Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY

[NJ Dave]

My cousin just arrived from up state NY (roscoe ny) and is staying a few days.
Last night over a few to many beers we got into a nj/ny trout water discussion over which state has the better stocked trout fishery. Obviousley he lives in one of the best ny trout water areas.
With that said, tommorow we are heading up to the Paulunskill which was just well stocked over a week ago and I am hoping the fish have burned some of the stored fat and have the feeling to eat.
The plan is to have at it in nj on wed and then on sun we are going to fish ny by his cabin and compare fisheries.
I have fresh spooled the ultra light with 4 lb floro, added a few more spinners to the box, salmon eggs, worms, mealies, and salted minnows have been purchased.
Its been years since I fished the Paulie but it always served me well. I have access to a small private c/r section that runs thru a friends private hunting property that gets zero pressure and usually holds fish.
Any advise appreciated.
Reports to follow!

[Jigman13]

Yo-zuri pins minnows, rapala CD-3 & CD-5s...

Leaves may be an issue with the trebles though.

Good luck and post some pics if you catch!

[gwl2oneida]

As a NY resident I'd have to say nj appears to have a much better stocking program. However, the trout and salmon in NY are probably some of the best fish in the northeast.

[Michael82929]

Both programs have pro's and con's to both.. if you ask me personally - it's apples and donuts

Habitat, Stream Condition, Pressure, Conservation and Sustainability and climate all come into play but from a stocking program perspective I can say is:

NJ Stocking Program wouldnt benefit with a weekly stocking in the spring in NY waters because NY waters dont have the pressure / population that NJ sustains.

NY Stocking Program in NJ doesnt have the habitat / climate / and frequency to hold a candle to the pressure NJ has on it waters. Also NJ year round fishing in slashed 3/4 in the summer months where up in NY you can still a summer time trout fishing.

I stocked the Paulinskill last week.. stick with the lower stretch of the Paulinskill (Blairstown area)

Fish are hitting flies, plugs and bait...

[AndyS]

Leaves are gonna be a problem, try again in November. I'll be fishing Roscoe NY Saturday, two totally different fisheries comparing NY to NJ.

[NJ Dave]

Andy, totally agree.
I do believe nj does a better job stocking but as for better water I vote ny. Nj gets too much pressure and its all fish and take. Ny may get the same pressure but more conservationists who return the fish.
This is just going to be some cousin ball bustin fun.

[bulletbob]

NY has lousy management.. They stock 1 year old fish, jersey stocks 2 year olds.. NY anglers take EVERYTHING.. I don't know why anyone would think NY has a bunch of conservationists fishing here..An exception might be the Catskill streams and a few Adirondack streams... The Finger Lakes and Great lakes get all the trout because thats where the tourists go.. I live in the Finger Lakes region, and our stream fishing blows.. There are indeed some lakes here that have big trout, Cayuga and Seneca, but they are hit hard by downrigger trollers all year as they are too big and windblown to freeze.. Its all deep trolling from big boats with downriggers, but thats how you have to fish when the lakes are 40 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 600 feet deep.. I personally don't like trolling all day at 125 feet down in whitecaps for a few 4 or 5 pound fish ...Jersey you can catch nice trout in the lakes 25-40 feet down drifting a calm mile wide lake with herring and a split shot.. Good luck with that up here... This is all big water deep trolling, the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills... Yes we have the Lake Ontario tribs, and you can get some trophies, but I don't do it.. Too crazy up there.. No sportsmanship, fights breaking out, cursing, rowdy drunks.. Not for me..
I have been in NY state 22 years, and am looking to move back to NJ, and better fishing is one of the main reasons. We have BIG water here, but keep in mind, bigger is NOT always better.. NJ is easier to fish by far, more productive for some species,[not all] and the fisheries management is much better.. Try walking the shore of these giant deep lakes with a spinnerbait or plug and see if you ever get a hit.. You will at Lake Hopatcong, Spruce Run or Round Valley... bob

[Dino]

"the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills"

he's right everyone.. please do not go to upstate new york looking for good trout fishing. nothing to see here.

please stay in NJ and combat fish the outflow sluiceway at Pequest hatchery.

...the things you read online. SMH
:confused:

[bulletbob]

"the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills"

he's right everyone.. please do not go to upstate new york looking for good trout fishing. nothing to see here.

please stay in NJ and combat fish the outflow sluiceway at Pequest hatchery.

