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Fall Trout Fishing in New Jersey - 2008
October 3 Update: Biologists assessed stream and lake conditions this week and all waters are currently suitable for stocking. Ample water is flowing in streams in the northern and central portion of the state slated for stocking during the first week, with water temperatures in the mid-60s. Water temperatures in lakes to be stocked during the second week are currently in the upper 60s. No changes to the fall stocking schedule are anticipated and anglers may fish these waters immediately after they are stocked.
Fantastic
fishing opportunities await trout anglers at dozens of fall trout-stocked
streams and lakes in New Jersey. This year fall stocking begins Tuesday, October
7 and continues through October 15. Over this period a total
of 20,000 brook, brown, and rainbow trout averaging 14 to 16 inches,
and weighing 1½ - 2 pounds, will be distributed in 16 streams
and 16 lakes and ponds statewide. All trout are raised at the division's
Pequest Trout Hatchery.
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These
two-year old trout are noticeably bigger than the 10-11 inch
trout typically stocked in the spring. This is the 3rd consecutive
year that Fish & Wildlife has stocked bigger trout for the
fall season. In addition to the 20,000 standard production fall
trout, another 1,000 exceptionally large rainbow trout broodstock,
measuring 17 - 20 inches, and weighing 3 - 5 pounds, are also
mixed in with each truckload of fish.
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Waters
stocked during the first week of fall stocking are the 16 large
streams and rivers in northern and coastal areas, such as the
Big Flatbook, Pequest River, South Branch Raritan River, Musconetcong
River, and the Manasquan and Tom's Rivers. All fall-stocked waters
may be fished as soon as they are stocked (no "closed waters"
during fall stocking).
There are no closed days during fall stocking.
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to enlarge |
During
the second week, 16 ponds and lakes in the central and southern
portions of the state are stocked. Some of the more popular
waters are Farrington Lake, Oak Pond, Greenwich
Lake, and Mary Elmer Lake.
The complete list of fall-stocked
waters and the stocking schedule is available at www.njfishandwildlife.com/flstk.htm
or through the Trout Stocking Hotline 609-633-6765. If
you need help finding one of these trout-stocked waters, refer
to the list of fishing access locations linked
below for driving directions.
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Other waters offer fine trout fishing opportunities even though they
are not stocked in the fall. The Holdover Trout Lakes, like Lake
Aeroflex and Lake
Wawayanda, provide year round trout fishing opportunities. The
landlocked salmon stocking
program at these two lakes, now in its 3rd year, is starting to
yield harvestable size salmon (12 inches). Our two Trophy Trout
Lakes, Round
Valley and Merrill
Creek Reservoirs, are also great trout fishing destinations. Shoreline
fishing on Round Valley is particularly popular in the fall, as big
rainbows cruise the shallows (See the current Freshwater
Digest for special area regulations.) Also, sea
run brown trout begin returning to freshwater in the Manasquan
River during the fall and early winter.
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A
distinctly different trout-fishing experience awaits anglers
who fish the wild trout streams scattered across north Jersey.
These small streams are not stocked with trout and anglers can
expect to catch small, colorful trout, with most measuring less
than ten inches.
Thirty-five
streams are managed under special regulations to provide anglers
with opportunities to catch stunning, stream-bred trout (see
the current Freshwater
Digest for information). All trout captured from designated
Wild Trout Streams, from September 16, 2008 to April
11, 2009 at 8 a.m. must be released, and be sure to leave the
bait buckets home - these streams are artificials only.
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Trout fishing will really heat up once fall stocking gets underway.
The line-busting, bragging-size trout being stocked in October will
test the skills of anglers fishing with lightweight tackle, leaving
some anglers with fond memories, to last a lifetime, about the big
one that got away. Whether you chose to fish for stocked or wild trout,
there are plenty of trout-fishing opportunities in the Garden State.
So take the time from your busy schedules to enjoy trout fishing during
the splendor of fall.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
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