Disease hits Pequest Hatchery Runway

[buzzbaiter]

Sorry but being a wild trout nut I have no sympathy for hatchery trout. If a disease wiped them all out it would be a landmark day in the history of trout mgt in NJ. A day to be celebrated! I'm only half kidding. I do think we stock too much and not in the right way but that's a beat horse discussion. I'd rather see my trout stamp money go towards stream improvement projects(improve cover/narrow channels/dam removal et al) and towards land purchases to improve access. NJ has plenty of good wild trout water we just can't fish it!.

[Michael82929]

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

Sorry but being a wild trout nut I have no sympathy for hatchery trout. If a disease wiped them all out it would be a landmark day in the history of trout mgt in NJ. A day to be celebrated! I'm only half kidding. I do think we stock too much and not in the right way but that's a beat horse discussion. I'd rather see my trout stamp money go towards stream improvement projects(improve cover/narrow channels/dam removal et al) and towards land purchases to improve access. NJ has plenty of good wild trout water we just can't fish it!.

Im sorry, but I will enjoy having a healthy discussion with you in terms of your line of thinking. While I have enjoyed my share of fishing wild trout streams, the trout stocking program is a truly benefical program that caters to the angler in NJ. Not to mention the trout stocking programs that gives a lot to boy scout camps, schools and families with the functions they have throughout the year.

While we dont have streams controlled or regulated by water flows, conservation is very hard to maintain with our extreme climate weathers and low water flows throughout the hot summer months

Stream improvement projects / access points - I agree would make for more adventerous angling, the upkeep, and constant money that needs to be poured in for these projects are unavoidably too much to bare. Another thing to factor in is mother nature. You can pour a surplus of money to improve a stream and have it washed out in one fall swoop

The risk reward factor is outweighed. Now to where the money goes... I agree in some respects about stocking fish in certain access points where a majority of the fish are caught but fish do spread out and stretches are fun to fish.

I find more pleasure fishing certain stretches in the winter / pre spring that I would have never fished before. The fall stocking makes for a lot of fun with these fish not ready to go right away and having the ability to move.

Spring - you have your stocking weeks that get pressure but June is a great time to be on the streams and have times to fish and work water.

I couldnt imagine what it would be like not to have a stocking program. Imagine the thousands of anglers / kids who wouldnt be able to experience trout fishing in NJ. