Trout stocking meeting Feb. 28

[Dave B.]

Lots of good comments here from different perspectives, always a good thing as the differences of opinion are what make for constructive discussions that often lead to productive changes,

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who recalls the 'bad old days' of trout production at Hackettestown. 'Billfish' is dead on when he says a 12 incher was a bragger back then, and that the brookies were usually the most impacted by disease at Hackettestown and NJ regularly had to obtain fish from other states and/or the Federal hatchery system just to be able to carry out a reasonable spring stocking. Fall and winter stockings were not even thought of!

As 'Jigman' says, other states choose to stock diseased fish regularly. This includes PA, who offered to take our diseased trout last year to stock in their waters. Given that info it's very possible the outbreak at Pequest was a result of an osprey or other raptor picking up the pathogen just a few miles away in PA and transmitting it to Pequest. No way to ever prove or dis-prove it but something that certainly bears consideration.

As for poaching, anywhere, if anyone is aware of a problem of this sort I would strongly urge you to report it, even if you're unable to at the moment it occurs. If it's a chronic problem somewhere at least the CO's can make an effort to step up enforcement there.

Thanks to 'Surfrod' for reminding me of the stats on the rainbow-vs-brook/brown situation. The short version is that in both 2012 and 2013 F&W had conducted a test to determine which species performed best with regards to Opening Day angler success. This was in direct response to angler input by the way, so they do hear our opinions believe it or not. Anyway the resulting Opening Day angler survey numbers showed the rainbows being caught 8 times more frequently than brooks. That is, a ratio of 8 to 1. To make an even stronger point, that 8 times greater number of rainbows caught was achieved by about half the number of anglers, so it definitely made a very strong case for stocking rainbows in the pre- and early season periods. That being the case the Div. was already moving towards a predominantly rainbow production format, although at the time still retaining some brook and brown production. Unfortunately the situation at Pequest last year pretty much forced their hand in the matter.

Personally I prefer a multi-species stocking regimen for many reasons. I like the idea of not knowing for sure what species I might be catching. I enjoy the challenge of trying to determine what species might be holding in a certain type of run, pool, etc.

Be that as it may, as 'Jigman' said, I'm just glad to have a full stocking program back on track, although last year there were plenty of trout around in most major streams all summer long despite the drastically shortened stocking schedule. My thanks to all those who opted out of trout fishing last year, I had a stellar year as a result! I really enjoyed Andy's posting pics of all the trout he encountered on his SBR trips! He proved the point that the shortened stocking didn't hurt the fishery nearly as badly as some guys were making it seem.

[surfrod]

Dave,

Thanks for the cogent explanation of the data. I don't really recall the Hackettstown hatchery trout days as I didn't fish for trout back then.

I did hear the stories, however, and am glad this is the first time since that we've had to deal with such an issue.

FWIW, the manasquan river guys prefer rainbows. They say they make better striper bait (running for cover )

[Almaink]

Allocations and stocking dates list is up. I'd still like to know why they don't stock the first week but do stock the D&R Feeder the 7th and last week? By that time in May the water is to warm for trout in there, and in the last 20 years I've yet to see any fish caught from that last stocking. Why not put them in the first week so they can be utilized?
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2...on15-sched.pdf

[EJS]

Originally Posted by Almaink

Allocations and stocking dates list is up. I'd still like to know why they don't stock the first week but do stock the D&R Feeder the 7th and last week? By that time in May the water is to warm for trout in there, and in the last 20 years I've yet to see any fish caught from that last stocking. Why not put them in the first week so they can be utilized?
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2...on15-sched.pdf

Part of the problem is do to the cold winters. Pre season stocking will start is south Jersey, as streams thaw in the north, they will be stocked closer to opening day. Allocation of resources is another issue. As the number of fish being stocked decrease, so does the time required to stock that water body.

What I can't speak to (as I am not super familier with the D&R watershed) is water quality, breeding, and any other variable which may prevent the stocking earlier in the season!

Now this is my personal opinion and in no way is meant as a jab at F&G. I personally feel the canal should be left to the warm water fish, put the trout in the rivers and cold flowing streams, put the bass, picks, and cats in the duck ponds and canals! Give the fish a fighting chance to live to maturity, without rolling belly up from water temps rising!

[surfrod]

Originally Posted by EJS

Part of the problem is do to the cold winters. Pre season stocking will start is south Jersey, as streams thaw in the north, they will be stocked closer to opening day. Allocation of resources is another issue. As the number of fish being stocked decrease, so does the time required to stock that water body.

What I can't speak to (as I am not super familier with the D&R watershed) is water quality, breeding, and any other variable which may prevent the stocking earlier in the season!

Now this is my personal opinion and in no way is meant as a jab at F&G. I personally feel the canal should be left to the warm water fish, put the trout in the rivers and cold flowing streams, put the bass, picks, and cats in the duck ponds and canals! Give the fish a fighting chance to live to maturity, without rolling belly up from water temps rising!

Each body of water has a carrying capacity, such that if you overstock an area, only so many fish, wild or stocked, can survive.

In addition, our cold waters have populations of wild trout that could be negatively impacted by stocking. This has been an argument by several angler groups with respect to stocking certain streams *at all*, no less increasing the stocking.

The biologists take that into account when they determine the number of fish stocked, as well as another important measure (to them): angler opportunity.

The trout are funded via the trout stamp and therefore the thought is to give as many anglers who purchase a stamp the opportunity to catch trout as possible.

So, what I'm saying is that the decisions to stock a given area are driven by more than whether that water can be considered holdover or even marginally decent habitat for trout.