Pre-season Trout

[Billfish715]

A valid question was raised on another board. Can I legally fish during the pre-season in any of the streams that are not going to be stocked with trout this year? The trout compendium refers to no fishing on trout stocked waters from now until opening day. If the streams are not stocked then I should be able to fish in them as long as I release the trout I might catch. Streams like the Little Flatbrook, Peapack, Capoolong etc. are not stocked this year. That should put them into the catch and release category much like the TCA's (trout conservation areas) and the catch and release sections that will all be "stocked". I can guarantee that if I wet a line in one of the streams that are not being stocked for preseason, I'll get an written invitation to donate to the Conservation Officer's Ball. What do you think? If fishing is allowed in a TCA, then why not in a non-stocked trout stream? In addition, will I be allowed to fish on the listed closed days later in the season when no more trout are being stocked? If the stocking is over in 3-4 weeks, that leaves all of May with closed water days when there is no stocking? Confusing. Any F&G guys out there who know the answer?