Winter Trout Stocking Begins November 19Cooler temperatures and the approach of winter frequently signal the end of another fishing season for anglers. Lately however, more and more anglers are delaying the urge to shelve their passion and are discovering the additional fishing opportunities afforded them by Winter Trout Stocking Program. The Winter Trout Stocking Program is administered by the NJ DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife. This highly successful program provides additional opportunities for Garden State anglers during the late fall and winter months by providing trout outside the regular spring and fall stocking seasons. A total of 23 lakes geographically distributed throughout the state will be stocked with 5,030 rainbow trout (see list below). These lakes range in size from five to 100 acres and have shoreline access and/or boat launching sites. The trout are raised at the Pequest State Trout Hatchery in Warren County where the regular season trout are also raised.
In North Jersey, safe ice is usually present on most stocked water bodies during the winter. However, some of the parks where trout are stocked, particularly in the urban areas, prohibit ice fishing. Anglers should check with the individual park office regarding their regulations on ice fishing. Proven methods for catching trout through the ice are using tip-ups with powerbait or fathead minnows, and jigging with small jigs or ice jigging flies. Traditional baits like worms, fathead minnows, meal worms and powerbait fished on the bottom during open water work well for those fishing from shore. Trout not caught this fall and winter will be awaiting anglers for opening day next spring! Also keep in mind that the late fall stocking in central and south Jersey lakes means plenty of these fish are still out there. Anglers should pick up a copy of the Freshwater Fishing Digest and familiarize themselves with the regulations pertaining to their chosen fishing hole. The Digest as well as other information about fishing in New Jersey is also available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishing_fresh.htm. And be on the lookout this December for the new 2007 Freshwater Digest. This Special How-to issue is packed with great fishing tips for the beginner to the more experienced angler. Interested in fishing, but don't know how, this is an issue you shouldn't miss! Whatever stocked water body you choose to fish, one thing is certain -- there will be rainbow trout waiting. Thanks to the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife, anglers suffering from freshwater withdrawal need not succumb to the winter fishing blues any longer. Below is the list of waters being stocked with numbers of trout. Temporary program changes are noted below the list. WINTER TROUT STOCKING SCHEDULE 2007Monday, November 19
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Ocean County
Sussex County Tuesday, November 20
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Camden County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Passaic County
Salem County
Wednesday, November 21
Hunterdon County
Morris County
Union County
Warren County
* Temporary program changes that affect two waters, are as follows: 1) Lake Ocquittunk in Sussex County will not be stocked this winter because it will be lowered for aquatic vegetation control. Stony Lake (also located in Stokes State Forest) will be stocked instead, and, 2) Mill Pond in Bergen County will not be stocked due to ongoing dam restoration work. The trout allocation for Mill Pond will be redistributed to the remaining waters on that run (in Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Morris counties).
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