CJTU is one of New Jersey's leading advocacy and conservation groups leading the fight to protect cold water fisheries and their environment. Our members represent a diverse cross-section of New Jersey and its surrounding areas, but all of us are joined together by a love of trout fishing and a commitment to preserve cold water fisheries for future generations.
Our mission is to conserve, protect and restore New Jersey's trout streams and their watersheds. In order to achieve our goals, we conduct habitat improvement projects, stream restoration projects, stream clean-ups, and educational programs such as Trout in the Classroom, among other activities. We strive to educate the next generation about the importance to preserve the environment and wild trout. While engaged in conservation efforts, we manage to have a lot of fun, whether at monthly meetings, chapter fishing trips, fly tying, fly fishing, or stream projects. We invite you to join us.
General Meeting
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Bart Lombardo – Tight Line Nymphing
Unlike traditional nymphing, tight line methods eliminate the need for an indicator, allowing for a direct connection between the angler and the fly. This approach not only increases sensitivity but also enhances strike detection and control over the drift, making it an invaluable skill for anyone looking to elevate their fishing game. By the end of this presentation, you’ll have the foundational knowledge and tips to get started with tight line nymphing and improve your success on the water.
Bart Lombardo is a conservation oriented, multi-species angler has been fly fishing and fly tying for over forty years. Bart is a trout/warm-water fly fishing guide for South Branch Outfitter in Califon, NJ and is also on staff as a fly tying and fly fishing instructor for Orvis in Princeton NJ. He enjoys teaching others about the art of fly fishing and fly tying and regularly conducts classes and demonstrations as well as participating various fly fishing/tying shows. His fly tying is well recognized and he is a member of several industry pro-teams such as Regal Vise, Semperfli, Solarez, Ewing, Renomed Scissors and several more. Although he travels the country in pursuit of trout, Bart is also keenly interested warm water fly fishing. So much so that he has created a website www.panfishonthefly.com which is dedicated to fly fishing and fly tying for panfish, bass, and other warm-water species. Bart can be contacted via email at info@panfishonthefly.com.
American Legion Hall
137 New Market Road
Dunellen, NJ
Meetings starts at 8:00 PM
Non Members are always welcome!
News & Events
CJTU Fly Tying School 2025!
Open for Enrollment
Part 1: Saturday, February 8, 2025 Part 2: Saturday February 15, 2025
10:00 to 3:00 PM
Beginners Fly Tying Class
This is our entry-level class for the person just getting started in fly tying or who has very little experience. We will cover the basic tools, techniques and materials necessary to tie a variety of basic flies, concentrating on patterns that work well on local rivers and streams.
Learn to do things “right from the start” from our excellent instructors who are some of the best in the East. Techniques are taught in a sequence that continually builds competence. Our instructors watch you and make sure you are doing things right. Further, we will provide a quality vice, tools, hooks and all materials or you can bring your own. Finally, we provide a manual with summarized tying descriptions for each pattern plus a reference to a web video we believe is the best for that pattern.
Intermediate Class
This class is for the intermediate tier who has acquired the basic skills in handling tools and materials either by previously taking a beginners course and/or tying flies regularly for a year or two.
While our Beginners Classes are the same from year to year, our Intermediate Class constantly evolves. New patterns, techniques and materials introduced by tiers through-out the world are monitored, and the best ones that mesh with the skill set of the intermediate tier are selected. Thus the class remains interesting to past attendees and also to those who have never taken it before. Students must bring their own vise and tools, some materials will be provided.
The cost for all classes is $50.00. To register or ask questions contact us at cjtutying@cjtu.org. Please register early so CJTU can plan ahead to make your course a success.
The Last Spring Point Mountain Stocking
May 24, 2024
The CJTU stocking team concluded the spring stocking of the Point Mountain stretch on May 24th when we put over 200 fish into the river. So far this spring we stocked over 1600 fish in the stretch. Working with Hunterdon County we spread the fish along the stream from the Point Mountain bridge to a point about a mile upstream Since this area is a TCA, trout conservation area, you can only take 1 fish a day over 15 inches. Most of the fish should hold over and provide good fishing throughout the year.
We will have one more stocking in the fall where we will put some bigger fish in the river. Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out during the spring stockings.
Ed Kordyla, CJTU Stocking Coordinator
Califon Troutfest 4-20-24
On Saturday, April 20, we participated in TroutFest in Califon. This event, hosted by South Branch Outfitters, featured live music, food and beer trucks, local craft vendors, fishing competitions, and a kid's fishing derby. This year's attendance dwarfed previous events and was the best attended to date.
2024 CJTU Picnic Meeting
June 11, 2024
Rutgers Day
Saturday, April 27, 2024
This was probably the biggest Rutgers Day for us since we started going there several years ago and it's our best opportunity to interact with the general public. The big crowds were back!
We had a constant flow of people from the start at 10:00 am until we packed up at 4:00. The guys doing the fly casting were constantly on the field and the kids were sometimes lined up 6 deep to get a chance with the Orvis Practicaster.
We answered questions that ranged from what Trout Unlimited does and coldwater conservation to where to go fishing around the area. There was also a lot of interest in the Trout in the Classroom program from the general public and from teachers who want to get involved with the program in their classrooms.
Time to start planning for next year!
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