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Spawning Trout, what to use......??

Werloc

Werloc

Don't Know Nothin Yet
I noticed that the only ones catching the few places I fished the passed week and a half are the spinner guys. These fish are spawning and I can see them sometimes in pairs in the redds. They aren't feeding, just hitting anything big enough to "threaten" their redds. My wife broke out her spinning rig and caught 3 yesterday. I worked these redds the same way on my fly rod with up to a #10 woolybugger (biggest fly I had) and was bumping them in the nose. We normally practice C&R, but my wife has never caUght trout before, so yesterday was her first. I let her keep 2. I told her since she strayed from the fly rod (I was pissed), and since this place is loaded with spin casters that catch and keep, our released fish will just end up on someones else's dinner plate anyway. So, that being said, when I cleaned these fish, their stomach's were empty, and both males and loaded with sperm. Looks like they're just protecting their redds for now.


OK, my question is (since I'm new to Fall trout on a fly rod): When will these fish start feeding normally.? What should I be using (if anything) now on the fly rod to catch these puppies until then.? These are stockies from the 12th.

Sorry guys. Her very first. I know, you don't have to say it...:(
 
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It is not ethical to fish redds. Just my two cents.

To catch spawning trout, use what is most prevelant in the water. Eggs. Run beads, 6mm or 8mm if you're fishing inland trout. Run them under an indie. You might be very surprised at your success rate. Stay away from globugs, they have a higher mortality rate and are worse for the fish than a bead.
 
Why spawning fish don’t eat that much during the spawning period. If you had 3,000 eggs pushing against your stomach would you feel hungry? And if you were the male fish, eating too much would just make you constipated. Humans are quite different in this regard, we get that problem out of the way in a hurry, usually in less than 8 minutes, and the female eats like a hog for the next 9 months and the male just goes fishing and golfing more than usual. I can not find a spawing fish, so I don't have to worry what to use.
 
If your talking about small native trout let them do their thing and stop fishing for them...If your talking about NJ state stocked fish you can go ahead and catch them when spawning since they don't reproduce anything... If your having a hard time catching them with a size #14-16 nymph.. Drop down to a size #20-22 midge. I find it that they like more natural looking flies they are accustom to eating all day , So I fish small nymphs/ midges when seeing them paired up and that does the trick for me...
 
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Some of you aren't really reading "all" of my post. Yes, these "Are" Stocked trout. Yes, I have used small nymphs & scuds, (hare's ear, pheasant tail, prince, no midge's though) but the ONLY thing they took were the large flashy stuff only used by spin casters. I saw this and that's why the wife went to get her spinning rod. So I tried using the biggest fly I had after everything else which was a #10 WB. I just refuse to use a spinning rod anymore, period. BUT, I would like to catch some trout. Since we started fly fishing about 6 months ago, all we caught where sunnies and bass. A shit load, but if it ain't a trout, it don't count (for me..;)).

How long will they be in spawning faze...?
 
A hard season to get into trout fishing and be successfull.. However, just keep at it...

I am assuming the gorge is a drive for you? At this point, you may need to go there. There are TONS AND TONS of fish in the gorge. Right now, fishing is superb. Small nymphs, bwo's are the ticket now, or big white ZONKERS for fresh fish.

Oh , did I mention 6 or 7x too? :)
 
Fish the big ugly stuff. Zonkers are a good way to go. Or go into a fly shop and just buy the most ridiculous looking streamer. Just go barbless just in case and you can still have fun. If you think its native, then yea leave it alone, but you are saying they are stockies so have at it. If you are into tying PM me, I have a lot of funky streamers that are good for this situation. As simms said, the gorge fishes well now on streamers. If its sunny/warmer, dead drift it, or jig it as it bounces off the bottom and you should do very well How did those fish taste btw? Ive never kept one in NJ.
 
Simms said:
A hard season to get into trout fishing and be successfull.. However, just keep at it...

I am assuming the gorge is a drive for you? At this point, you may need to go there. There are TONS AND TONS of fish in the gorge. Right now, fishing is superb. Small nymphs, bwo's are the ticket now, or big white ZONKERS for fresh fish.

Oh , did I mention 6 or 7x too? :)
Click to expand...

Simms,
Nope, the Gorge is about 30 minutes from me. Not to bad if I have more than a few hours to fish. I fish the Musky up in the general area anyway. While up there, I'll just shoot up 513 to the Gorge. Thanks...;)

The places I'm talking about are local, and less than 10 minutes from my house (S/B & N/B Raritan). Just loaded with catch and keep spin casting guys. These places will have no trout left in about a month or two...:crap:

Thanks guys for all your replies. I'll just have to load up on more flies. Maybe tonight I'll post a pics of my fly boxes so you can see what I have. I have a lot of flies that I don't no the names of yet. Like I said, new to this so I'm just trying to learn. IF I catch 1 trout on my fly rod this Fall, I'll be a very happy camper. Caught a ton of small mouth bass all Summer long, but they aren't a challange. I have some flies that are from my Dad going back when he tied them about 27 years ago.:)
 
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If these are fall stockies I doubt they are trying to spawn. It doesn't work
anyway. Fall fishing for holdovers and wilds is a little tougher. I mostly fall
fish just to get out and enjoy the days before I put the rod away for winter.
 
