I guess the first question I would ask and please forgive me if I sound rude but 1. Do you know what trout look like ??? 2. Do you know you were fishing in the Rahway and maybe have your rivers mixed up ?? 3. show us some pics........ I would venture a guess and say wild trout havent been in the Rahway for over 100 years........there is the possibility of holdover stocked trout.......this would of course be very exciting news if you can prove your case.........

 

[coolkyle]

I wouldn't doubt it, you would be amazed where you can find wild rainbows.

 

[Randyflycaster]

I read that it was stocked, but when I posted a question about fishing the river (in the park) I was told that the river was not fishable. I'm still curious, though.

Randy

 

[liamhunter]

I am positive it was wild beutiful color, perfect fins, i was fishing in millburn. the river has huge concrete walls to prevent floods. I am gonna try and go there today and have some pics. I have cought carp, rainbows, and a fish that had horns on its head. ill will definetly post pictures though.

 

[Sawkill]

The Rahway River doesn't flow through Millburn. It flows between Cranford and Rahway.

 

[liamhunter]

I am positve it does it may be a smaller stream branched off of the rahway but it is labbelled the rahway river. it is about 2-4 feet deep with a width of about 5-10 feet.

 

[MACFLY]

The Rahway River doesn't flow through Millburn. It flows between Cranford and Rahway.

I dont believe you are correct on that point. The map indicates otherwise and in fact I fished the entire river growing up in that area. There were as late as the early 90s wild fish and some holdoversin certain sections of the river. I knew a guy who lived in cranford and was going to Montana State University for his degree as a fisheries biologist who also confirmed there was wild fish. Trout are far more resilient than people realize. Would not surprise me if he caught them where he said. For sure there were wild and holdover fish in that river in the 60s and 70s in good numbers .My next door neighbor had pictures of fish caught in the summer in Rahway River park.

http://www.rahwayriver.org/images/rahway_river_watershed_map.pdf

 

[liamhunter]

Just got back from fishing the rahway in millburn. I cought 5 carp from 15-17 inches and 3 wild trout from 4-6 inches all rainbows.

 

[Sawkill]

Sorry, I stand corrected.

 

[Twism]

That would be the "west branch" of the Rahway as it comes from the Orange reservoir, Diamond Mill pond etc before flowing through Millburn and Springfield and meeting up with another branch.

Liam, a few years ago we did some electroshocking up near the reservoir and found no trout (obviously its not stocked) but also found water too warm for trout..... What was accomplished was getting F&W to stock the river itself above and below Diamond Mill pond with rainbows. I assume you were fishing this section? Please let me know as there are some individuals who would be very interested in this, not to mention that if these are truely wild rainbows (likely from the trout recently stocked) this can change the whole status of that river.

 

[Super]

I have a good guess as to where those trout came from. The question is, how long have they been there?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I have a good guess as to where those trout came from. The question is, how long have they been there?

Judging from their small size, since last spawning season. If they are wild, that would be great, but let's remember that this past summer was one of the coldest and wettest on record so trout not only survived but may have successfully reproduced this past year with the juvenile surviving through the summer until now. Don't expect that every year. This may have been an anomaly. But it bears checking further!

 

[MR.MCR]

.......mistake

 

[Rusty Spinner]

.......mistake

??? What, rainbows or the river itself? Just curious...

 

[MR.MCR]

I messed up a post and had to delete it thats all.......

 

[baccala]

Liamhunter,
I am curious are talking about behind the Papermill or down river by E willow? When did you catch wild trout? I have caught bass down river but never trout. By the way I believe I learned to tie flies in the school you go to now.

 

[liamhunter]

Behind the paper mill and farther down but all in millburn.

 

[baccala]

When? This fall.

 

[Super]

Liamhunter,
I am curious are talking about behind the Papermill or down river by E willow? When did you catch wild trout?

Don't assume that they're wild.

 

[baccala]

Super,
What makes you say that? Do you know something we don't.

 

[Stonefly]

Don't assume that they're wild.

If they are rainbow trout and only 4 to 6 inches they would have to be willd as the state only stocks 9 inches and better. And they would grow over the summer not srink.

 

[Super]

If they are rainbow trout and only 4 to 6 inches they would have to be willd as the state only stocks 9 inches and better. And they would grow over the summer not srink.

I don't know...

 

[Twism]

They may have not even been trout. Without pictures of the fish and the stream that both contain a matching time stamp there is no way to be certain his claims are true. Im not saying he is lying but maybe just mistaken.

 

[baccala]

Twisim,
I have reason to believe him. Second party confirmation. PM me and I will explain.

Baccala

 

[brdhntr]

I have also fished the Rahway River from Campbell Pond in South Mountain Reservation down to just before Interstate 78. I have caught more than one rainbow in the size range indicated by LiamHunter. Unless the State is stocking fish less than 9" that would seem to be an indication that they are wild as I have seen others take much larger rainbows out of this stretch of the river.

 

[Stonefly]

I don't know...

I help the state stock and have been stocking both fall and spring, they don't stock parr or fingerlyings (some excess fry does go into lakes, nothing the size of those claimed are stocked in streams or rivers.

If you have some pictures bring them to the Fall Fisheries Forum this Saturday at the Hackettstown Hatchery.

 

[RONNIE Z]

They use to stock Taylor park for the kids.

 

[Stonefly]

They use to stock Taylor park for the kids.

Yes with standard size 9 inch or better stockies

 

[MR.MCR]

sounds like a good mystery but still no pics. to prove the case........if they are there my guess is someone took stocking of parr upon themselves to try to get some holdover fish in this location...........