17" wild - and indigenous, NJ brookie

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!

Very nice fish!! funny how the brookies look a little bit different depnding upon where yyou're fishing. In the adirondacks, I think they're a bit darker.

Good job!! :)

You would be suprised what fish can handle. I have a small freestone creek near me no more than 15ft wide and knee deep where 20in Browns can be found. No rhyme or reason but they make it year after year.....

[quote author=Esopus Guy link=topic=5023.msg38972#msg38972 date=1291984224]
You would be suprised what fish can handle. I have a small freestone creek near me no more than 15ft wide and knee deep where 20in Browns can be found. No rhyme or reason but they make it year after year.....
[/quote]

Yep. I don't like surprises but, this kind is OK. 25 years ago I would have kept the fish with one of the reasons being noone would have beleived me. These days I don't care, but it sure is nice to have a photo. BTW, here's the release:

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...g?t=1292005686

Beautiful fish!

Thanks for the all congrats.

Did anyone here also catch some exceptional specimens or unusually high numbers of larger than average brookies the last two years as well? And, if so, when, what flies and under what conditions? Just curious. Wild fish only please. Thanks.

I got this guy in a NJ stream that is so small you can step across it. He took and elk hair caddis that i drifted into a plunge poo while hiding behind a treel. 11-12 inches I'm guessing.

[smg id=200]

[quote author=Chris Smorul link=topic=5023.msg38996#msg38996 date=1292303896]
I got this guy in a NJ stream that is so small you can step across it. He took and elk hair caddis that i drifted into a plunge poo while hiding behind a treel. 11-12 inches I'm guessing.

[smg id=200]
[/quote]

What size (fly) and what time of year? Also, conditions...water flow (high, low ect.), time of day temp. (air and/or water). Also, was/is it an unusual specimen for the stream? I know, lotta questions. Just curious, no agenda.

Sorry i haven't replied, I've been in the hospital for the last week and a half. This fish was caught in the spring (May). The waterflow was normal for the time of the year, it slows to almost a trickle oover the dummer. If it weren't for some rather large plunge pools I doubt that the trout would survive the summer. The caddis that it took was a size 16 green bodied varuety of an elk hair caddis. This trout would be considered a monster for this little creek. I'll srr if I can dig up a picture of the creek.

Hope you're recovered enough to fish! Thanks.

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