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While 2009 was the big year for large wild brookies in NJ freestoners there are still a few 'leftovers' lurking around out there. This one was a measured 17"! Caught using a supervisor streamer in the very headwaters (above impassible falls) of a small freestoner (that is not stocked, never has been and where the trout/char have been recognized as original/heritage/indigenous strain).
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...g?t=1290639475
That is a nice brookie. 17" is a real trophy. Always nice when you catch one in a stream that you know is untouched from stocking.
New Jersey represent! I got this 17" brookie last summer in a local spring creek here in Jersey. Although I doubt that he was a wild fish, brookies haven't been stocked in this creek for a few years now. He's been in there for at least 2.
[smg id=965]
BTW, he took a size 10 Lopat's Latex Larva.
That's a giant brook trout for NJ!
I got to get a NJ license!
I'll take you anytime Frank. As a thank you for all the business you gave me.
Justin
Congrats. Impressive. Even here in PA there are less and less places that you could find beauties like that. It took me almost 2 years to break over 11" when I was on the Brookie hunt.
Nice fish! I have a few Guesses where that one came from...
[quote author=Walshmiko link=topic=5023.msg38930#msg38930 date=1291813182]
Nice fish! I have a few Guesses where that one came from...
[/quote]
Maybe but...I don't think so. I know the first guesses from most would be: VCB, DC, ect. No indigenous (purely) brookies in those and, no brookies of that size. The stream (and several others with brookies approaching that size) is on the NJ DEP surface water C-1 list shown as "Un-named trib of...". I'm NOT trying to sound/be arrogant or condescending ,just sayin'...
As several here undoubably know 2009 was a banner or 'once in century' year for wild brookies in NJ and PA. Streams that ordinarily never contain fish (brookies) over 10" produced 14" fish (in 2009 I caught more over 14" than EVER and it's not because I'm a better fisherman, now). Despite this dry summer some large specimens survived as this was not the only big one fo rme. Though I released it I doubt it'll make it through the winter (not enough forage in a small freestoner for a fish like it to recover body fat). Also, notice how OLD the fish it! Eh, hopefully it got to spawn one last time and pass on those genes!