Stocking Trout
 

The fall trout stocking program gets underway next week and the barrels into which they will be dumped are ready. Have you seen the river levels lately? Oh my! There is some promise that early next week we will have some substantial rain from a storm now forming in the Gulf of Mexico. We certainly need whatever water Mother Nature can supply otherwise the trout will be tossed into streams giving them little chance of ever swimming more than a few yards up or down stream. They might as well be put into barrels. It's no secret where the fish will be. Just find any deep hole near a stocking point and have at it.

Re: Stocking Trout
 

Just hit one of the MANY scum hole duck ponds that will be stocked with these big trout.

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Wow it's already next week. I can see it now, those spots I scouted on the NB... ah it's wonderful... it's me not catching any trout! HAHA :D :D :rolleyes:

Ill just excuse myself fishing for smallies with mini floating rapalas and jigs.

Re: Stocking Trout
 

.

I'll be out there doing a rain dance.
If you see someone on the shoreline wearing a loincloth and feathers dancing around in a circle , please don't call the Park Police.


,

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The cormorants cant wait! Unfortunately !!

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Always look forward to the fall trout stocking but I really do think that if the water levels aren't good they should wait until will get some rain. I know its all about a schedule and clearing out the runways etc but the river levels are POOR right now.

Re: Stocking Trout
 

Without a doubt, there will be happy fishermen next week. That is the intention of the fall program. The fall is a beautiful time to be in the outdoors and, for one, I like to explore and experience as much of it as I can. That involves shuffling downstream often into more remote or less accessible locations. Unfortunately, with the low water flows, very, very few trout will ever have a chance to swim beyond the bridge and roadside pools into which they were thrown.

Maybe some of the volunteers will take some time to spread the trout and not just dump their nets into the holes. Or, as was suggested, wait a bit longer.

Those of you who fish in the lower stretches of the bigger streams may not notice how low the upper stretches are. If you fish the upper stretches of the NB, SB, Flatbrook or Musky, you may find that your favorite hip-deep spring run barely covers your ankles. Be prepared by having a plan B in mind. Fish on!

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I know there are some TU groups out there that do help with spreading the fish out some and take care in releasing them. That being said if we don't get some rain, fish will be stacked up wherever they're thrown(literally):rolleyes:

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Take it easy on the scum hole duck ponds, I happened to pull my PB Bow out of one of them last Feb. Having a local pond stocked with fall breeders provides me and many others who don't have access to good trout streams the ability to fish (and catch) through the winter (I.e maintain sanity through the long cold months)....

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Amen, brother.

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Somehow standing under a bridge with a dozen other anglers in a circle surrounding a 2 1/2 foot deep hole with stockies stacked like cord wood is much nobler than fishing a scummy pond.

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You make it seem that river fishing is confined to the nearest clearing on the river bank or the bridge.

In actuality many people hike up and down river to explore, not only to find better spots to fish but because its a more enjoyable and scenic way of spending time outside (for me at least)

While I'm neutral about where trout are stocked; I'd obviously admit stocking them where they could holdover and supply a better trouting experience is better.

The kinds of folk that prefer to sit and fish can still fish off the bridges too. But I understand a pond supplies more area for that activity to prevent crowding.

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Also if you're worried about the trout not being able to swim out of the stocking holes on the river and spread out, that's where I agree that something could be done to fix that. Waiting for higher water, or moving stocking locations to rivers that don't actually go too low to begin with. (*Cough* Raritan) :rolleyes: although some parts of North and South branch do have long stretches that stay deep.

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Weren’t the water levels even lower this time last year?

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Yes the water levels were terrible. It's all good though! Rains on the way starting this Sunday. Hopefully we get a lot so the fish move around! I love having the stacked up holes to myself come December and January! There's plenty of fish out there now! It makes me wonder why anglers "WAIT" for the stocking!!!:rolleyes:

Re: Stocking Trout
 

Good point. Truth is that anglers want action, and anticipate when the action is at its highest with fresh meat poured into the water.

... I'm also waiting for some trout post from yourself. I gotta feeling the first of the season will be a trifecta or another buck tiger trout.

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history repeats itself.......again-

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/show...t=92511&page=2

and my favorite part.......again-

"and you know what I'm gonna say. Put them in the main stem of the Raritan river !!!!"

startin to look like they're backin off the rain forecast too.

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If they need to get rid of them that bad, why not dump them in a muskie or pike filled lake? Seems much better to me than feeding the cormorants or bucket brigaders or pond suckers or bridge trolls. :D

Do they still stock GTP in the fall? I might get over there early November and see what's left if they do.

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"Bridge Trolls"! Best description yet! LOL!

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eh, rather than butting elbows with everyone I'll just stick to my secret holdover holes :D Last time I went to my favorite spot I saw a rainbow that had to be 18 inches or more, I wanna catch him real bad! This spot doesn't get fall stocking but there's plenty of trout in there already.

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Yes they were lower , depending on stream ,lower than I,saw in many a seasons however this year slightly higher but nothing like summer which had decent water levels & remained very fishable producing solid numbers of trout most days I went out !

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Hopefully Nate will help levels.