FS Digest

Anyone else who lives in a densely populated area actively target less popular fish to get away from the crowds?

I live by a top-100 trout river. Great trout fishing and I'd recommend it to anyone who lives within driving distance except for one reason... you have to go really out of your way to find a stretch of river that isn't pressured to hell 24/7. Because of this, even though I'm right up the road from it, I have to sort of plan to make a day trip out of fishing there because I have to assume I'll be spending most of my time hiking to and looking for an empty stretch of it.

I also live literally 200 yards away from a tributary to that river. It's along a backroad that no one ever goes down and there's a single shoulder parking spot on the shoulder. It's mostly chub with some browns (Which honestly makes each strike more exciting because it could be a brown amongst chub) but it's quiet, it's nearby, and it's pretty much all mine. So if there's a morning where i just want to spend an hour or two pickin' out fish left and right, instead of driving to the big river hoping it isn't a mob scene, I get to pretty much just walk right over to this small creek and target chub instead because to me it's more fun than wading through crowds and trying to target stressed trout.

I was just wondering if anyone else targets uglier species of fish for the same reason I do. Fallfish and chub certainly aren't the prettiest things, but I've had a few beefy chub jump out of the water and fight my 5 weight similar to the way a brown will.

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by The_American_Skald

FS Digest

I totally get this.

Where I live we have a fantastic wild brown trout fishery right through the middle of town. It’s paralleled by a green belt most of the way. Almost everyone fishes the few “pretty stretch” of the river in the obvious parks and more natural areas. I fish those too but there are plenty of times I go fish on the bad side of town where I’m more likely run into winos by the creek then other fisherman. Or park at various businesses along the creek and fish the ugly and trash filled stretch’s. I catch more fish in those areas than in the obvious high pressure places.

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by hdhsishdid

FS Digest

Can’t help but think you live near the upper Delaware. But yeah. I’d rather fish marginal water than stand in a crowd in the best water. I prob still fish for trout but not in the hotspots. Or look for smallmouth bass spots. I agree with you.

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by christian4000fish

FS Digest

I live 30 min from the best trout fishery in New England. I live 3 min from a great shad, carp, smallmouth and striper fishery, which gets most of my attention.

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by Paul-273

FS Digest

Where in New England friend? I used to live in NH so I love talking to other new englanders haha

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by The_American_Skald

FS Digest

West Springfield MA near the Westfield River.

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by Paul-273

FS Digest

Awesome place! I do miss it up there but I'm down south for school. Definitely miss those (mostly) pristine rivers!

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by The_American_Skald

FS Digest

It's not very pristine right now, the bald eagles have left parts of dead shad all over the river (mostly heads).

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by Paul-273

FS Digest

I'll take 4 inch wilds over 4 lb stocked any day. Those are the options in my area

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by locknloadDennyCrane

FS Digest

There’s a very nice creek about 20-30 minutes from me depending what stretch I go to. I never fish the main bridge access points anymore, loads of nice trout in there, but I swear there’s 3 anglers for every brown.

Lately I’ve been going to a lesser known section that I’ve never seen anyone at because there isn’t public access signs everywhere, and it has treated me very well. I also get into chubs, but browns as well.

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by dicifly69

FS Digest

This is why I target panfish

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by LeedleLord9999

FS Digest

I actually practiced my nymphing on small river panfish and I really miss just fishing for them for fun. You'll catch the same one five times in a row with a hell of a fight every time!

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by The_American_Skald

FS Digest

This is what I started fishing for carp. They are almost everywhere, and nobody really fishes for them. While there are some hardcore carp people, even bait anglers seem to question fishing for carp since people do not commonly eat them in North America. Even then, bait anglers hunker down and it is easy to find a free spot. Carp are abundant, a challenge to hook, and super to try to fish (sight fishing!). In an evening of fishing, I might only get 6-7 really good shots and only hook 1-2 fish in an evening (sometimes less <sigh>). The process has really improved how I examine the fish habitat and it really begun to improve the accuracy of my short-range casting.

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by DrSkunkzor

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

I was stationed at Westover in the early 70s. I fished the Green River just shy of the Vermont border successfully. Also did well in Chesterfield Gorge after driving a couple of miles past where the students party.