Wow, a month and no posts here?!?!!? I admit I've been fishing, but not taking time to post. I've had aball in the small treams running accross some surprisingly large LM in local streams. That withstanding the bream have been hitting and are in full color. I only regret that I have not been taking photos. I'll have to do that and hope I have not missed the best of the season. I tried out the Delaware near Prallsville for smallmouth. One small one about 11" and a nicwe robin big enough to take a size 4 sneeky peete!!!!!!!! Got a pic of those. Anyway can'r wait to get out and if anyone is doing the same I look to some posts and pics........... I think this week I'll try the Delaware agin and probably the millstone. The Millstone inrigues me. Anyone else fish the carnegie to Blackwell mills stretch ....... fly of course.
Give us a try!
Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!
Warm water
- Thread starter DJ
- Start date
B
Bevans
Guest
Well, here's one coming an entire month after your post as well. Guess this section hasn't gotten off the ground so well yet. I had been in Michigan, where the fishing for both smallmouth and trout was excellent. Since getting back, I've gone looking for smallmouth in some areas local to me (Hopewell) on three occassions. Each time, I've gotten a few very small ones (6-8 inches only) along with many, many sunnies.
I've not fished the Millstone, though I stopped right at Blackwell Mills on the way home from work the other day. I had thought I'd take a few casts below the waterfall, but to my amazement another fly fisherman was already there. I watched for about 10 minutes, and he didn't catch anything. Was it you, by chance???
Another place that I think might be interesting right around there is the pond on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) property, which was recently opened up as public green space. It's a catch & release only pond that, thanks to some big fountains, has not gotten all mucked up. Again, I've only caught sunnies and small, smallmouth there, but I think it has potential.
My next trip is going to be to the Delaware near Lambertville, if you'd like to meet up.
I've been wondering about the small size of the bass. Having not fly-rodded for smallmouth before, nor fished any of these areas, I'm a bit perplexed. I've not caught or seen anything of size. My bet is one of two things: either the places I'm fishing, especially the small streams, got hit very hard by last year's draught, which may have killed off bigger fish. Or, the rain has washed so much bait into the water that the bass just aren't interested in anything else (spiders, hoppers, or even woolly buggers). Any thoughts there?
I've not fished the Millstone, though I stopped right at Blackwell Mills on the way home from work the other day. I had thought I'd take a few casts below the waterfall, but to my amazement another fly fisherman was already there. I watched for about 10 minutes, and he didn't catch anything. Was it you, by chance???
Another place that I think might be interesting right around there is the pond on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) property, which was recently opened up as public green space. It's a catch & release only pond that, thanks to some big fountains, has not gotten all mucked up. Again, I've only caught sunnies and small, smallmouth there, but I think it has potential.
My next trip is going to be to the Delaware near Lambertville, if you'd like to meet up.
I've been wondering about the small size of the bass. Having not fly-rodded for smallmouth before, nor fished any of these areas, I'm a bit perplexed. I've not caught or seen anything of size. My bet is one of two things: either the places I'm fishing, especially the small streams, got hit very hard by last year's draught, which may have killed off bigger fish. Or, the rain has washed so much bait into the water that the bass just aren't interested in anything else (spiders, hoppers, or even woolly buggers). Any thoughts there?
DaveR
Combat Fly Fisherman
I've been out a bit on the South Branch near Neshanic Station. Hooked up with a 3lb smallie a few weeks back on a black leech bunny strip #6. Much of the time the water has been too high and muddy to really get any good fishing in. As a result, I've been spending more time on some of the smaller trout streams and tribs where the water clears out sooner.
I drive the Millstone every day on my way to work - from Rocky Hill to Griggstown and it's looking pretty muddy today!
Hopefully the next few weeks will bring some drier weather.
I drive the Millstone every day on my way to work - from Rocky Hill to Griggstown and it's looking pretty muddy today!
Hopefully the next few weeks will bring some drier weather.
Bevans,
I do beleive it was me you saw!!!! I was fishing there below the last time it was clear, just before a rain hit! I was trying to tie on a muddler and I saw someone standing on the bridge watching for awhile. Of course just after you left I caught my first fish! I caught about 3 or 4 largemouth on a sive 4 muddler. I then caught some bream. the last cast I got a monster strike but didn't hook up. I would definitely meet you on the delaware especially around lambertville because I have heard about that area, but I don't know how to get good access near the wing dams!!! I too am loooking for some decent fish. the guy at the tackle store in hopewell told me that wing dam is where the smallie actions heats up down through titusville. I have been in prallville. Also where in hopewell are you finding them? I frequent the stony brook and all I catch are rock bass, crappie, robins, green bream an occasional blue gill and of late some VERY nice largemouth if you know where to look. got three in two hours over 15 inches on a 6wt!!!!!! The millstone has them, it's just been ugly! I am trying to get to the Delaware or Southbranch EARLY Saturday!
