Nj division of fish and wildlife readying plenty of healthy rainbow trout for spring

[Michael82929]

The trout stocking of NJ waters up until the outbreak of furno. of 2014 was on track to do things it hadn't done in its history.

Decades of progress in our trout stocking program has current stocking levels far beyond my wildest dreams. Not only as a volunteer, but as an avid NJ angler and trout fishing enthuiest.

As a teenager growing up, I remember when it was a big deal to catch 1 fish over 13 inches in a NJ trout stream.

Catching your "first NJ breeder" etched in our memories of classics growing up. Can still remember my first 21 inch trout in NJ. Musky River "Stephen's State Park / many moons ago"

Into my 20s/30s it became the norm to think "how many big fish do I have a shot at today"

Catching 2/3/4 15 - 24 inch fish were now becoming a possibility.

Years past of fishing until the first week of June moved later and later into the summer.

Over the last few years, it got easier and easier to blow the dust off the gear for fall and winter treks into the frigid waters.

Nothing was more excited than over the last few years putting in 5 - 11 lb trout that you wouldn't believe were thrown in other than actually putting them in the water yourself.

2015 marks a road to recovery. We will see 16 - 18 inch in our NJ waters.

As the years progress, I can only hope we are on the road we were once headed prior to this outbreak.

Kind of glad this happened in retrospect, make people think twice of what they have right infront of them vs what can easily be taken away.