Spring Trout Fishing Information

2010 Weekly Stocking Schedules 2010 Trout Allocations by Water and Day Stocked 2010 Bonus Broodstock Program Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by County Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by Name Trout Fishing Facts & Information (pdf, 18kb) 2010 Trout Regulations (pdf, 245kb)

The stocking trucks from the Pequest Trout Hatchery completed their work on May 28, stocking nearly 600,000 trout throughout the state. Those trout were in addition to some of the 26,000 two to five pound bruisers still in the water from stockings in the fall and winter. And they were kept company prior to opening day by some of the more than 6,000 two to five pounders which are stocked during the spring season. By spring's end, trout were placed in 89 streams and 90 ponds and lakes throughout New Jersey. Fortunately for the state's anglers, trout remain available throughout the summer in many waters. There's a reason why New Jersey trout fishing participation has increased more than 21% during the past 5 years. It's because trout fishing has never been better in the Garden State and we're working to keep it that way in 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2010 New Waters Several new waters have been added to the trout stocking program this spring. Tuckahoe Lake, an 18-acre lake located in the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, has great access and will provide fabulous trout fishing for Cape May County anglers.

Alexauken Creek (Hunterdon Co.) will once again be stocked with trout in the spring. Removed from the trout stocking program in 1989 due to a lack of public access, West Amwell Township has since acquired property along the stream corridor. Much of the stream below Hamp Road is now publicly accessible. Trout stocking has been reinstated at Shaws Mill Pond (Cumberland Co.) following completion of a dam repair project last year. Driving directions to these new waters, as well as all other trout-stocked waters can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/accesswater.htm. Anglers are reminded that access to locations along trout stocked streams may be available only through the good graces of private landowners. Please be respectful of their property and take care not to damage trees and shrubs. Taking your trash with you, and any other trash you observe while fishing, helps maintain good angler-landowner relations and ensures continued public access to trout streams.

Click to enlarge Catching a trout of a lifetime is a real possibility for every NJ trout angler, and sometimes when least expected. Joey Schank caught this 5 lb. 11 oz. rainbow while fishing with his mother at Rosedale Lake on March 21. Read their story (pdf, 8kb).

Temporarily Suspended
The stocking of Ponderlodge Pond (Cape May Co.), a waterbody that was just added to the trout stocking program this year, is temporarily suspended from the stocking program due to safety concerns. The unsafe structures on the property are slated for removal later this year and trout stocking is expected to commence next spring.

Mill Pond (Bergen Co.) will not be stocked in 2010 due to lake draw down for dam repairs.

Waters Dropped from Stocking Program
Several waters have been permanently dropped from the trout stocking program, effective this year. Trout stocking has been discontinued at Dennisville Lake and West Pond (Cape May County) due to low angler interest. Scarlet Oak Pond (Bergen Co), previously stocked only once each spring with a handful of trout, was also dropped from the stocking program. The pond's brushy shoreline and boating prohibition is a deterrent to angling, and trout anglers can easily fish the adjacent Ramapo River.

Two small streams with reproducing trout populations, Spring Mills Brook (Hunterdon Co.) and Roaring Rock Brook (Warren Co.), will no longer be stocked with trout. However, anglers may still enjoy fishing for wild trout in these streams (general trout regulations apply).

Special Regulations Changes Notable changes in special trout regulations for four streams go into effect this year. The 1.2 mile section of the Musconetcong River at Point Mountain (Warren/Hunterdon Co.), formerly regulated as a Seasonal Trout Conservation Area (TCA), is now a Year Round TCA. The use of bait is prohibited and only artificial lures may be used. Harvest is limited to one 15-inch trout daily (catch & release only during the pre-season and in-season closures that apply to the river as a whole). This stretch will now be stocked less frequently after opening day (3 times instead of 7).

More than 30 waters are managed for wild trout - try your luck, and skill, for a beauty like this! Click to enlarge

The Year Round TCA designation has been removed for a 2.25 mile stretch of the East Branch of the Paulinskill River (Sussex Co.). The East Branch trout fishing regulations are now the same as regulations for the rest of the Paulinskill River. The East Branch is closed to all fishing during the 3-week pre-season closure and the spring in-season closures. After opening day, trout will be stocked more frequently than before (7 times rather than 3).

The Seasonal TCA on the Pequannock River (Morris/Passaic Co.) has been relocated further downstream, and encompasses a 1.3 mile section of the river from the railroad trestle below Appelt Park to the Hamburg Turnpike bridge (Pompton Lakes).

