Trout small

[Bill Willix]

Im having a fun time catching the trout. But a feel as far as size we are going backwards. I have caught a few 12inchers and one 16 incher. The rest have been around 8 or 9 inches. I feel like Im fishing in the 1970's again. Don't get me wrong Im happy to have fish. I just feel our state of the art hatchery has really fallen on hard times the past few years.

[Jigman13]

Fish in the fall...

[Bill Willix]

I have fished in the fall plenty of times.But more people fish in the spring in the fall your time is divided between fishing and deer hunting. Yes the trout are big in fall. But the rivers are also very low. This is a topic that can be discussed forever. Im grateful for the fish and yes from a catch and release and just fun they are great. But the size could just be a little bigger for taking home and eating.

[23cardinal]

Where are you fishing bill? Opening day at nomehan they were all ten- but the rivers in NE NJ have been giving me 11-14 pretty consistently, and fat. Few friends have nailed some bigger ones too

[Bill Willix]

Mainly the Paulinskill and other fishermen I have talked with have told me a lot of there fish have been small.They also may feel that the littler fish have a better chance of surviving in the Paulinskill and will be bigger later in the season. Iam blessed in that aspect this is a beautiful stream that holds trout well into the summer

[23cardinal]

Originally Posted by Bill Willix

Mainly the Paulinskill and other fishermen I have talked with have told me a lot of there fish have been small.They also may feel that the littler fish have a better chance of surviving in the Paulinskill and will be bigger later in the season. Iam blessed in that aspect this is a beautiful stream that holds trout well into the summer

Very possible- I lived in blairstown and fished the paulinskill a lot 2012-2015 or so. I always hit smaller (8-12) fish then I do now- but much more in volume(and the occasional giant hold over and brown by jacksonburg)

+1 to jigs- I always go heavy with garlic- orange lemon and or the smoker for stockies. The natural diet def adds something

[Capt. Lou]

I agree many smaller fish this spring , I Fish mimimum 5 days a week for trout since April 1st when PA opened my home state . Since NJ opened I swung my efforts for most part over there since I'm close to border .
All those days caught plenty trout but only one 18+ "'s ! I'm not complaining PA is decent but NJ is superior in their stocking program especially in fall.
Like was mentioned winter fishing is a gift plenty of really nice fish to catch when u can get out & conditions are good !
This past winter it started late due to water but once rains came it was truly a great fishery with no competition .
I believe very hi water scattered those fish , yesterday I caught in every fast riff I fished if u cover the water u may happen into a big girl , plenty of fish many areas due to hi water barely fished . I might add properly 😜

[Jigman13]

Stockies don't taste good unless smoked. Even then it seems like u have to marinate heavily to impart flavor.

Then again the bows on round valley are primo once they hit like 20". Packed with scuds their meat gets a nice pale pink.

[blindalfred]

I thought it was just me. I've had one 18" in the Rockaway, but on average, smaller fish than the past couple of years. Given the troubles at the hatchery we shouldn't complain. At least the water level improved over the winter.

[americandesi]

Bill, I've stocked trout in the lower Musconetcong River in the past as part of a volunteer effort. I volunteered for the preseason lower Musconetcong River stocking this year, and we did stock some nice broodstock. What I've noticed is that the trout stocked get bigger as the season goes on. There were a lot of 9" fish in the preseason stocking, but the fish at the final stocking in May were mostly larger than the 10.5" average. The extra month or two of living in the hatchery makes a difference!

Also I'm not sure what methods you are using and where you are fishing. I can tell you that my friends who are skilled fly fishermen are reporting catches of leftover large fish from the fall in the major NW NJ trout streams. I was surprised myself given how low the rivers were last fall. I fished the Musky yesterday and saw some nice fish in the 18" range get caught. Caught a couple in the 12-14" range myself.