Trout - fall stocking

[DiPaoro]

Anyone planning on fishing this week for the stock trout? I am very new to fly fishing and plan to enjoy landing a few rainbows this week.

[thmyorke1]

I remember doing poorly first two weeks of fall stocking. Fish are straight out of the trucks + it's when fishing pressure is at its highest. Unlike spring where there's a few weeks between stocking for the fish to get comfortable in the rivers.

Myself I'll be targeting them a bit later, just preference. Good luck if you head out. And give us a report.

[DiPaoro]

Well, I did take Wednesday off and will be sure to provide a report. I am less optimistic based on your comments. We will see.

Still better to be fishing than working.

[Dave B.]

I have to agree with 'thmyorke1', the fall stockies really don't seem to bite well for a week or 2 after stocking. They have full bellies and good fat reserves built up from their time in the hatchery, and being older fish they take their time to explore and adjust to their new homes.

[DiPaoro]

All this means is there will be another day to take as PTO end of next week.

I enjoy the river regardless but was looking forward to catching a few tomorrow. I will let everyone know how I do. At least now will not feel so badly if do not land a fish.

[thmyorke1]

All this means is there will be another day to take as PTO end of next week.

I enjoy the river regardless but was looking forward to catching a few tomorrow. I will let everyone know how I do. At least now will not feel so badly if do not land a fish.

https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/flstk18.htm

Check out this schedule if you're fishing early into the stocking period.

Stocking begins today, remember that they take two weeks to get every waterbody stocked. They'll be stocking the black river today, but South Branch Raritan is until Friday. The major trout rivers will be stocked by the end of this week. Also keep an eye on the Updates section on the bottom. Some years they dont even stock a certain body of water due to low flow or other conditions. They'll post an update there if that happens.

[DiPaoro]

I am planning to visit the Black River tomorrow.

[thmyorke1]

I am planning to visit the Black River tomorrow.

Sweet, you might hook into some holdovers and also some wild browns if the fresh stockies dont cooperate.

[acabtp]

If you want to fish, just get out there and fish. I have several times caught 2+ year old rainbows that I helped stock 10 minutes earlier. IMO the two week lockjaw is a myth. Try big flashy lures rather than small lures or bait.

[DiPaoro]

I will be going with the Fly Pole and lots of flies...streamers.

Leaving the spinning rod home this time.

[Drossi]

I will be going with the Fly Pole and lots of flies...streamers.

Leaving the spinning rod home this time.

Bright streamers like grey ghosts or mickey finns or beadhead wooly buggers with some crystal flash tied in them usually work pretty well for the fall stockies right out of the truck.

I'll be out this weekend to harass them, time to leave the wild fish be so they can do the wild thing and breed the next generation. The stockies come in handy at times like these.

[NJSquatch]

If you want to fish, just get out there and fish. I have several times caught 2+ year old rainbows that I helped stock 10 minutes earlier. IMO the two week lockjaw is a myth.

I think it is highly dependent on water temps and levels. I have gotten the skunk and had banner days fishing stocking week during the fall.

[Lard Almighty]

In my limited experience fishing during stocking week, your best bet may be to be at the stocking point when the fish first get thrown in. They swim around aimlessly for 30-45 minutes before they settle in and shut down. I used a small brown plastic grub to catch four or five of them during such an occasion, I think it was because it kind of looked like a hatchery pellet. Maybe you could use a small brown fly, like an elk hair caddis or similar, to do the same. Best of luck!

[DiPaoro]

While I have tomorrow off, I did try it for one hour today. I saw at least six guys trying to catch the stock trout. Only one landed and lots of unhappy guys. I hope to have a better fishing report tomorrow as I plan to hit the river first thing and will give a few different flies a go. I am optimistic will land one.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I gotta say I love Trout fishing. I’m usually out there by myself in the colder months, November-March! Most people would be surprised at how many fish you can catch during the colder months. You don’t have to wait for the stockies to get delivered in NJ.........:D

[reely]

little extra work and some patience will help when fishing the fall stocking. good luck and catch them up.

