Tag Archives: Blairstown

Knot Just Flies

Blairstown, NJ is a bucolic small town in a bustling state, surrounded by first class fishing and hunting opportunities. The working farms, hunting clubs, preserved land and overgrown bush combine to make this town and northern Warren County a sportsmen’s paradise. Even so, there has not been a sporting goods store in this town since Red Hawk Outfitters closed more than a decade ago.

The sales counter at Knot Just Flies
The sales counter at Knot Just Flies

Thanks to local business owner Valentino Mota, this has all changed, for the better. Val has opened Knot Just Flies at the Valero on Route 94. Conveniently located in front of the Paulinskill River as it meanders through Blairstown. Val has opened his store as an authentic general store of Fly Fishing, angling and hunting supplies. In the modern world of ecommerce, something that he has experience in, brick and mortar retail stores need to carry the items you need on the spot before a day of sporting adventures. This is what Val will provide to our community.

Flies geared to your local waters.
Flies geared to your local waters.

Knot Just Flies caters to a wide market of sportsmen or woman and the equipment they need. By stopping here you will be able to spend more time fishing or hunting and less time driving to far away outfitters. He is conveniently opened 7AM to 7PM Tuesday through Saturday and 7AM to 5PM on Sunday. Mondays the store is closed.

Deer corn and shooting clays are in stock.
Deer corn and shooting clays are in stock.

Knot Just Flies is a full service Fly Shop right in the heart of Warren County Fly Fishing country. Located less than half an hour from every major Trout stream in the area including the Paulinskill, Flat Brook, Pequest and the Musconetcong. Not to mention the Delware River Smallmouth and Shad fishery. Val spends a great deal of time cultivating the new entrants into the sport and creating the next generation of Fly Fishing. As such, he offers daily rental packages and you can arrange a Fly Fishing lesson through the store.

Fly tying supplies, enough to get started on most local patterns.
Fly tying supplies, enough to get started on most local patterns.

The location literally has a little bit of everything you need to pursue your hobby. It is a general store of outdoor sports, preventing you from ruining your day by forgetting gloves in the cold or sinkers for cat fishing. Freshwater angling supplies, wingshooting necessities, archery supplies, Bass baits, live baits, catfish baits, ice fishing supplies and some saltwater tackle are all here. To make it even more convenient for people in the area, Val is stocking some Salmon and Steelhead supplies at reasonable prices to prevent you from getting price gouged in upstate New York this fall.

Angling supplies for Bass and Catfish.
Angling supplies for Bass and Catfish.

Val got into fishing at a young age with his father introducing him to the sport. It has been his dream to open up a fly and tackle shop, when the opportunity presented itself he seized it! He has extensive experience selling products through ecommerce; therefore, you will find reasonable prices throughout the store. According to Val, “This shop is geared to the community, products I sell are effective in this community. Whatever is on the wall is here for our local anglers.”

We have famous Thomas Trout lures.
They have famous Thomas Trout lures.

Some name brands available at the store include, but are not limited to, Redington, Rio, CP Swings and Thomas Lures. Any item you could purchase at Bass Pro shops can be ordered right in Blairstown! We hope to see you in the store soon.

Contact Info:

Week II Fishing Report

New Jersey Trout season is moving into its second full week and third weekend. The weather remains seasonably cool and rainy, as is expected in early April. This year is in sharp contrast to last year where the Trout suffered through low water and high temperature conditions. The waters have been warming up during the mid week and cooling of during late week heavy rainstorms.

Lesser Scaups hanging out at the proving grounds.
Lesser Scaups hanging out at the proving grounds.

Bass Fishing

First Bass of 2013
First Bass of 2013

The verbal reports are enthusiastically saying that Bass are starting to bite. I was able to land a small guy on a Wooly Bugger in the pond! Dave and Mark both reported significant sub-surface Bass activity in their favorite ponds. If it rains on Friday we will be out Bass fishing the lakes until the rivers clear up and the flow subsides.

The Pequest

The industrial revolution started in places like this.
The industrial revolution started in places like this.

I normally hit the Pequest up once or twice a year, especially the TCA, you have a good chance at hooking into a hog here. On Saturday morning, I ran the Belvedere Fox Trot to benefit Parkinson’s disease, afterwards it dawned on meto fish here. There are miles of public access right through the center of town and we have permission on some of the private water too.

