Question About NJ's Trout

[RJHooker]

Hi All!

I was looking to get into trout fishing, and I was wondering about their life after stocking in NJ specifically. I hear about "holdover" fish, or the lack there of. Do the stocked fish that are not caught just die? Is there any chance of them repopulating? Do they reject their new habitats? It would help in what areas I should target.

Thanks in advance!

[shucker]

I'll chime in..90% of the stocked trout die either from predation by humans or animals,stress due to water temps or improper handing or are just dumb.The 10% do holdover and become monsters and are extremely difficult to catch.A fish that's been in the river for many years has seen everything and knows there surroundings very well.If you want the bigguns you have to work for them.Learn your rivers well and what the main forage is,search for deep holes and runs.

[slider]

I'd recommend you start by following the spring stocking schedule, learn the rivers and note where the big holes are that are aways from the road and easy parking spaces..After a couple years of that u mite and I say mite be able to do the best tactic for catching big trout especially browns, and that to go big and fish at nite, but only after you've learned your territory..I'd pick 1 or 2 major stream and go from there.. Good luck

[kmaty]

There are plenty of holdovers to keep you occupied there's this one hole i actually checked out this morning that holds this fish tjats gota be ten++++!!!!! My biggest in jersey is right around 8 Funny part is that nobody has caught or snagged this fish as ive been watching him since the b4 the fall ive washed all types of lures amd bait in front of him. As was said earlier the smart ones survive!

[RJHooker]

Thanks for the replies all!

I went out today to scout some spots, and work on technique. I probably didn't try the best river, and should try to go where I have a better chance at first. I asked because I didn't want to get discouraged fishing so long after the last stocking.

Thanks for the info on their chances in the wild, and to be persistent and master some holes.

Have fun, and tight lines!

Cheers!

[EJS]

Originally Posted by RJHooker

Hi All!

I was looking to get into trout fishing, and I was wondering about their life after stocking in NJ specifically. I hear about "holdover" fish, or the lack there of. Do the stocked fish that are not caught just die? Is there any chance of them repopulating? Do they reject their new habitats? It would help in what areas I should target.

Thanks in advance!

These fish will last if they can find a good hole. If they drew the short straw and were thrown in a duck pond, they died months ago. I caught 2 hold over fish on opening day last year. Your best chance to finding these fish, get away from fishing under the bridges, move up or down stream, get away from where the people lazy fish!

[Michael82929]

my .02 cents

Wild trout - in most NJ streams, and I can really only talk about the North NJ trout stream since that's my experience.

Wild trout - from mother nature mad genius; I would consider rare in most parts / their are some in streams that have had a conservation program designated in their stretch of river. With that being stated, extreme summers can deplete a population stocked or wild - so to define generational wild trout I would say is a farce.

For wild trout to get to 2.5 - 4pds, it would take years and I don't think they have the window to get their. To many factors that make the percentages low.

Stocked fish - now that's another story. I have seen great examples of brood stock making a 6 month mark / 1 yr mark and 2 yr mark actually.

Example. I caught an 18 inch brown trout one year that had a 1 in a million mark on it. I saw this fish caught 12 months later 200 yds from where I previously caught it. It was a young kid actually, and I got a chuckle because I saw the fish up close and knew it was the exact same fish with the exact distinct mark.

I have caught numerous brood stock from last fall's stocking program and have seen last yr's brown trout brood stock make it the year.

As for stocked fish, one cant really determine the shelf life but you have the ability to piece a catch together on any given day if you are going about it the right way. Once again, that varies on the angler.

[RJHooker]

Thanks for the continued info!

As a n00b with little opportunity, I'm trying to maximize my chances, cause when I go and catch nothing, I have no idea if it my technique, the weather, the bait, the time of day, or the spot. So fishing at a good time in a good location will eliminate some of those variables.

I live closest to the Ramapo, and Wanaque, but I don't think they are the greatest places to start from what I have heard. But, I will eventually find a golden spot someplace.

Thanks again!

Cheers!

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by RJHooker

I live closest to the Ramapo, and Wanaque, but I don't think they are the greatest places to start from what I have heard. But, I will eventually find a golden spot someplace.

go down to back beach park and fish the WTS section of the wanaque between the park and the wanaque reservoir. toss a #3 or #5 rapala or a #2 or #4 panther martin into the deep holes and you will catch some trout. keep in mind that since it is a designated WTS (wild trout stream see page 22), trout must be released if caught there this time of year.

have fun!

[Predator]

Originally Posted by acabtp

go down to back beach park and fish the WTS section of the wanaque between the park and the wanaque reservoir. toss a #3 or #5 rapala or a #2 or #4 panther martin into the deep holes and you will catch some trout. keep in mind that since it is a designated WTS (wild trout stream see page 22), trout must be released if caught there this time of year.

have fun!

Thanks for sharing the trout info page from njfgw. For some reason or another i've never seen that page before. I can read that thing all day. A lot of good info on there.