Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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..

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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;)

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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....

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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!!!!!!

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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...

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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

Re: Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY
 

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