Well, Hank Patterson doesn't know what he is talking about LOL.
Went to Montauk over the weekend. Tough fishing. I did not go out at the horn, so maybe that is where I messed up.
Some things I have learned:
Montauk's Campground 1 camping spots are not very friendly to tent campers vs many other state parks that I have camped at. The sites are very flat, but not very spacious. On the spot we chose online, it looked like a there would be a large spot between my site and the one next to me, not so. I was in sites 107, and 108.
Reeds Fly Shop is not the shop that is close to the campgrounds. ( will have to try next time) I was told that Reeds was in the park, and as we were looking to find out where to get tags, we went into the lodge which has a fly shop. I made the mistake of thinking that it was Reeds, and just not marked.
The hatchery is not as neat looking as Roaring River's hatchery and raceways.
"As long as you don't expect too much, .... " Very true. Unfortunately everyone else had me hyped up.
Very true words about people crowding you. I was fishing an area with a good pool in it. It had been a little while since I caught my only fish of the weekend, and a family of 3, walked up and was not 1 foot from me and started casting. No one else could be seen.
If you camp in campground 1 and it rains, beware of the SAND. Sand is everywhere, and will get everywhere. Protect your equipment.
I was under the impression that this would be a World Class Trout Fishing oppurtunity. I was dissapointed. I guess if you have alot of money and stock yourself up with the latest and greatest of equipment, and you hype yourself up, it is. I didn't.
I have been to Roaring River twice. One time was during the weekend Hurricane Ike blew through, the river rose about 8 feet overnight. I did not catch anything, but the park was beautiful, and catered to the whole camping experience in my humble opinion ( we had to be evacuated to the higher campground). The second time we got rain the whole weekend, minus a couple of good hours, I caught 1 fish. I would endorse Roaring River over Montauk. I live in the St Louis area, and RR is alot further of a drive for us but well worth it.
... Disclaimer I am not an avid trout fisherman, I do not generally go fishing without the kiddos 2, 5, 12 years old. We did get a steady rain all weekend. (wife and kids were not enjoying that aspect of it) I am still new to the flyrod, (which I did not get to use... :-(