What does everyone think of the 10 day C&R for trout?

[baetis]

Notwithstanding the last minute poor notice, I actually enjoyed the "early" C&R season.

I was wondering if people would support a similar measure in the future.

What if the major in season stocking streams opened up on April 1st (or 2 weeks prior to official opening day) for C&R fishing only, no bait, no powerbait/scented lures?

Would you be in favor of that, against, why or why not?

[Drossi]

It was the right decision for this circumstance but I'm mixed about continuing it in a normal year. The state needs those couple of weeks to adequately stock with volunteer support. That support is vital to moving the fish around. We'll see in a few weeks when all the bridge pools are cleaned out how much the volunteers really help spread the fish out and enhance the experience.

That said I always felt that they should have a 1 week preseason for anglers 15 and under to be able to fish before the general opener. Trouble with that is you know people would just use their kids as a prop to fish early.

[thmyorke1]

It was the right decision for this circumstance but I'm mixed about continuing it in a normal year. The state needs those couple of weeks to adequately stock with volunteer support. That support is vital to moving the fish around. We'll see in a few weeks when all the bridge pools are cleaned out how much the volunteers really help spread the fish out and enhance the experience.

That said I always felt that they should have a 1 week preseason for anglers 15 and under to be able to fish before the general opener. Trouble with that is you know people would just use their kids as a prop to fish early.

agree, especially on the preseason for kids. Even if it's just people bringing their kids out to fish early, it's a success as that's still creating bonding time; whether the kids want to go out or not :D they might have a good experience and want to do it again.

[AndyS]

They have what is called a DH in North Carolina. They stock trout but it's a delayed harvest, meaning C&R for a few weeks before the season opens. As usual a few ruin it for all and go to spots and literally catch and keep everything before the season officially opens, it's a disaster.

[hammer4reel]

While it def was a lot of fun. and I liked the CR portion
IMO putting the entire seasons stockings at once will have negative effects.
Birds of prey are hammering the schooled up fish pretty hard.
weasels im sure are doing the same as they are much easier targets.

many guys slack off after the first few weeks of fishing ,allowing others to get some time on the water.
Im expecting larger crowds than ever on the opener.

Spreading the seasons harvest over a few months just gives better opportunity .
guys mishandling the fish these past few days also have many floating along the bottom.
.
I already got every pennys worth of my trout stamp this spring, so anything else is just a bonus.

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[hookset]

I think it was a good idea... I didn’t get to take advantage of it being an emergency room RN I have been a little busy but I think anytime we encourage more catch and release it’s a good thing. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy keeping some table fair but I like getting out and fishing on those nice March days also. Having a few more fish in the water makes up for my inadequate fishing skills and makes it more enjoyable. And despite the early opener my first full day off is Saturday and I’ll be social isolating somewhere on a river bank just like it was opening day.

[bunker dunker]

the musky,hybrids,pickerel & walleye loved it.

[nate01]

I love it. I live very close to a stocking point and have been getting my kids out there for ~30 minutes at a time since I’m working from home these days. The extra fish have been cooperating. My 9 year old daughter just caught 3 on a spinner during my half hour lunch break. She is starting to understand why I get up early on weekends to fish before she wakes up.

[Capt. Lou]

I liked it but should be CNR only ! Artificials only !

[Polelock]

Why did it even happen? Could they not have waited till the scheduled opener?
I ‘m sure a good number of fish died and were wasted.. F&W should have waited.

[Mikey topaz]

Why did it even happen? Could they not have waited till the scheduled opener?
I ‘m sure a good number of fish died and were wasted.. F&W should have waited.

They needed to make room at the hatchery I was told, and were afraid if the state got shut down they would have been stuck with all these trout I was told... one my buddy’s was on the conference call...

As far as trout season goes I like the idea like pa does lettin the kids get first crack, they are the future to carry on this sport and you don’t see many out there fishing to begin with! The few that are out there getting it done I think it’s more fun to watch them catch them then it is for myself. Making it artificial only wouldn’t matter either I caught just as much throwing spinners and plugs the last couple days. It got to a point I had so many in front of me I threw a float on letting them yank the float under just to make it more fun, then after that a BARE hook!!!! KEEP IT THE SAME!!!!!!!!!

[dakota560]

There a cost and risk to stocking everything and a cost and associated risks to holding off. If F&G was shut down, imagine the extra cost of food and manpower alone to care for the fish and you're still faced with stocking eventually or the fish being destroyed. If they can limit the carnage to one season as opposed to two, they made the right call. There's no easy answer in what we're dealing with, I'm sure the decision they made represented what they thought in their minds would cause the least disruption long-term to their stocking programs. I'm sure at one time or another the idea of not stocking at all to avoid social gathering was discussed, thank god that wasn't the path followed. No one person is to blame about something effecting all our lives, we all need to be a little more tolerant and do what we can to maintain social order while not losing our minds in the process. Remember in today's world of social media, everyone wants instant gratification. If the powers to be do nothing, they're criticized for complacency. If they do something that doesn't work out, they're criticized for incompetency. If they do something that does work out, they're questioned why it took so log to respond. There's no winners in this mess, we need to stick together and support F&G who have been said repeatedly on this site provide some of the most diverse and robust fisheries of any state in the country. They should be praised for their work, not questioned or criticized. This crisis doesn't have a one hat fits all solution for everyone. We're in uncharted waters requiring solutions never before requiring consideration. We'll get through this but only with tolerance, patience and understanding. Focus your attention whether you have faith or not on saying prayers to keep everyone and their families safe during this time. Lot of people will lose loved ones, family and friends who will need all our support.

[Godrew1972]

I had no problem with it. I am sure if we were not in a work from home situation it would been pretty sweet to be out all alone on stocked river early in season. I do agree with an earlier post though, it should be artificial only and C&R.
worms. grubs n powerbait are not used for C&R. That being said, I cant imagine that NJ has enough officers to cover that much area to actually manage to enforce it. I am happy that we still have some open water to fish still. good luck

[Adrenalinerush]

There is a positive unintended benefit to the 10 day catch and release only. I have fished the same area three times now. The first time was stupid with 35 fish before I got bored. The second time was around 25, yesterday about 15.

The water has dropped and cleared and the fish that last week were willingly taking my presentation like a sunny eating bread are now educated and are swirling on the presentations but not actively taking. The same number of fish are still there, I know because I still see them holding and actively sipping bugs off the surface.

So now instead of just about every fish ending up on a stringer in the first couple of days of the regular season, we will have fish that are smart and won't just take every worm or salmon egg they see.

[Oceanroamer]

I like the c and r period. BRing it back

[Reel Class]

I loved it. Fishing an hour here, and an hour there, followed by about 5 hours yesterday I landed well over 100 rainbows and all swam back nice and healthy.
I used spinners, trout magnets under a float, and on the bottom, and berkeley power worms fished on a small jighead and didn't have an issue with gut hooked fish.

I think this is great going forward - but ONLY if you fish artificials only as it gives C&R guys a chance to bend the rod before the meat guys come in.