I do beleive it was me you saw!!!! I was fishing there below the last time it was clear, just before a rain hit! I was trying to tie on a muddler and I saw someone standing on the bridge watching for awhile. Of course just after you left I caught my first fish! I caught about 3 or 4 largemouth on a sive 4 muddler. I then caught some bream. the last cast I got a monster strike but didn't hook up. I would definitely meet you on the delaware especially around lambertville because I have heard about that area, but I don't know how to get good access near the wing dams!!! I too am loooking for some decent fish. the guy at the tackle store in hopewell told me that wing dam is where the smallie actions heats up down through titusville. I have been in prallville. Also where in hopewell are you finding them? I frequent the stony brook and all I catch are rock bass, crappie, robins, green bream an occasional blue gill and of late some VERY nice largemouth if you know where to look. got three in two hours over 15 inches on a 6wt!!!!!! The millstone has them, it's just been ugly! I am trying to get to the Delaware or Southbranch EARLY Saturday!
DaveR
Combat Fly Fisherman
Thanks for the invite...I'd definitely join you guys for some fishing. I've actually got some private access to a part of the south branch between hillsborough and branchburg. My neighbor owns 200 acres of farmland right up against the river and lets me use it for access. The land runs about 1/4 mile or so along the river and almost no one fishes it. The pool is pretty deep and the fishing is good. You need to wet wade though because I'm up to my chest a lot in water there as I move around.
The rest of August is pretty crazy for me, but I'll be free after Sept 7th. Let's stay in touch and plan some time to fish, even if it's after work one evening.
Regards,
Dave
The rest of August is pretty crazy for me, but I'll be free after Sept 7th. Let's stay in touch and plan some time to fish, even if it's after work one evening.
Regards,
Dave
B
Bevans
Guest
I'd be happy to meet up Saturday morning for some fishing in Lambertville (and, at some other date, would be really interested in the SBranch too.... thanks for that invite). I don't know the area to speak of: Dave B, another regular on this site who knows that area like the back of his hand, was kind enough to show me around one evening last June. But I haven't been back there since then. Would love to try it, & because of the flows would be happy to try it with someone else. It would have to be early though; I'd need to leave by around 9:30 to get back for family things during the day. Want to meet at around 6 AM at the wingdam?
Brad
Brad
Brad,
I don't know how to get to the wing dam so lets meet at a landmark like the starbucks just accross the bridge (addict) or give me directions to the dam and I'll be there. 6 AM is lovely as I need to leave about that time for family stuff as well. I drive over the river everyday I'll keep you up on it. As of this morning is was a little high.....
I don't know how to get to the wing dam so lets meet at a landmark like the starbucks just accross the bridge (addict) or give me directions to the dam and I'll be there. 6 AM is lovely as I need to leave about that time for family stuff as well. I drive over the river everyday I'll keep you up on it. As of this morning is was a little high.....
B
Bevans
Guest
DJ,
To get to the Lambertville wing dam, turn in at Lambertville Station, which is on the left just before the bridge to New Hope. Stay to the left thru the parking lot, you'll parallel the canal for approx. 350 yards to a dirt parking area between the canal and a treatment plant. From there it's about a 150 yard walk along the biking path to the wing dam. When I was there with David B., we were looking for stripers and fished off the wingdam itself. My impression was that the water flow was just too intense there to fish with a flyrod (it sounds like Niagara Falls), but back in from there and along the shore should be great. I might bring a lightweight spinning rod too, however, as I think it might be easier for prospecting. I'll check in again before Saturday to see if we're a go. You could also email me at bevans@rci.rutgers.edu.
brad
To get to the Lambertville wing dam, turn in at Lambertville Station, which is on the left just before the bridge to New Hope. Stay to the left thru the parking lot, you'll parallel the canal for approx. 350 yards to a dirt parking area between the canal and a treatment plant. From there it's about a 150 yard walk along the biking path to the wing dam. When I was there with David B., we were looking for stripers and fished off the wingdam itself. My impression was that the water flow was just too intense there to fish with a flyrod (it sounds like Niagara Falls), but back in from there and along the shore should be great. I might bring a lightweight spinning rod too, however, as I think it might be easier for prospecting. I'll check in again before Saturday to see if we're a go. You could also email me at bevans@rci.rutgers.edu.
brad
Empty Creel
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
Guys:
I wouldn't mind joining up with you too... I'm out of Lawrenceville and I like going after smallies in the Delaware too but I'll be out of action until September. If anyone's up for it, I'd even suggest a float trip on the stretch just north of Bull's Island. There's some good water up there that I've waded in, but I wouldn't mind doing some exploration to help me hone in on specific areas and maybe make that river less BIG.
I wouldn't mind joining up with you too... I'm out of Lawrenceville and I like going after smallies in the Delaware too but I'll be out of action until September. If anyone's up for it, I'd even suggest a float trip on the stretch just north of Bull's Island. There's some good water up there that I've waded in, but I wouldn't mind doing some exploration to help me hone in on specific areas and maybe make that river less BIG.
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