Passaic River

Finally broke my skunk. My favorite river never fails to produce, and I finally caught my first brown and rainbow since this summer😭. Ended up with 1 rainbow, 3 browns, and 2 common shiners. I couldn't net 2 and missed a bunch more. Surprisingly there were a bunch of fish rising, although I was throwing nymphs. There were midges, but also a bunch of little black stoneflies, about size 18 crawling around. I was throwing my smallest stonefly imitation and a red midge emerger behind. Awesome way to end off the year!

Caught 1 wild rainbow and 2 wild browns on the fly rod in the Passaic. This river never fails to produce. Also found this giant craw, as well as 2 Great Blue Herons. I got an hour and a half of fishing in before my leader got knotted, and called it quits because I forgot more leader and tippet at home. I think I'm going to try the passaic again, but lower downstream for pike or bass.

Caught 5 wild browns, 1 wild rainbow, and 1 bass today. I fished down Indian Grove Brook to its confluence with the Passaic River, and then fished up the Passaic. The fishing was excellent. There was a fish in every hole or run that was deeper than a foot. Because I was using barbless hooks, I probably lost about 4 fish for every one I caught. They were all very aggressive, most chasing the spinner right up to my feet, and they ranged from about 2-12 inches. Luckily I was able to hang on to the biggest brown today. Plan on going out this weekend as well to some other wild trout streams.

Got out of the house at 3 today. Caught 1 small little wild rainbow and 2 giant creek chub. Had 4 other trout bite as well, including a couple of browns, but I didn't land those. Started with a spinner with no luck, then I switched to that little worm. They've been good lately. Hopefully I can get out tommorow to, since it's supposed to be warm again, but who knows.

Good News!!! I reclaimed my rod from the wasps today. I also caught 3 rainbows as well, their colors are really brought out. I tried to take a picture of the one, but It fell back into the river, just like the one brown I caught yesterday in the same exact spot. Did allow this in 45 mins. Not bad.

Had a total of 4 browns and 2 rainbows in an hour of fishing. I was using a Joe's flies, #1 spinner. Had multiple other takes, but these fish are so skiddish. Very successful if you don't coubt the fact me and my dad got stung by bees.(btw, neither of us are allergic) I got stung by a lone bee, twice, about half way through. Then, as we are about to wrap up, my dad gets snagged. He goes to get it but is immediately swarmed by a nest. After that we left, minus 1 rod. Luckily, the rod isn't that good of a rod, but I am still pretty bummed Also saw these tracks at the end, and I am 99% sure that no dog could have gotten where we were. Please let me know what kind of tracks these are. All things considered though, the FISHING part of the trip was successful.