[Dave B.]

Lots of good comments here from different perspectives, always a good thing as the differences of opinion are what make for constructive discussions that often lead to productive changes,

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who recalls the 'bad old days' of trout production at Hackettestown. 'Billfish' is dead on when he says a 12 incher was a bragger back then, and that the brookies were usually the most impacted by disease at Hackettestown and NJ regularly had to obtain fish from other states and/or the Federal hatchery system just to be able to carry out a reasonable spring stocking. Fall and winter stockings were not even thought of!

As 'Jigman' says, other states choose to stock diseased fish regularly. This includes PA, who offered to take our diseased trout last year to stock in their waters. Given that info it's very possible the outbreak at Pequest was a result of an osprey or other raptor picking up the pathogen just a few miles away in PA and transmitting it to Pequest. No way to ever prove or dis-prove it but something that certainly bears consideration.

As for poaching, anywhere, if anyone is aware of a problem of this sort I would strongly urge you to report it, even if you're unable to at the moment it occurs. If it's a chronic problem somewhere at least the CO's can make an effort to step up enforcement there.

Thanks to 'Surfrod' for reminding me of the stats on the rainbow-vs-brook/brown situation. The short version is that in both 2012 and 2013 F&W had conducted a test to determine which species performed best with regards to Opening Day angler success. This was in direct response to angler input by the way, so they do hear our opinions believe it or not. Anyway the resulting Opening Day angler survey numbers showed the rainbows being caught 8 times more frequently than brooks. That is, a ratio of 8 to 1. To make an even stronger point, that 8 times greater number of rainbows caught was achieved by about half the number of anglers, so it definitely made a very strong case for stocking rainbows in the pre- and early season periods. That being the case the Div. was already moving towards a predominantly rainbow production format, although at the time still retaining some brook and brown production. Unfortunately the situation at Pequest last year pretty much forced their hand in the matter.

Personally I prefer a multi-species stocking regimen for many reasons. I like the idea of not knowing for sure what species I might be catching. I enjoy the challenge of trying to determine what species might be holding in a certain type of run, pool, etc.

Be that as it may, as 'Jigman' said, I'm just glad to have a full stocking program back on track, although last year there were plenty of trout around in most major streams all summer long despite the drastically shortened stocking schedule. My thanks to all those who opted out of trout fishing last year, I had a stellar year as a result! I really enjoyed Andy's posting pics of all the trout he encountered on his SBR trips! He proved the point that the shortened stocking didn't hurt the fishery nearly as badly as some guys were making it seem.