Trout Stocking and a Beauty of a Bow

[NorthJerzyG]

After seeing the recent post about needing volunteers to help with the trout stocking I decided to miss out on a day of fishing and sign up. Couldn't make the first two but got out last week. Met the crew, which included NJF'rs NJTuna and Cuz, and ran some buckets. Definitely a cool crew, had some interesting conversation which included some fly guy vs spin fisherman jabbing...... :D

Anyway, made short work out of stocking 1300+ trout, all while learning a ton about the area and the river. Couple highlights included stopping to chase out someone who was fishing on a closed day (spin fisherman of course, lol), and feeding 12-15# rainbows at the hatchery. Also, ridiculing the truck chasers, which there weren't many of that day. :p Hope to make it out a few more times this season.........

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i419/NorthjerzyG/IMAG1570.jpg (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/NorthjerzyG/media/IMAG1570.jpg.html)........

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[NorthJerzyG]

Today I went out to see if I could hook up with some "old friends"...... :) River was in good shape, weather was perfect, and the fish were hungry!! Checked out 2 spots and beat the crap out of em. Must have caught 15/16 in a few hours (kept 2). At one point, I worked a nice spot over thoroughly with a spinner and caught 6 out of the same hole. Hit it again on my way back with a rapala and caught 2 more before I hooked something a little better!! After a great fight which included some drag peeling, I landed a nice 18" (?) chrome rainbow. Not the biggest bow I've caught but definitely the nicest!! Moved in to another spot and got a few more before I hah to go....... I hate leaving em bitin, lol. My best numbers and quality trip this year for sure....... Oh yeah, and that one bow definitely didn't come out of my bucket on stocking day. There were a few thick ones, but nothing even close to that......

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i419/NorthjerzyG/IMAG1598.jpg (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/NorthjerzyG/media/IMAG1598.jpg.html).......

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[GetANet]

Great Post and Pics!!! Thanks for helpin stock some fish too!! Seems like a cool thing to do!

[Detour66]

Great pics and post! Also great work...look like fun and you get to see where all the secret honey holes are ... WOW !

[AndyS]

Thanx for helping out, it means a lot. Last pic is a great looking bow !

[FASTEDDIE29]

That's awesome that you took the time to help out with the Trout stocking. Great way to learn a few things about out precious Trout. Nice catching! That last Bow is flawless. Perfect!:D

[Chrisper4694]

cool man, very nice. looks like a baby steel head hahaha

[EJS]

Glad you made it out stocking! I am back on the stocking team this week. If anyone is interested, we could always use the help! Meet up time is 7am at the Hackettstown Hatchery.

[JDTuna]

Nice work dude! Thats an awesome 'bow!

[NJtuna]

Sweet fish bro! We stocked a good number of fish again today. They definitely grew in a week too! haha. Most of the fish today were 13-14"+

[NorthJerzyG]

Thanks all!! Good job Tuna, how many people there? I tried to make this week but couldn't due to work and a root canal..... :eek:

Definitely gonna be out next week. It felt more like a privilege to help out than work anyway. Plus, now that I'm signed up, hopefully I'll have the time to help out with some of the other surveys and projects that are going on.........

[EJS]

Thanks all!! Good job Tuna, how many people there? I tried to make this week but couldn't due to work and a root canal..... :eek:

Definitely gonna be out next week. It felt more like a privilege to help out than work anyway. Plus, now that I'm signed up, hopefully I'll have the time to help out with some of the other surveys and projects that are going on.........

It's funny, I thought the same way when I started stocking in 2013. I thought it would be a 1 and done, gave my 5 hours and someone else can do next weeks stocking. It's 2015, missed only 1 stocking do to scheduling conflicts, and I look forward to packing buckets with Trout!

It's honestly not work, it's good times with a bunch of great guys! Not a week goes by I when I fail to learn something new!

We all want a better fishery, it simply takes a committed few to enact change!