NJ Salmon Stocking

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

I think the desire that people express with brookies + browns is the opposite tho, they want to catch the different variety of species, and will trade off the slob rainbows for the chance to hook two different trout species rather than the same rainbow trout. I heard from those who fished back when they did stock all three that each species would have a different character to what bait/lures they wanted, where they would position in the river, etc. Despite being all stocked trout, the three would add some variations to the experience. I unfortunately started my fishing adventures after the state went rainbow-only so I dont have experience with this myself.

browns are way better survivors than rainbows so I don't understand what NJ DEC is doing... they are way more tolerant of higher temps and lower oxygen levels than rainbows.. Brookies are tough because they require clean cool water, and in NJ with its development mania is becoming less hospitable for their needs.. NJ once had a lot of brookies if you knew where to look.. I used to catch them in tiny farm creeks back in the 60's.. brookies need to be left alone.. they don't seem to do well in highly developed areas.. browns do fine however, as long as the water has enough oxygen and doesn't get above say 75 degrees for long periods... Could be because browns are not aggressive feeders, and are simply not as easy to catch as rainbows... bob