Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

After work today I went to Echo Lake in Howell, chucking big hardware in the hopes of landing a big breeder 'bow. After about 20 minutes something slams my #4 Blue Fox. Imagine my surprise when I reel in a brown trout! As we are all aware, NJF&W is only stocking rainbows this year. I could not find this lake on the fall or winter trout stocking list. Therefore, it seems that this trout held over from at least last year, through the hot summer. The fish was a bit thin, but otherwise healthy looking, and put up a good fight.

I don't know much about this lake, but I am surprised that a 6-acre tanin-stained lake in south Jersey can hold trout all year. Is it spring fed? Is it deep enough to have cool water during summer? If anyone has any info, I'd love to hear it.

BTW, fish was returned to hold over for another year.

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

mama always said fishing was like a box of chocolates

good fish man

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

Looks like a brownbow hybrid

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

I used to keep two trout in a small pool right where water came from an under water pipe. Water came from a two foot deep pond but time under ground cooled it enough for the trout to survive in that one pool. They would hide during the day and come out at night when the temps dropped a few degrees. I also caught a brown once in Lake Takanassee in August that must have survived quite while. I guess they find a tiny spring seep and sit on it for the hot weather period.

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

Idk this lake but private entities could also stock using the musky trout hatchery which could put Browns and Brookies in. It's a possibility or maybe it just survived.

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

Great to see some our Browns surviving through the roller coaster of weather we experience here in NJ! Nice catch buddy!

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

That's pretty neat, nice net btw ;)

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

NJDF&W has gotten other reports of holdover trout catches from Echo Lake.

They lowered & dredged it a few years ago, perhaps, exposing some cold water seeps / springs.

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

I caught a brown on opening day in the Green Brook last Saturday, that stream has to get over 80 in the summer

Re: Surprise Holdover Brown Trout
 

Really? How big? That brook didn't have any water in it over the summer. That's amazing. Couple holes for the fish to hide in on the brook.