Trout stocking by the numbers:

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I don't rush to Raritan to catch 10 inch trout either, but like I said, enjoy catching the ones that hold over in the fall and winter.

As you should that's a cool holdover.

But more trout stocked doesn't automatically = more holdovers. Each stream, even very marginal ones, will holdover fish. But every stream has a finite carrying capacity of food and optimal lies that effect how many will have the ability to hold over.

Remember the goal of the stocking program isn't to maximize holdover trout, it's to maximize angler enjoyment! And that helps determine the stocking allocations, more angler usage = more trout stocked. If the state wanted to maximize holdover trout fisheries they'd stock nothing but brown trout as they are more tolerable of the higher end of water temps.

FWIW - my favorite streams are mostly on the low end of stocking allocations also but they are also on the lower end of angler usage.