...the things you read online. SMH
:confused:

I stand by what I wrote.. I live here.. The catskills are managed better for trout because of the tourist trade.. Out of state guys spend big money locally during their fishing weekends on the "blue ribbon" streams.. Much of the southern and central parts of the state are an afterthought... No one even fishes the streams here for hundreds of miles east west and north because there just aren't enough fish to bother with after the first few weeks.. Our stream fishery in the central part of NY is basically the catskills streams, and the Great lakes tribs.. The are 5 hours apart.. In between, not that much.. Come on up, fish Owego Creek, Catatonk creek or any of the Finger Lakes tribs for a weekend.. Let us know how you make out.... bob

[NJ Dave]

It was a a slow go today. We were on the water by 730, cool, cloudy, damp, and the leaves were falling.
First cast on a worm I got slammed but didn't connect. Re casted and soon hooked up with a fat 12 inch small mouth.
My cousin I can hear splashing about and almost lands on his arse in the water.
Soon after on a pink egg he hooks up a stockie rainbow.
Almost immediatley after his fish I hook up with a nice healthy 14 inch brown that looked like it held over from the spring.
Off to a good start with two fish within 15 min of fishing..........
Not so much. The sun never came out and it was pretty cloudy all day. We covered a lot of water and threw the box at em and every type of bait possible only to find bass and sun fish.
We made a few moves hitting a few holes along 94 with nothing to show.
By noon we decided to call it a day.
The water was low but not as low as what I imagined it to be. Mabey last weekends rain brought it up a little bit not enough. I'm sure this weekends storm will help the levels.
Not much to represent nj. Let's see what ny can fare for us this Sunday.

[slider]

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..

[bulletbob]

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..

As stated, the catskills get the money... The Great Lakes get the money.. thats where the tourists go, thats where the fish go... Try some of the "trout streams", oh I dunno lets say 50 to 200 miles west of the Catskills,let us all know how NJ can't compare. I would take the Pequest or the Musconetcong ANY day... bob

[bigfishy]

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..


Agreed 100% !! Did he mention that these fisheries can easily sustain themselves without stocking??? Stocking in the beaverkill was'nt even nessessary until the mid 90's when horrible droughts caused some devastating fish kills....And the deleware and its branches receive zero stockings, other than the fish that make their way in through some tributaries....

Although i do not know the rest of the state very well and i could totally believe that the rest of the state may very well be an afterthought:(

That being said the upper delaware watershed is very possibly the best native trout fisherie east of the mississippi, although the thread seems to be focusing on STOCKED trout fisheries in which case the delaware is not even in the topic;)

[slider]

Bob: I hear ya..maybe u can clue me in on a few streams down in south Jersey..Like Cape May County or Camden county, or Salem or Cumberland county..Same thing here In Jersey Northern counties get the trout south gets a token...But I'd put the west branch up againts the MUSKY OR THE PEQUEST any day of the week FOR SIZE AND QUALITY...tHEN OF COURSE you have the Ausbal, th both branches east & west..Saranac is good..Bob I've fished NJ for 60 years...After u fished the streams u mentioned what do u have left I'd say Big flat Brook would be best bet..Try them from end of Jul to Sept..See how u do..NY will put them to shame..And comparing Lakes is like comparing Apples to Oranges. No contest Bob, NY wins hands down..The reservior sustems in souther Ny alone beat just about anything NJ has to offer..Except Round Valley which is not what it used to be..I fished that back in the 70's Brown and bows where numerous and then the fishing blitz occured there, like any place else in jersy over fished or boaters drive u off the water after 9:00 am.. I don't tjhik u've explored your state enough.. U ever fished the Delawre river system..Or the NY City reservoir sytem...Big mistake if u haven't....

[FASTEDDIE29]

Interesting argument! NY is a much bigger state, hopefully it is a better fishery. I fished a lot of places in ny, creeks, lakes, tribs and reservoirs. NY is great, but of your saying an 18 inch Brown is BIG, you my friend are nuts. I'll catch them all day in NJ, especially in November and the colder months.

This argument is great, keep it going!!!! My biggest Brown is out of a Lake O Trib. It would eat an 18 incher. Gimme a break, I've caught 18 inch Crappie!!!!!!

[bulletbob]

Bob: I hear ya..maybe u can clue me in on a few streams down in south Jersey..Like Cape May County or Camden county, or Salem or Cumberland county..Same thing here In Jersey Northern counties get the trout south gets a token...But I'd put the west branch up againts the MUSKY OR THE PEQUEST any day of the week FOR SIZE AND QUALITY...tHEN OF COURSE you have the Ausbal, th both branches east & west..Saranac is good..Bob I've fished NJ for 60 years...After u fished the streams u mentioned what do u have left I'd say Big flat Brook would be best bet..Try them from end of Jul to Sept..See how u do..NY will put them to shame..And comparing Lakes is like comparing Apples to Oranges. No contest Bob, NY wins hands down..The reservior sustems in souther Ny alone beat just about anything NJ has to offer..Except Round Valley which is not what it used to be..I fished that back in the 70's Brown and bows where numerous and then the fishing blitz occured there, like any place else in jersy over fished or boaters drive u off the water after 9:00 am.. I don't tjhik u've explored your state enough.. U ever fished the Delawre river system..Or the NY City reservoir sytem...Big mistake if u haven't....

