Stocking frozen lakes?

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

Has anyone brought up the fact that there is still 16 inches of ice on most NNJ lakes, that temps aren't breaking for another 5 days and that stocking is usually done two or three weeks before opening day? I'm not as old as some of you guys on here, but I've been ice fishing for 15 years and don't ever remember seeing this much ice in early March. I think it's a safe bet that a lot of trout stocked lakes are gonna be frozen when they should be getting trout. Is there a plan B?

A good question. Guess the NJ F+G will be packing chainsaws

[catfishonthelake]

They may have to push Opening Day back? I'm mean for real, does anyone remember having this much ice this late in the season? Normally everyone is breaking out the planks by now. I've almost always been able to find some open water in February. Not this year.

[FASTEDDIE29]

They cut a hole in the ice and stock the trout. Easy as that. This happens almost every year in Pa. Chainsaw, hole, men, stocked Trout. And the games begin. Got too witness a ice trout stocking a couple years ago in NE Pa. The show must go on.

[briansnat]

I've been fishing in NJ for nearly 50 years and never saw this much ice this late in the season. 17 inches today in Morris County. I've seen that much ice in January (rarely) but in most years us ice fishermen are done by late Feb and ice into March is rare.

I think that if the lakes don't open enough to stock they may throw more fish into streams or lakes that are open (central NJ). They won't hold on to them and no way will they delay opening day.

[UglyStick]

Great point about the stocking... normally a week from today is when F&W puts out their nets to collect the broodstock pike...