Lake Trout at Merrill Creek

[Wilson]

Andy will be happy about this

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that fish survey data from Merrill Creek Reservoir suggests that it may no longer be necessary to stock lake trout since there may be enough natural reproduction to sustain the fishery without supplemental stocking. This year's stocking of 1,330 yearlings averaging nine inches is 60% fewer than the normal allocation. Lake trout stocking will be discontinued after this year and the fishery will be monitored to assess the population's ability to sustain itself through natural reproduction.

For more information on the management of lake trout in Merrill Creek Reservoir see http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/new...llcrlakers.htm on the division's website.

[AndyS]

I'm dancing and singing !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YewVugPHon4

[Super]

Is there any evidence that there's natural lake trout reproduction in Merrill Creek? There never has been, and the thinking was always that the silt in MC prevented natural reproduction. I'd hate to see the stocking program discontinued if there's no natural reproduction.