A new Wild Trout Stream section has been designated on the Pequannock River, from the Rt. 23 bridge at Smoke Rise to the Rt. 23 bridge at Smith Mills (Morris/Passaic Co.). Most of this stretch was previously regulated as a Seasonal TCA. Wild Trout Stream regulations to protect and maintain the quality of this wild brown trout fishery include a 12-inch minimum size on brown trout, a reduced creel limit and fishing with artificial lures and flies only. Streams or stream segments designated as Wild Trout Streams are not stocked with trout.

NJ Trout Regulations can be found online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2010/trtregs10.pdf (pdf, 285kb)

Allocation Changes
Occasionally the spring trout allocation for an individual waterbody is adjusted due to a change associated with the waterbody (such as a fishing regulation change, or a new or dropped stocking point). This year there are several noteworthy allocation changes.

Additional trout (830) have been allocated to the Pequannock River for the new Seasonal TCA.

A new stocking point on the Musconetcong River in Finesville was added. The additional trout allocated to this location is offset by a reduction in the number of trout allocated further upstream, at the Year Round TCA section at Point Mountain (see Special Regulation Changes above).

On the Paulinskill River, the section of the E/Br. formerly regulated as a Year Round TCA will receive more trout (830) because of more frequent stocking (see Special Regulation Changes above).

The D&R Feeder Canal (Hunterdon/Mercer Co.) will receive 1,600 fewer trout because a stocking point was dropped and the mileage figure associated with all the trout stocking points was corrected.

Stocking Schedule Changes
One notable schedule change has been made for White Lake (Warren Co.). This lake will be stocked 4 times instead of once, which will provide anglers with earlier and more frequent opportunities to fish for freshly stocked trout.

Changes to the stocking schedule occur every year and anglers are advised to check the stocking schedule to obtain up-to-date information when planning their outings. The schedule is available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtstk10.htm and through the trout stocking hotline 609-633-6765.

Bonus Broodstock Waters Each year a different set of waters scattered across the state is selected for the Bonus Broodstock program. This year nine designated ponds and lakes will receive between 30 and 50 of the 15 to 24-inch broodstock trout. These bruisers are stocked before opening day and the odds of catching a big one are in your favor if you try fishing one of these waters: Birch Grove Park Pond (Atlantic Co.), Colonial Lake (Mercer Co.), Grenloch Lake (Gloucester/Camden Co.), Hamilton Fire Pond (Monmouth Co.), Hooks Creek Lake (Middlesex Co.), Mt. Hope Pond (Morris Co.), Shaws Mill Pond (Cumberland Co.), West Hudson County Park Pond (Hudson Co.), and Whites Pond (Bergen Co.).

SPRING TROUT SEASON BASICS

Anglers should be aware that most trout-stocked waters are closed to fishing during the 3 weeks leading up to opening day (March 22 - April 10 at 8 a.m.). There are several waters that remain open for fishing. Farrington Lake (Middlesex Co.), Lake Hopatcong (Morris/Sussex counties), Lake Shenandoah (Ocean Co.), Prospertown Lake (Ocean Co.), and Swartswood Lake (Sussex Co.) are open year round to fishing. Seasonal or Year Round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes also remain open to fishing. Trout caught in any of these waters during this period must be released immediately. Note that fishing is not permitted on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 10, 2010 at 8 am.

Trout can be harvested from the state's two Trophy Trout Lakes, Merrill Creek and Round Valley Reservoirs. Be sure to check the for regulations pertaining to these waters.

The state's sixteen major trout streams are stocked every week following Opening Day and are closed to fishing from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of stocking to allow the trout a chance to disperse. All other waters are open to fishing on stocking days, with most stocked at least three times. Since every county has waters that are stocked with trout, trout fishing opportunities are never too far away.

Fish and Wildlife places "Hook-a-Winner" jaw-tags on 1,000 brook trout stocked each spring. Anglers who catch a Hook-a-Winner trout should send their name, address, fish tag number and location of catch to:

Hook a Winner Program
Pequest Trout Hatchery
605 Pequest Road
Oxford, NJ 07863

Don't forget that a fishing license and trout stamp are required to fish for trout if you are 16 years of age or older. Children under 16 and New Jersey residents 70 years and older can fish for free. Licenses and stamps may be obtained through one of the many license agents statewide, or online.

2010 SPRING TROUT STOCKING UPDATES

Ponderlodge Pond (Cape May Co.) is temporarily suspended from the stocking program due to safety concerns.
Mill Pond (Bergen Co.) will not be stocked in 2010 due to lake draw down for dam repairs.
Musconetcong WMA (off of Shurts Rd., Bethlehem Twp.) is temporarly suspended for the 2010 spring stocking season.

Any deviations from the stocking schedule will be noted here, on the 2010 Spring Stocking Schedules page and on the Trout Hotline (609-633-6765).

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