south branch below clinton

[springman]

Has anyone tried any of the stretches 1 mile or so below clinton recently? I was up there during fall stocking and it appears to me that they only stocked the SB High Bridge and above. Normally I would see trout in my regular spring holes but had not noticed any in those stretches and I am not sure they holdover that low. someone told me it might be too hot down below high bridge for trout to survive the summer. compartively every spot I stopped on the musky was loaded with large trout. Not sure where they put them on the SB.

 

[flyI4]

I wouldnt spend much time down there, yeah there a few down there ,but there is alot more productive water not far from there so why waste your time. There are a few ponds from dams upstream that cause the water to warm up alot during the summer months. Also, the crowd down there is largely put and take, most of the fish never stand a chance.

 

[MR.MCR]

Lake solitude a fish sauna/ hot tub..........

 

[springman]

it's loaded with fish down there in the spring and i do see more bait fisherman than fly fisherman but that doesn't mean I'm going to avoid it. there are days when I'll bet that flies will outfish bait any day of the week. I see trout sitting there hitting no worms or anything but I know they're in feeding lies so it must be flies.

though nothing beats powerbait when the fish aren't hitting flies. I'm moving more into fly fishing because it's just so damn easy on bait sometimes, I will not forgo an opportunity to catch fish on a trip just because i don't want to use what's working. with that said my goal is to learn how to catch these fish off flies and I've already done so in NJ so i can hopefully only get better at it.

there is nothing like fooling a fish on a fly and fighting one a fly rod!

I wouldnt spend much time down there, yeah there a few down there ,but there is alot more productive water not far from there so why waste your time. There are a few ponds from dams upstream that cause the water to warm up alot during the summer months. Also, the crowd down there is largely put and take, most of the fish never stand a chance.

 

[BIGBOW]

though nothing beats powerbait when the fish aren't hitting flies.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.. easy sister. Look where you are before posting lines like that. You're able to get yourself tarred and feathered in these here parts!! There's a fly for every occasion, unless they're just not biting. Go feed that powerbait to a turtle and get with the program man.

P.S. There are a small handfull of holes for holdovers south of Clinton, but not many at all. There are stretches that shouldnt be over looked come spring. I see more people at the Gorge than other areas south of Clinton and sometimes the fishing is MUCH more productive.

 

[springman]

I understand loud and clear bigbow.

the reason i'm getting into fly fishing is for the challenge certainly and i know for a fact there are times on streams when only being a bait fisherman has killed me. my first every NJ trout landed on a fly was 20" this summer in a honey hole i found above clinton and the hole was loaded with other fish i lost before i got lucky with that one all off a simple hare's ear. i've seen of the choicest schools of trout in vermont streams and they ignored any bait which was all i had at the time. i know they potentially (more like probably) they would be fooled by a well presented fly. also fly fishing with egg imitations or stoneflys is really the best way to catch steelhead/huge great lakes browns up in NY so there's no doubt fly fishing when learned can be more produtive than bait.

Until I get some lessons or just perfect my technique I will still travel with a backup plan for the non fly stretches. I am just having a problem getting the right drifts and confidence. don't worry I'll probably be further south than you guys here apparently.

 

[coolkyle]

So you use Powerbait and you're in the process of upgrading, essentially. Ain't nothin' wrong wit dat! You will be amazed the first time you find yourself getting a fish every third or tenth cast with flies while the bait guys (no offense, but really...) scratch their heads in bewilderment. It feels really good. It always feels good to do better than someone else, and it sometimes seems that this is why some of us fly fish.

 

[springman]

couldn't agree with you more. much more satisfaction on a fly rod. and i hope i can figure it out the point where i do bewilder the bait fishermen.

So you use Powerbait and you're in the process of upgrading, essentially. Ain't nothin' wrong wit dat! You will be amazed the first time you find yourself getting a fish every third or tenth cast with flies while the bait guys (no offense, but really...) scratch their heads in bewilderment. It feels really good. It always feels good to do better than someone else, and it sometimes seems that this is why some of us fly fish.

 

[tompg]

So you use Powerbait and you're in the process of upgrading, essentially. Ain't nothin' wrong wit dat! You will be amazed the first time you find yourself getting a fish every third or tenth cast with flies while the bait guys (no offense, but really...) scratch their heads in bewilderment. It feels really good. It always feels good to do better than someone else, and it sometimes seems that this is why some of us fly fish.

I had a day once on one of our NJ rivers doing very well with a #20 BWO. I was the only fly fisher at a popular spot (since ruined my the Army Corp of Engineers). I was also the only one catching anything. One of the curious spin fishers asked what I was using so I showed him and suggested trying something small that floats. He responded by pummeling the rise forms I was casting to with a giant rapalla and wondering why the fish went away. I've seen rapalla's do very well (at Hazel Bridge Pool one day) so I know they can work, but come on dude.

 

[RONNIE Z]

I fished the lower sections for years and its very productive.Most of the lower sections arent fished by to many anglers.Have fun fishing.

 

[klg neighbor]

So you use Powerbait and you're in the process of upgrading, essentially. Ain't nothin' wrong wit dat! You will be amazed the first time you find yourself getting a fish every third or tenth cast with flies while the bait guys (no offense, but really...) scratch their heads in bewilderment. It feels really good. It always feels good to do better than someone else, and it sometimes seems that this is why some of us fly fish.

Yeah, some will post harsher words for far less