Lake trout stocking for 2013:

[AndyS]

Initially the state actually over stocked Round Valley with lake trout and never kept tabs on natural reproduction. Finally after 10 years or so they stopped stocking and by that time it was too late. I’m just speaking from past experience. Back in the early 90’s you couldn’t park there after 10am, all the lots were full. There were 3 bait and tackle shops open near Round Valley. It was the world class brown and rainbow trout fishing that drew the masses. The bait crashed, the lake trout took over, the fish got smaller. Now there are no more tackle shops near Round Valley and most days are like a ghost town there. I’m not bashing guys for liking or wanting to fish for lake trout, but I think the big brown trout drew the people from all around the tri state area. As you know I fish Merrill Creek a lot and they have already had the baitfish population crash there once already and had to restock. I don’t want to see what happened at Round Valley happen at Merrill Creek, and as far as stocking them in Monksville, let's just say it’s the walleye, bass and muskies that draw the attention there.