[AndyS]

While I have tomorrow off, I did try it for one hour today. I saw at least six guys trying to catch the stock trout. Only one landed and lots of unhappy guys. I hope to have a better fishing report tomorrow as I plan to hit the river first thing and will give a few different flies a go. I am optimistic will land one.

I said it before and I'll say it again. These are large fish with built up body fat that do not need to feed for at least 3 or 4 weeks. Then the leaves come down. Do yourself a favor and wait till at least November 1st to try for these fish.

[acabtp]

I think it is highly dependent on water temps and levels. I have gotten the skunk and had banner days fishing stocking week during the fall.
exactly. the weather and flows make the difference, that they were just stocked... not so much.

I said it before and I'll say it again. These are large fish with built up body fat that do not need to feed for at least 3 or 4 weeks. Then the leaves come down. Do yourself a favor and wait till at least November 1st to try for these fish.
yeah every year i wonder why you say that haha. i think andy must actually be out there all oct catching them up and just wants the ribbers to himself! :D

[BT67]

Should be more water in the rivers than we've had over the last few years so that is good. Always have been a bit confused about the fall trout and never had great success. I have watched them be stocked on several occasions. Last year a friend and I fished a spot where we just witnessed them stock at least 100 fish about a hour prior. There wasn't even that much water around and the fish were gone? Saw almost none. Caught 1 and had a few follows, nothing else. Went to another spot the following morning only to find the area void of fish is spite of physically witnessing dozens put in. This just shows you they do spread out, even in low water conditions. There are a few that bite right away but the majority do not. If you can find them after Nov 1st you'll do well, thats a big IF however!

[AndyS]

Here is a fall stocking photo from the North Branch from a few years ago. Easy to see how these fish spread out, even during low water.

[DiPaoro]

Wednesday report of the Black River...

I witnessed one big rainbow trout landed and lots of unhappy guys wondering what they were doing wrong. I had zero luck as well with the fly pole. I plan to try again in a few days or a week as everyone suggested.

[CadiShackFishing]

So I took a half day yesterday to do some fall fishing. In my opinion Saxon Falls was not stocked. Ended up with a sunny and a chub. Did not see anything in the water nor even had a hit. Someone said they stocked in the morning but nothing was caught. Well at least it was a nice day with the sun out. Will try again over the weekend.

[thmyorke1]

Thanks for the reports.

@cadishack, see any truck tire tracks ? Usually an indicator if they stock or not.

[CadiShackFishing]

There was water in the lot but it seems like there always is.

[DiPaoro]

Lots of rain will make things interesting with the river level. I am now cleaning up my gear for another try in a few days. I will report back after I go again. All suggestions for fly selection are welcome. I did try 10 flies...streamers... all colors and several other flies....all sizes.

[thmyorke1]

Holy mackerel you guys check out these water levels. :eek:

Perfect timing for trout to move around. Hope no stocking trucks get swept away by these floods :D heck I'd figure there is so much water the trout can just swim from the hatchery to the stocking points. LOL

sounds like were gonna have a sweet trout season!

[BT67]

Holy mackerel you guys check out these water levels. :eek:

Perfect timing for trout to move around. Hope no stocking trucks get swept away by these floods :D heck I'd figure there is so much water the trout can just swim from the hatchery to the stocking points. LOL

sounds like were gonna have a sweet trout season!


absolutely, can't remember a recent fall stocking when the rivers werent way down:)

[Billfish715]

Just a few things to consider about the fall trout stocking/fishing:
There are fewer fish being stocked in each of the rivers compared to the weekly quotas that are stocked in the same rivers in the spring. That means that each stop at a stocking point will receive fewer trout........usually. There is simply no way that every stop along the route receives a netful (or less) of trout. Some spots that might have received trout in the spring will be passed by in order to insure the entire load is distributed efficiently. It's a juggling act to make sure everyone is happy that their favorite spot received some fish. That's why there is a caravan of cars usually following the trucks or are waiting at a stocking point to observe and then decide where to fish.
The flow on the Musky has been "up" recently due to the release of water from Lake Hopatcong. That, coupled with the recent rain, will be sure to spread fish throughout each stretch. I drove along Pohatcong Creek yesterday and saw fishermen in several spots searching the water from the banks looking to see where the trout were stocked. Very few were actually fishing. The South Branch gets stocked today and with the increased water levels from the rain, expect some of those fish to swim a bit farther from the holes where they were stocked.
Give it time. Be patient. Enjoy the extended season. You should have the streams to yourselves in a few days.

