Battle of the trout. NJ vs. NY

[bulletbob]

NY has lousy management.. They stock 1 year old fish, jersey stocks 2 year olds.. NY anglers take EVERYTHING.. I don't know why anyone would think NY has a bunch of conservationists fishing here..An exception might be the Catskill streams and a few Adirondack streams... The Finger Lakes and Great lakes get all the trout because thats where the tourists go.. I live in the Finger Lakes region, and our stream fishing blows.. There are indeed some lakes here that have big trout, Cayuga and Seneca, but they are hit hard by downrigger trollers all year as they are too big and windblown to freeze.. Its all deep trolling from big boats with downriggers, but thats how you have to fish when the lakes are 40 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 600 feet deep.. I personally don't like trolling all day at 125 feet down in whitecaps for a few 4 or 5 pound fish ...Jersey you can catch nice trout in the lakes 25-40 feet down drifting a calm mile wide lake with herring and a split shot.. Good luck with that up here... This is all big water deep trolling, the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills... Yes we have the Lake Ontario tribs, and you can get some trophies, but I don't do it.. Too crazy up there.. No sportsmanship, fights breaking out, cursing, rowdy drunks.. Not for me..
I have been in NY state 22 years, and am looking to move back to NJ, and better fishing is one of the main reasons. We have BIG water here, but keep in mind, bigger is NOT always better.. NJ is easier to fish by far, more productive for some species,[not all] and the fisheries management is much better.. Try walking the shore of these giant deep lakes with a spinnerbait or plug and see if you ever get a hit.. You will at Lake Hopatcong, Spruce Run or Round Valley... bob

[Dino]

"the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills"

he's right everyone.. please do not go to upstate new york looking for good trout fishing. nothing to see here.

please stay in NJ and combat fish the outflow sluiceway at Pequest hatchery.

...the things you read online. SMH

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Dino

"the streams are awful unless you go to Catskills"

he's right everyone.. please do not go to upstate new york looking for good trout fishing. nothing to see here.

please stay in NJ and combat fish the outflow sluiceway at Pequest hatchery.

...the things you read online. SMH

I stand by what I wrote.. I live here.. The catskills are managed better for trout because of the tourist trade.. Out of state guys spend big money locally during their fishing weekends on the "blue ribbon" streams.. Much of the southern and central parts of the state are an afterthought... No one even fishes the streams here for hundreds of miles east west and north because there just aren't enough fish to bother with after the first few weeks.. Our stream fishery in the central part of NY is basically the catskills streams, and the Great lakes tribs.. The are 5 hours apart.. In between, not that much.. Come on up, fish Owego Creek, Catatonk creek or any of the Finger Lakes tribs for a weekend.. Let us know how you make out.... bob

[NJ Dave]

It was a a slow go today. We were on the water by 730, cool, cloudy, damp, and the leaves were falling.
First cast on a worm I got slammed but didn't connect. Re casted and soon hooked up with a fat 12 inch small mouth.
My cousin I can hear splashing about and almost lands on his arse in the water.
Soon after on a pink egg he hooks up a stockie rainbow.
Almost immediatley after his fish I hook up with a nice healthy 14 inch brown that looked like it held over from the spring.
Off to a good start with two fish within 15 min of fishing..........
Not so much. The sun never came out and it was pretty cloudy all day. We covered a lot of water and threw the box at em and every type of bait possible only to find bass and sun fish.
We made a few moves hitting a few holes along 94 with nothing to show.
By noon we decided to call it a day.
The water was low but not as low as what I imagined it to be. Mabey last weekends rain brought it up a little bit not enough. I'm sure this weekends storm will help the levels.
Not much to represent nj. Let's see what ny can fare for us this Sunday.

[slider]

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by slider

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..

As stated, the catskills get the money... The Great Lakes get the money.. thats where the tourists go, thats where the fish go... Try some of the "trout streams", oh I dunno lets say 50 to 200 miles west of the Catskills,let us all know how NJ can't compare. I would take the Pequest or the Musconetcong ANY day... bob

[slider]

Bob: I hear ya..maybe u can clue me in on a few streams down in south Jersey..Like Cape May County or Camden county, or Salem or Cumberland county..Same thing here In Jersey Northern counties get the trout south gets a token...But I'd put the west branch up againts the MUSKY OR THE PEQUEST any day of the week FOR SIZE AND QUALITY...tHEN OF COURSE you have the Ausbal, th both branches east & west..Saranac is good..Bob I've fished NJ for 60 years...After u fished the streams u mentioned what do u have left I'd say Big flat Brook would be best bet..Try them from end of Jul to Sept..See how u do..NY will put them to shame..And comparing Lakes is like comparing Apples to Oranges. No contest Bob, NY wins hands down..The reservior sustems in souther Ny alone beat just about anything NJ has to offer..Except Round Valley which is not what it used to be..I fished that back in the 70's Brown and bows where numerous and then the fishing blitz occured there, like any place else in jersy over fished or boaters drive u off the water after 9:00 am.. I don't tjhik u've explored your state enough.. U ever fished the Delawre river system..Or the NY City reservoir sytem...Big mistake if u haven't....

[bigfishy]

Originally Posted by slider

Dave: Sorry to hear Paulinskill disapointed the other day..i think this time of year NJ stocks better than NY..But for year round action..NY can't be beat, no matter whats been said here so far..The Delaware river system which I include the main stem of the Delaware beginning at the confluence of the West branch & the East Branch is a premiere system for trout, my sorces tell me that just last week browns and rainbows both were caught going 16 ,17 & 18 inches..I would recomend u stop off in Roscoe when u get there and up the road from Riamondo's rest..You'll find and outfitter and guideTake some time and check out their advice...Then if u have time..Check out Pepcaton reservoir over in Downsville..Al's sport shop good place to stop..Tell him Howie sent u..He'll fill u in on permit system..You want a liget chance at 8 to 10 lb browns. No motors just 12 ft row boat and now Yaks...I could add 20 more places that will beat the pants off Nj..But these places will take alot of ur time..I'll throw in Cannonsville reservoir..Since these 2 places formed the tail waters of the east & west branches of the Del.. Nj can't compare..

Agreed 100% !! Did he mention that these fisheries can easily sustain themselves without stocking??? Stocking in the beaverkill was'nt even nessessary until the mid 90's when horrible droughts caused some devastating fish kills....And the deleware and its branches receive zero stockings, other than the fish that make their way in through some tributaries....

Although i do not know the rest of the state very well and i could totally believe that the rest of the state may very well be an afterthought

That being said the upper delaware watershed is very possibly the best native trout fisherie east of the mississippi, although the thread seems to be focusing on STOCKED trout fisheries in which case the delaware is not even in the topic