There are nice sized Northern Pike in the South Branch of the Raritan !!!![up]
Check out the April 4th - April 9th or last weeks edition of the NJ Fisherman Magazine (I forget which edition, as I'm delerious from trying to balance work along with my trout and Striper fishing trips) -Jim Holland, Owner of Shannon's Fly & Tackle in Califon, was featured in a two and 1/2 page article on Northern Pike fishing on the South Branch of the Raritan, and how they are getting huge eating the trout in the South Branch. (You still should be able to find some editions in most bait & tackle shops, and I'm sure Jim has a few hundred copies at this shop that he may be willing to part with!!! - If you can't get a copy, e-mail me and let me know - I'll have someone scan it for me and I'll send it to your newjerseyhunter.com e-mail address if you have one.)[up]
There is a recently caught South Branch Norther Pike (It is over 30" long) hanging on the wall in the shop. Just stop at the shop in Califon, and ask Jim Holland - I'm sure he'll gladly tell you where and how to catch all the Pike you want on the South Branch. [up]
Also, you can call Shannon's Fly & Tackle Shop for Delaware River Shad, Bass, Hybrids, Pike and Muskie trips with Eric Hildebrant of Hildebrant Charters. [up]
Eric is a really personable guy, and is very well known in the area as an excellent guide for these species, but especially in Muskie and Pike.[up]
http://www.shannonsflytackle.com/
The local fly fishermen actually fish for the Northern Pike in February and March with spinning gear and shiners just to catch them and get them out of those beautiful holdover/stocked trout waters. I've heard that Big White Rooster Tails and broken back Rapala's are also the lures of choice up there.[up]
It's not uncommon to see a Pike head or two nailed to the trees near the portions of the South Branch above Clinton. [down]

[mad]
I disagree with that practice as it might frighten some very young "anglers" (If you have kids, nieces/nephews, etc...under 7 years of age that you're trying to teach how to fish ethically, you'll know what I'm talking about!!!) - But it's just the way things are done there by a few bad apples. [down]
One of the Northerns that were caught on the South Branch recently had a 9" sucker in it's belly!!!
There used to be (and may very well still be) a monster Northern Pike in the deep pool in front of the paddle wheel at the Red Mill on the South Branch in Clinton. At first I thought it was a 4' log floating there, that is until it rocketed out with a fierce tail splash and jammed whatever it was that it was going to eat. I never saw what it ate, but it moved right back to where it was originally lying in wait before its "lunch" swam by, and it continued to feed like that on a regular basis for months - The last time I saw it there was August 2004, but I'm sure if that one isn't there, another one will take up residence, as the water from the waterfalls is always washing dinner directly past the front of that pool. [up]
I hope this helps any of you who are interested!!!!