[Hookmanski]

Can't wait to get out there for some fall trout! I hope to do some fishing for holdovers this weekend back near my moms house. They don't stock in the fall there, but nobody fishes there in the spring so more holdovers for me! :D

[logs22]

Schedule shows that Ramapo is getting stocked today, I get out at 3 and was going to see if could snag one of the fresh stockies before they spread out too much (and If that fails there are always smallmouth) Does anyone know where the major stocking points are for fall stocking of the ramapo? I am sure I could look at a map and make some educated guesses as to where the stocking points are but the ramapo is a long river and ideally I would like to fish one of the more heavily stocked stretches. Since the fall stock is a lot lighter than spring I am guesssing some stretches are much more heavily stocked than others. Specifically, does the stretch between Pompton Lake and confluence with Pompton River receive any fish? What about stretch immediately upstream of Pompton Lake? The stretch further north adjacent to Ramapo College? Any info appreciated! Thanks.

[AndyS]

With the high winds and LEAVES, you might want to wait. Rivers are high, the fish have lock-jaw. Bundle up and do the majority of your FW fishing during November before everything turns to ice.

[ALS Mako]

Schedule shows that Ramapo is getting stocked today, I get out at 3 and was going to see if could snag one of the fresh stockies before they spread out too much (and If that fails there are always smallmouth) Does anyone know where the major stocking points are for fall stocking of the ramapo? I am sure I could look at a map and make some educated guesses as to where the stocking points are but the ramapo is a long river and ideally I would like to fish one of the more heavily stocked stretches. Since the fall stock is a lot lighter than spring I am guesssing some stretches are much more heavily stocked than others. Specifically, does the stretch between Pompton Lake and confluence with Pompton River receive any fish? What about stretch immediately upstream of Pompton Lake? The stretch further north adjacent to Ramapo College? Any info appreciated! Thanks.

Be careful on how you use the word "snag". Just saying. I've fished the ramapo and had my best luck north of pompton lake. If you take the time and search the river you will find them.

[Mark B.]

With the high winds and LEAVES, you might want to wait. Rivers are high, the fish have lock-jaw. Bundle up and do the majority of your FW fishing during November before everything turns to ice.

"Same as it ever was."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDIDvlH2jg

[thmyorke1]

"Same as it ever was."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDIDvlH2jg

And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful trout! :D

[DiPaoro]

I have not gone back yet but has anyone else had any luck with the Fall Stock Trout? I may give it a go over the weekend.

[Drossi]

I have not gone back yet but has anyone else had any luck with the Fall Stock Trout? I may give it a go over the weekend.

Yes I got 1 Sunday in about 1/2 an hour on a size 10 brown bugger. Had the river to myself too but my old nail knot failed shortly after I landed the fish or I likely would have got a few more. With this cold front coming in you'll need to get deep and slow.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Get your Trout fishing in now. The leaves will be flying into the rivers thick come this Sunday!!! Good luck to all!!! I highly recommend plugs by the way! The wild unstocked fish never get a facefull of hooks, they hit the damn thing head first......... LOL!!!!!

[DiPaoro]

I went back today and learned from other anglers a few large trout were caught. I had no luck but did not stay long. There was a large branch in the across of the river and right in the middle of my spot. Too bad did not have the chainsaw. May try again tomorrow weather permitting.

[NJSquatch]

Hit the rockaway today and had the place to myself. Saw a couple of fish and landed an 17" male on the AndyS special. Released for others to enjoy.

https://i.postimg.cc/vBRqDnLz/IMG-0048.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZKqcbjzm/IMG-0049.jpg

[thmyorke1]

the AndyS special.


lol :D , and Great looking fish man, pretty big!

[AndyS]

Chunky trout !