GARYB said:
If these are fall stockies I doubt they are trying to spawn. It doesn't work
anyway. Fall fishing for holdovers and wilds is a little tougher. I mostly fall
fish just to get out and enjoy the days before I put the rod away for winter.
Click to expand...

Well, I highly doubt these are wild or holdovers since the water temps this Summer were as high as 77 f (I'm there weekly, bass fishing) on my stream thermometer, and this wasn't the week we had over 100 f air temps. Plus this is a HEAVELY Fished area. This spot (a few redds) is 100 yards down stream from the bridge where they stocked 36 nets of 15 (average) fish per net on Tues 10-12. I was there watching them stock. These fish have cliped tail fins (top & bottom) and are from 14" to 18" in size. I also talked to them and was told most will be spawning since the one stocking guy was getting sperm baths on his boots. I know they do not reproduce since they are not fertile (From what I was told). This river is only 2 or 3 miles (dead give away) long, and is "heavely" stocked and fished. There is a nice big paved parking lot for fishing access only. If you want videos or pics of the fish in the redds, I'll try to take and post them. I'll be there later today, and all weekend. I can walk as close as about 6' away before they're spooked off. But they come right back as soon as you back away.
 
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Even though suckers spawn in the Spring, for egg pattern type fishing - I think Sucker Spawn flies are a magic bullet. Check the pics below for examples.

SuckerSpawn1.jpg
SuckerSpawncream.jpg (I prefer the types where you don't see much of a 'body' - just jis!)
For attracting the same type of behavior you're seeing with spinners - I've concentrated on stripping zonker types of streamers or wet flies with faster and shorter strips. I think it's the action that's attracting their attention. Kinda like trying to hit LM Bass when they're guarding the nest. They aint looking to eat - just trying to keep you away.
 
Werloc said:
. This spot (a few redds) is 100 yards down stream from the bridge where they stocked 36 nets of 15 (average) fish per net on Tues 10-12. I was there watching them stock. .
Click to expand...

Dude...36 nets of fish??? I seen them stock only 5 nets in popular spots.. and 1-2 nets at other locations on the Musky...
How did this spot you talk of get 36 nets??? Please tell me the spot..LOL
 
"a nice big paved parking lot for fishing access only" sounds like the Pequest to me. If they had just pushed the 150 pigs from the spillway into the river, as I suggested to the stocking crew, and put those 36 nets somewhere else the rivers would have been more balanced out. I think most of the fish went into the ponds and lakes anyway.
 
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Simms said:
Oh , did I mention 6 or 7x too? :)
Click to expand...

Wow, you fish big ZONKERS on 6-7x tippet??? Your one foolish / brave man...
I only use 4-5x tippet so I don't play the fish to exhaustion and have to worry about losing my fly in him...
I also only use 6-7x when fishing for native trout or spring stockies when the water is low.. No need now....
 
highest I go on a Zonker would be 3x in my opinion. Bigger articulated streamers 2x and even down to 0x. The egg set up I like is this one. It is actually less harmful to the fish since they never swallow the hook. Snag less fish as well, and more effective on hook ups. imo
 

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Jesse James said:
"a nice big paved parking lot for fishing access only" sounds like the Pequest to me. If they had just pushed the 150 pigs from the spillway into the river, as I suggested to the stocking crew, and put those 36 nets somewhere else the rivers would have been more balanced out. I think most of the fish went into the ponds and lakes anyway.
Click to expand...

Nope, not even close to the Pequest. Your right though, all other spots got 2 to 4 nets.

This was taken later in the week at my other spot.

fishing102010_72-1.jpg
 
Jesse James... 15x36nets=540 fish in a river thats only 2-3 miles long.. Stocked on 10/12... Look at what rivers they stocked on that day with the numbers of fish allowed and you should be able to figure it all out... Good Luck
 
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Oh, I know where it is now. Thanks Steve. In a few days, after I get done building this new bamboo midge rod, we will have to try it out over there. Hope I don't trip and fall down in the river from bumping into all those trout...:)
 
Hmmm.. building another midge rod like the one I purchased off you???:hubbahubba::hubbahubba::hubbahubba::hubbahubba:
Will this one be up for sale??? :hubbahubba::hubbahubba::hubbahubba::hubbahubba:
 
Guys, our state stocked brookies are doing exactly what Werloc sees them doing - spawning right now. Some success will be had because they are fertile (not sterile as was mentioned). I was "egged" the day we stocked the Musky in the transfer truck but was not milted by the males. Just to clear that up...
 
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