Garden State Trout

I have not been able to fish for 2 years but I was wondering how the wild trout have come along on the C&R stretch of the BFB.

NJpatbee wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:02 pm

I have not been able to fish for 2 years but I was wondering how the wild trout have come along on the C&R stretch of the BFB.

Pat, they are catching a fair number more of brookies, but no increase and possibly a decrease in wild browns which I see as a positive. But not sure if electro fishing has been done but will ask.

Thanks Brian! Glad to hear brookies doing well how are doing well

NJpatbee wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 07, 2025 4:09 pm

Thanks Brian! Glad to hear brookies doing well how are doing well

I'm hanging in there. Turned the big 6-0 a couple weeks ago and beat prostate cancer, but all normal for us "old guys". Hope you are well, Pat!

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:46 pm

NJpatbee wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:02 pm

I have not been able to fish for 2 years but I was wondering how the wild trout have come along on the C&R stretch of the BFB.

Pat, they are catching a fair number more of brookies, but no increase and possibly a decrease in wild browns which I see as a positive. But not sure if electro fishing has been done but will ask.

That is good to hear. I know around one of tribs above 206 there were always wild brookies. I found them by accident one year and they were there for years, but have not checked in some time. It would be great if brookies could flourish in that river. I never understood what was holding it back. The water was always clean an cold. I always wondered if it was the stocking.

joe_panella wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 15, 2025 10:05 am

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:46 pm

NJpatbee wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:02 pm

I have not been able to fish for 2 years but I was wondering how the wild trout have come along on the C&R stretch of the BFB.

Pat, they are catching a fair number more of brookies, but no increase and possibly a decrease in wild browns which I see as a positive. But not sure if electro fishing has been done but will ask.

That is good to hear. I know around one of tribs above 206 there were always wild brookies. I found them by accident one year and they were there for years, but have not checked in some time. It would be great if brookies could flourish in that river. I never understood what was holding it back. The water was always clean an cold. I always wondered if it was the stocking.

I've often wondered the same, although I keep coming back to otters. No other NJ river sees as many otters as the Flatbrook. Go up there in winter with snow on the ground and all you see up and down that river are otter slides. They can decimate a localized trout population before moving on. Otherwise, the river has great hatches and should have a lot more wild trout, browns or brookies.

I agree with otters, also GBHs. I see many more of them on the FB than other rivers in NJ. Three years ago on the FB I watched four otters hunting and catching fish for at least 15 minutes before they moved on.

A number of years ago there was a study done on the FB to determine why the holdover and wild trout population was low. I believe the outcome of the study was predation.