17" wild - and indigenous, NJ brookie

[Hookerman]

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).

[tim_y]

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.

[Chris Smorul]

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]

[Chris Smorul]

BTW, he took a size 10 Lopat's Latex Larva.

[AaronJasper]

That's a giant brook trout for NJ!

[frankm205]

I got to get a NJ license!

[JUICE]

I'll take you anytime Frank. As a thank you for all the business you gave me.

Justin

[sholgate]

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.

[Walshmiko]

Nice fish! I have a few Guesses where that one came from...

[Hookerman]

[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!