Just throwing this out there

[MikeNJ]

Originally Posted by skippy

You don't need a trout stamp to fish for trout, you just can't keep them. I would hit Darlington Lake in Mahwah. Big fish in there and you can catch them on rubber worms and crank baits. Just watch out for the all the weeds.

I believe you need a trout stamp if you are going to keep trout OR fish for trout along with your valid NJ fishing license.

[MrGerbik]

Originally Posted by MikeNJ

I believe you need a trout stamp if you are going to keep trout OR fish for trout along with your valid NJ fishing license.

It was my understanding that you need the stamp to fish waters that are trout stocked but I'm not sure

[Fred E. Goose]

You can fish any public waters with just the fishing license. You can not keep or directly target trout without a trout stamp. If you're fishing trout stocked waters and someone asks you what your fishing for, if you don't have the trout stamp then DON'T SAY YOU'RE FISHING FOR TROUT! LOL, also don't use bait like salmon eggs or "trout magnets". You're fine throwing roostertails, worms, small minnow type lures.

Gerbik: I thought of another nice lake you can shore fish from. Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve (Used to be Haledon Reservoir). Buddy of mine does well there on a kayak, but there is a lot of nice shore access if you're willing to walk around the trails.

[MrGerbik]

Originally Posted by Fred E. Goose

You can fish any public waters with just the fishing license. You can not keep or directly target trout without a trout stamp. If you're fishing trout stocked waters and someone asks you what your fishing for, if you don't have the trout stamp then DON'T SAY YOU'RE FISHING FOR TROUT! LOL, also don't use bait like salmon eggs or "trout magnets". You're fine throwing roostertails, worms, small minnow type lures.

Gerbik: I thought of another nice lake you can shore fish from. Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve (Used to be Haledon Reservoir). Buddy of mine does well there on a kayak, but there is a lot of nice shore access if you're willing to walk around the trails.

Adding this place to my list. I'll look it up on my GPS and head over some time in the coming week

[Esox Luciano]

Bergen is local... Can check your private messages MrGerbik.

[briansnat]

Gerbik: I thought of another nice lake you can shore fish from. Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve (Used to be Haledon Reservoir). Buddy of mine does well there on a kayak, but there is a lot of nice shore access if you're willing to walk around the trails.

I didn't think of the Franklin Lakes preserve. That's definitely a good option. The few times I've been there I saw a few anglers but it doesn't seem to get a ton of pressure. It's good sized to so plenty of room to move about and find a good spot

You say you don't mind hiking a bit. Then try McMillan Reservoir and Bear Swamp Lake in Mahwah. Bear Swamp LK is the better bet because its a longer hike and doesn't see much fishing pressure. Some LMB and pickerel in there.

[MrGerbik]

I tried to hit bear swamp and saw the road was closed off with private property signs. Not wanting to be on the wrong side of the law i went elsewhere. Ill park and walk in next time

[MudCat08]

I live near Whites Pond, and it's not that bad. The biggest fish in there is carp however. To get to the bass you either have to be lucky from shore or get on a kayak (not sure if legally allowed) and fish all the vegetation.
The pond and surrounding Hohokus brook has a surprising variety of fish in it though: from channel cats and trout to eels and crappie.

Bearswamp lake is tough to get to because of all the private property. Unless you talk with the police about it, I would not venture up bearswamp brook and get to the lake that way. There is another way to get to it i think, but it takes much longer - from the paths coming from the reservation.

I live and fish in Bergen County too, let me know what fish you're after - I'll try to help you find them.

[splitshotbb]

Originally Posted by skippy

You don't need a trout stamp to fish for trout, you just can't keep them. I would hit Darlington Lake in Mahwah. Big fish in there and you can catch them on rubber worms and crank baits. Just watch out for the all the weeds.

Yes in New Jersey you do need a trout stamp if you fish in any trout stocked waters

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by splitshotbb

Yes in New Jersey you do need a trout stamp if you fish in any trout stocked waters

you absolutely do not.

many many places stocked with trout can be fished without a trout stamp, hopatcong, aeroflex, musconetcong, just to name a few. plenty of other species to target. and if you accidentally hook a trout you should probably release it in the water (without even taking it out for a picture) if you don't have a stamp.

that being said if you were fishing a small trout stocked stream with trout lures and no stamp, good luck trying to explain to an officer that you weren't targeting trout haha.