Skillful angler 'how to' video

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

In 2020 there was a winner:
CATCH AND RELEASE CATEGORY FRESHWATER SPECIES:
Brook Trout: 20.1" caught by James Harding, Sr. of Bloomingdale on April 11. James was
fishing from shore on Bogue Pond when he landed the fish at 8:45 a.m. Six-pound test was used
with a Daiwa spinning rod and Daiwa reel with Power Bait as the bait.

-
So private stockings may still open the chance

If you lower the category's minimum length then you will probably get more submissions like this still. Which isnt highlighting much other than private clubs. Or a rare PA-stocked escapee

Unless a WILD brook trout category is created alongside. Something like 9-10 inches as a minimum. And stocked fish dont count.
Submissions need to show the background with the creek. I think with photos of the fish, it can be clear to F&W if it's stocked vs wild.

I always have a raised eyebrow when "skillful" awards are given for catching a stocked trout. For kids yes but adults, meh. Just like the Dujack state record brookie was comical, they stocked it that size so they knew someone would break a record.

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by Drossi

I always have a raised eyebrow when "skillful" awards are given for catching a stocked trout. For kids yes but adults, meh. Just like the Dujack state record brookie was comical, they stocked it that size so they knew someone would break a record.

The vast majority of musky are stocked, should those not count? What about the million-plus walleye that get stocked in the Delaware, should those get excluded? Not hating on you (in fact I agree to a point), but where does it end? I think the "a fish is a fish" approach is the easiest and fairest.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

The vast majority of musky are stocked, should those not count? What about the million-plus walleye that get stocked in the Delaware, should those get excluded? Not hating on you (in fact I agree to a point), but where does it end? I think the "a fish is a fish" approach is the easiest and fairest.

The difference here is that the skillful-angler winning trouts are normally stocked at that size, like a breeder from the state or a biggun from a club stocking.
It's different from the rest of the stocked species, such as a stocked walleye that was only 6 inches when it left the truck, and ends up as a Skillful Angler winner for that year.

I find that cooler than some club member taking the leaderboard with a donkey brown trout.

[pacrags]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

The difference here is that the skillful-angler winning trouts are normally stocked at that size, like a breeder from the state or a biggun from a club stocking.
It's different from the rest of the stocked species, such as a stocked walleye that was only 6 inches when it left the truck, and ends up as a Skillful Angler winner for that year.

I find that cooler than some club member taking the leaderboard with a donkey brown trout.

agreed

catching a stocked fish that survived and grew to size for award vs a fish stocked the size for the award makes a difference

problem is, how can you really tell the difference - many species its easy, some though not so easy

[Broad Bill]

Take a kid fishing, don't worry about the life history of the fish you catch and you'll be a skillful angler for life.

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Take a kid fishing, don't worry about the life history of the fish you catch and you'll be a skillful angler for life.

That I 100% agree with!

[thmyorke1]

i just want to see more big brookies in the annual winner list. it's fun to click through the pictures of every single species. No love for our native char????

and i do the skillful angler thing for the certificates, i get them framed up and in my room. And it looks like a doctor's office with all their own certs, but it's all fish!!!

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

The vast majority of musky are stocked, should those not count? What about the million-plus walleye that get stocked in the Delaware, should those get excluded? Not hating on you (in fact I agree to a point), but where does it end? I think the "a fish is a fish" approach is the easiest and fairest.

Apples to Oranges comparison. The musky and walleye are stocked at a smaller size and need to survive and grow to become trophy size. If that were the case with trout I'd have not opined the way I did. In fact I would consider it skillful to catch a large size trout that heldover and grew to commendable size like you see coming out of Round Valley, Lake Hopactcong, or even the SBR. It's the outsized, fresh stockers that to me are meh as an awarded achievement. They are cool to catch but nothing to get all giddy over.