The inside of George's
The inside of George’s

Though the scenery was beautiful, the water was murky. Fishing was not happening for us, that being said, Mark had a swing and a miss on the Rapala. We marched all the way down to the Delaware and fished the mouth, still no activity. Four hours of pounding water with streamers and no fish, it was time to stop at George’s for a drink. George’s sits in an old brick building, hanging partially over the Pequest. Inside is a bar structure that dates back 150 years, road signs on the wall for State Route 69, since rename Route 31 to prevent sign theft. This bar is part of authentic Warren County and you should stop here, that’s the MKFF seal of approval.

The Paulinskill

Brookie on a Mickey Finn
Brookie on a Mickey Finn

After the difficult day we had on Saturday it is always nice to return to your home waters. Despite the sunny day, the river temperature were holding in the high 40s, barely warm enough to encourage active feeding. Not to be deterred, I jumped in to some shallow slow water, which I expected to be warmer, tied on a Mickey Finn and quickly pulled up two Brook Trout.

Mark caught a Brookie too.
Mark caught a Brookie too.

Mark and Dave pulled up about an hour later, we branched out in search of new territory. The Paulinskill will hold fish year round and stocked Trout migrate up and down the river some distance. It is important to check bends in the river far away from stocking locations.

Hiking for Trout.
Hiking for Trout.
Fishing at the dam.
Fishing at the dam.

Until next weekend…check out our Paulinskill River Fly Fishing Kits, $23.37 plus tax and shipping for 16 flies and a split foam case. Everything you need to Fly Fish the Paulinskill River and we include a printed version of our hatch chart along with tips and tricks. 

Motley Crew
Motley Crew

Dispatches From Opening Day

Day 1

Unlike many regions with large natural reproducing populations of Trout, New Jersey has something of a spectacle for “Opening Day.” Normally, anglers prefer to fish in peace and solitude, especially when seeking the illustrious Trout. If you are seeking quiet, relaxation and seclusion, Opening Day is something to be avoided. Realistically, it’s as if the nation’s most densely populated state, hosts a riverside party one-day a year. Once you accept Opening Day for what it is, a spectacle, its actually quite enjoyable.

Waiting for the starting buzzer.
Waiting for the starting buzzer.

The MKFF crew arrived early to find upwards of twenty people assembled in one of our favorite holes. On numbers alone, we were able to establish dominance at the pool, effectively holding the “worm dunkers” at bay as they coveted the prime territory our troops were holding. Nick was hysterical, issuing minute-by-minute updates as to how close we were to 8AM.

Thirty minutes of casting into a moderate sized hole with ever increasing numbers of bait fisherman is enough to drive you mad. The cool temperatures in the previous week had also made the fish a little slow. We quickly voted to move on to less traveled waters.

Not bad for the first Trout of the day.
Not bad for the first Trout of the day.

Around mid-day Mark was able to cast off the skunk, pulling in a nice Brook Trout. Simultaneously, several miles and a few towns over, Mike caught his first New Jersey Brown Trout since moving to California mid-way through last year.

Posing with his cutie.
Posing with his cutie.

Once every bit of water in the state had been walked through uncountable times we decided to stop by Dr. Ed’s party for lunch. Every year he puts together a delicious lunch of Jambalaya, Smoked Trout and Jameson Whiskey. This year Mark added his Brook Trout to the smoker.

Trout getting delicious.
Trout getting delicious.

Day 2

While everyone else slept, (after a long night of Opening Day festivities) I headed back to where we started. There may not be as many fish in the river on day 2; this is fine considering there are many less people. The weather was more cooperative, two days in the mid-sixties really livened up the Trout.

Stockie Number 1
Stockie Number 1

I took the time to set up a quality nymph rig out, using a Flashback Hare’s Ear Nymph and a Pheasant Tail, weighted with a small to medium sized sinker, the Trout wanted to feed! My rig quickly pulled up several small Brown Trout and more surprisingly a Perch!

Stockie Number 2
Stockie Number 2

As I was standing there, taking in the solitude, two children about 10 years old, walked to the other side of the river from me and took a cast. They watched quietly as I pulled up a Trout, no sooner had a minute gone by and they had a Trout on too! The one kid, wearing a pair of short Muck Boots, walks out into the stream and SPLASH, he face plants!. I chuckled to myself, it happens to the best of us, take a bath to land that Trout (He emerged from the water unharmed and holding his Trout).

Perch on the Fly
Perch on the Fly

Stay tuned for updates from Weekend 2.