AndyS Got His Trout!

[NJSquatch]

From the F&W Email Blast

More than 20,000 additional Rainbow Trout, averaging more than 11 inches, went out during the last few weeks of the stocking season. And the Raritan River received about 24,000 four-inch surplus trout. With recent rains and good temperatures these extra fish should provide excellent fishing in coming months.

Many lakes and streams remain cold enough for trout fishing right through the summer months...until more fish are stocked in the fall. For warm weather trout fishing check out the Trout Conservation Areas, Wild Trout Streams and Trophy & Holdover Trout Lakes.

and who says the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease:D

[gratefuldad]

Now I know what everything will be feeding on

[Billfish715]

The state has been releasing surplus trout for years to make room for the next year's stock. It prevents overcrowding and the inevitable stunting and diseases which are byproducts of trying to raise too many fish in too small an area. Once the fish are released, everyone has an idea about where they should have been stocked. I'm sure that this is going on right now. It really doesn't matter where the little trout are stocked because there will always be negative comments and better ideas about where they should have been dumped.

Put them in Round Valley and people will say that the bigger trout will eat them. Put them in the Raritan and once again they become bait. Put them in the rivers and they affect the natural production of wild trout. Put them in the lakes and ponds and they become food for the cormorants or will die from oxygen depletion. Too many trout in one stream and they compete for food with the other bigger, more desirable holdover trout. There is no winning. Will some survive? It's likely that some will.

In the end, the trout are an expendable commodity. It's like pruning a tree or shrub. In order for the tree to grow stronger, the smaller branches have to be sacrificed. In this case, in order for the rest of the trout to grow larger, the smaller ones have to go. If any of those surplus trout survive and grow in the Raritan, it's a bonus. If not, they had a chance. If history repeats itself, very few will find their way onto anyone's stringer. A look back at the "diseased" brown trout that were released into the Raritan and Rahway Rivers a few years back, never to be seen again, will prove my point.

[AndyS]

Here my answer to that !!! :D

[Jedhead]

Have to agree with billfish , the state needs to clean house to make room for the next batch. It's done with multiple species so it's not uncommon for them to stock tons of surplus fish at a below average size. Nice to know that our dedicated state hatchery employees are busting their asses to produce a huge volume of fish! Shout out to both Hacketstown and Pequest employees! Job well done!

[thmyorke1]

Good place to dump them! A lot of stripers and other raritan bay fish being fed :D They're dumped in the lower parts of the raritan from what I believe.

But it's expected some of the thousands find the way to survival.

Dump em across other rivers and you'll just get overcrowded dinks eating what the larger trout want, which are already stocked in great numbers.

I wonder why they werent put into RV as a food source? That's the only other place Id consider as a good dumping spot.

[Lard Almighty]

And the Raritan River received about 24,000 four-inch surplus trout. That's about the size of an F11 Rapala, for those interested. ;)

[Billfish715]

I wonder why they werent put into RV as a food source? That's the only other place Id consider as a good dumping spot.

If there was a place they would survive and grow, my money would be on " The Valley". The only predators to the small trout would be the larger trout that are already there. There's plenty of krill for the little fish to eat and grow. Speaking of large trout in the Valley, there are confirmed reports of large brown trout slurping down freshly stocked trout underneath the north tower on and around stocking days years ago. Most, if not all, of the other impoundments are managed for other species. Stocking four inch trout in any of them would only be adding more forage to feed the big 'uns.

I'm not sure if it still is the case, but one of the best live baits for striped bass in the Delaware was a lively 10" rainbow trout. The menu for the Raritan River striped bass might have just changed.

[RWole]

This is my opinion on surplus Trout. According to fish and game when I emailed
them and statements given by them, they keep stocking only Rainbows because they are plentiful. If they start stocking Browns the numbers will be down.
Well??? According to my math start stocking Browns, numbers are down, no surplus. What will be their next excuse.

[Billfish715]

Having surplus trout is a good thing. It means the brood stock is healthy and doing what they are supposed to do. Healthy fish means more eggs and more fry. The state stocked over a half a million trout this year. I'd say that's pretty good.

On a side note, Andy is right. The Raritan main stem should get some additional trout during the year. If someone can't find a way to adjust the stocking numbers from other stocking loads and add them to the Raritan stocking quotas, it's only because someone doesn't want it to happen. I don't think the stocking program of the Div of F&W will dry up if a couple of thousand trout get stocked in the Raritan. Make it a TCA or C&R and only stock trophy trout. I'm sure Andy will volunteer to float stock some great areas.

The bottom line is that people besides Andy have to make some noise. Chambers of Commerce, politicians, small business owners and fishermen have to emphasize the economic impact something like this will have on their communities.

Just an idea!

[Jigman13]

Get these ready!

[RWole]

Andy is doing a great job. I will be making alot of noise if they try to remove
Clinton Reservoir from the list.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Plenty of bait in the Raritan as it is. These Trout should fatten up the feeding predators quite nicely. LOL!!!

[JimmyL]

That's about the size of an F11 Rapala, for those interested. ;)

Thought the exact same thing

[AndyS]

I think the State raises extra trout every year, I guess it is good business to have a back-up plan, a "fail-safe" of sorts in place just in case. I guess it is a tough call where to put extra trout when push comes to shove, I am just glad they chose the Raritan river. I don't think we will be seeing any TCA's anytime soon on the Raritan river as it is classified NT (non-trout) waters due to the river getting very warm over the summer months. I do give trout more credit that most when it comes to seeking out thermal refuge. I think brown trout have a better tolerance for warm water than the rainbow trout do.
Speaking of brown trout there were a few sighting of nice brown trout a year and even 2 years after the diseased trout were released into the Raritan river so what I learned about fish is "never say never".
When I see this I really want to push for more clean ups on the watershed. I won't stop asking for fall trout stocking on the 2 mile stretch near Duke Island Park nor the 2 mile extension on spring trout stocking from Somerville down to Manville.

[Billfish715]

Andy, you may be back at cleaning up sections of stream that you already did. Did you see the Raritan today? Very high and very brown! There was "stuff" being washed downstream. It has to wind up on the banks somewhere.
Even the canal looked nasty. Those four inch trout might be in Sayerville by now!

[NorthJerzyG]

Andy is doing a great job. I will be making alot of noise if they try to remove
Clinton Reservoir from the list.

Do you fish it for stockies or holdovers? I often wonder if the trout even hold over there? I've seen maybe one or two pics of big browns out of there a while back but I haven't seen or heard of any holdover bows being caught the last few years??

[AndyS]

I posted a few Raritan river rainbow trout photos over the winter of fish that looked like this, you tell me.

[NorthJerzyG]

Sorry, I meant at Clinton Res.......