Fishing report and question

[dakota560]

Did well with perch last week at Hopatcong, this weekend with the drop in water temperatures from run off the bite slowed considerably. Females still tight with eggs so some warm weather and the best should still be ahead.

Question for the board, wanted to give Lake Musconetcong a shot later this week. Is Musconetcong closed to all fishing until the trout opener or like Hopatcong can it be fished as long as trout are released. Appreciate anyone's insight, tried reading the regs and wasn't clear althoug it sounds like it's closed.

[Chrisper4694]

it's closed...one of the stupidest rules we have.

I really can't stand that certain lakes with good fishing for other species is closed this time of year for catch and take trout stocking...

so many better options...

leave it open to fishing with c&r trout like mountain, hopatcong, swartswood, etc.

or find better places to dump the stocked trout into

[NJSquatch]

Again with the unnecessary complicated trout regs!

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2018/trtregs18.pdf

During the three weeks prior to opening day, all ponds, lakes or sections of streams are stocked with trout, except Trophy Trout Lakes. These waters are closed to fishing for all species from March 19 to April 7 at 8 a.m. Exceptions: Lake Hopatcong, Mountain Lake, Lake Shenandoah, Lawrence Brook (section from Davidson's Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam), Prospertown Lake and Swartswood Lake are open year round to fishing. However, all trout caught during this period (above) must be released immediately. Seasonal and Year-round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes (see pages 21–23) are also open to fishing but are catchand-release only for trout. Fishing is not permitted on seasonal trout conservation areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 7, 2018. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs (Trophy Trout Lakes) are open to year-round fishing; trout may be harvested within the regulations as shown on page 23.

[MattK]

Are both swartswood lakes open to fishing right now or just the big one?

[Drossi]

Again with the unnecessary complicated trout regs!

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2018/trtregs18.pdf

During the three weeks prior to opening day, all ponds, lakes or sections of streams are stocked with trout, except Trophy Trout Lakes. These waters are closed to fishing for all species from March 19 to April 7 at 8 a.m. Exceptions: Lake Hopatcong, Mountain Lake, Lake Shenandoah, Lawrence Brook (section from Davidson's Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam), Prospertown Lake and Swartswood Lake are open year round to fishing. However, all trout caught during this period (above) must be released immediately. Seasonal and Year-round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes (see pages 21–23) are also open to fishing but are catchand-release only for trout. Fishing is not permitted on seasonal trout conservation areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 7, 2018. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs (Trophy Trout Lakes) are open to year-round fishing; trout may be harvested within the regulations as shown on page 23.

These are pretty straightforward, try reading PA's regs regarding closed waters for trout stocking.

[NJSquatch]

Are both swartswood lakes open to fishing right now or just the big one?

Little S is closed. Big S is open

[dakota560]

Thanks guys as I thought. Called a tackle shop in the area and they confirmed it is indeed closed. I passed there yesterday and there were six guys fishing the shoreline and a bass trackers fishing the cove, guess the word hasn't gotten out!

[NJSquatch]

Thanks guys as I thought. Called a tackle shop in the area and they confirmed it is indeed closed. I passed there yesterday and there were six guys fishing the shoreline and a bass trackers fishing the cove, guess the word hasn't gotten out!

The new CO will get them. He was on the prowl last weekend. Pulled over 3 boats on 'Cong from the shoreline.

[Chrisper4694]

These are pretty straightforward, try reading PA's regs regarding closed waters for trout stocking.

PA's is much easier because you can do it all digitally by searching where you want to fish by county and then see the rules for that specific place. NJ you have to do it in reverse, find the rules and then see if the place you want to go is listed there and go on and on through the list until you find it.

[Chrisper4694]

Thanks guys as I thought. Called a tackle shop in the area and they confirmed it is indeed closed. I passed there yesterday and there were six guys fishing the shoreline and a bass trackers fishing the cove, guess the word hasn't gotten out!

they can't even stop guys from fishing closed waters and they just set all these new regs hahaha good stuff

[MattK]

So I could fish aeroflex this weekend since its a holdover lake?

With my gas motor in need of some maintenance im looking at electric only lakes..so basically my choices are big swood or flex...stupid trout rules.

[Bruce Litton]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I have simply never understood why a weedy lake, five feet deep, is stocked with trout. Oh, gee, it must be that people like to sit it out before catfish get the leftover scraps.

[Bruce Litton]

And ever since chemical poison was used to control the water chestnuts, that cormorant population, which must have increased at the least 20-fold, since these dive-bombers can now swim openly, sure is having an absolute feast on the stockers.

[AndyS]

I'm with Bruce. Putting trout in lake Musconetcong is just stupid, YET they won't put trout in Spruce Run with all the feeder streams, go figure.

[FishOnKV]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I have simply never understood why a weedy lake, five feet deep, is stocked with trout. Oh, gee, it must be that people like to sit it out before catfish get the leftover scraps.

I've always thought the same thing.. Wonder how many are actually caught..:confused:

[Bruce Litton]

I've always thought the same thing.. Wonder how many are actually caught..:confused:

Catfish or trout. :)

[Matt A.]

Crush them at musconetcong, they all go to the same spot...