The streams and lakes you mentioned are in the Catskills, and the Ausable is in the adirondacks,, NY does take care of the tourists, as I keep stating..
Same thing with lake Ontario.. Thats where the money is, thats where the fish are.. NY is huge, and has tons of suitable water.. All I am saing is this.. Much of it lacks badly compared to NJ... We DO have the water, but NJ has far better management..... I guess it depends on what you like to do.. The Finger Lakes have a lot of trout, but its strictly deep trolling, up to 150 feet in summer, and you need to cover miles and miles.. Just not my bag using big heavy rods to catch a 3 or 4 pound trout 150 down from a moving boat.. Its like reeling in an old boot... No one even fishes the trout streams in central NY, as there just isn't much to catch... We catch smallmouths and walleyes 1000 to one over trout in the streams of central NY state.. The Catskills are 3 hours east of where I live... Yes there is good fishing there for trout there, no argument, but for the water resources we have in NY , I still maintain that the areas that produce tourist dollars are the areas that are taken care of the best... bob

[slider]

One thing missing here when u say areas that attract tourists gets the money, is correct, least I give u the benifit of the doubt. But think why that is so..All those streams u mention were great fisheries that need no stocking unitl tourists found out about them,,There fore Ny had to keep up the reputaion of these streams..Stocking more was the answer in some cases ,,Local towns prospered from the tourist dollars, made sense to keep that going.. i didn't quiet catch any places from u Bob that u can catch trout all year in the southern half of NJ.. Fast Ed I aggree with u on 18 inches isn't a big trout but very respectful. Very few streams have a steady population of trout that size on a year long basis..That why I chase my bigger trout in lakes and reservoirs for the last 43 years..Jersey hard pressed to match Ny in that respect..Dont have to fish finger lakes or Lake O, which is a class all by itself..To costanly catch trout between 3 and 10 pounds..Just have to do ur homework as to where they live..One tip I give u Bob, Don't leave NY state and move to south Jersey and expect great fish management for the trout species..But good luck on ur guest U too fast Ed

[Jigman13]

I have no experience whatsoever with NY trout fisheries but I cant argue with catching these 45 mins from my doorstep in central NJ... See below.

C'mon November! Lol...

[slider]

Those are great looking fish jig man..Tough to beat fish that size in any river these days..Good job....Tite lines to u...Slider

[bulletbob]

One thing missing here when u say areas that attract tourists gets the money, is correct, least I give u the benifit of the doubt. But think why that is so..All those streams u mention were great fisheries that need no stocking unitl tourists found out about them,,There fore Ny had to keep up the reputaion of these streams..Stocking more was the answer in some cases ,,Local towns prospered from the tourist dollars, made sense to keep that going.. i didn't quiet catch any places from u Bob that u can catch trout all year in the southern half of NJ.. Fast Ed I aggree with u on 18 inches isn't a big trout but very respectful. Very few streams have a steady population of trout that size on a year long basis..That why I chase my bigger trout in lakes and reservoirs for the last 43 years..Jersey hard pressed to match Ny in that respect..Dont have to fish finger lakes or Lake O, which is a class all by itself..To costanly catch trout between 3 and 10 pounds..Just have to do ur homework as to where they live..One tip I give u Bob, Don't leave NY state and move to south Jersey and expect great fish management for the trout species..But good luck on ur guest U too fast Ed

South Jersey is not a good trout area.. Too many sandy streams, and tannic water.. North Jersey and central Jersey have very good stream fishing due to very good management... I saw a post in the last few days where someone hit the South Branch and got 5 or 6 trout between 16 and 20 inches... I haven't seen a 16 inch trout in a stream in south central NY in years.. Yes they are in the Ontario tribs up north, I realize that, but many of us don't enjoy the circus and the sideshows... bob

[FASTEDDIE29]

Gotta head west of Oswego to avoid the circus. Sometimes you gotta head north of the Salmon River to avoid that snagfest. Alot of tribs along Lake Ontario, I believe they're is over 100. Problem is alot of these tribs need rain or the fish wont run them. One creek I fish in Hannibal gets a ton of fish but only if it rains. Good thing about that one is that there is no access. You have to walk the water to find your fish.

Is stream, river fishing or lake fishing more popular in NY when it comes to Trout? Obviously if it wasn't for tourists like myself places like Pulaski, Oswego and the Catskills would be ghost towns. I love fishing NY, not just the tourist areas. Rondout Res, the Fingers, LG, LC, Saranac chain and Oneida are all beautiful lakes that I've had great experiences on. NY,NJ have alot to offer when it comes to TROPHY fisheries!!!

TIGHT LINEZ!!!

[NJ Dave]

Sorry for the late report. As we entered the town we were greeted by the trout town usa signs. I knew then that this was a town with a real bad fishing problem.
We started the day on the Willowemoc which was quite leavey but we still found nice gin clear water. We fished that for a few hours with 3, 10 inch browns and a fat 18 inch brookie for me. My hot hand cousin managed 7 trout both browns and brookies.
We made a lunch stop in town where people walk around in waders like business men in suits.
After lunch we headed to the Beaverkill where it splits into the Willowemoc.
Here I managed to land just one more fish but he was a 19 male brookie in full spawning colors. I also dropped another trout trying to net.
My cousin had his share of 4 more fish.
From there we ventured to a small stream near his house that eventually dumps into the Willo. It was a hike to get to but we were rewarded with many 6 inch wild trout that gorged on bait. It was hit after hit on barbless hooks and they stole more bait than can be imagined.
Such a beautifull place.
I have a few pics but no clue on how to post nor get from the phone to the computer. Lol.

[AndyS]

I just got back from there, very fishy place indeed.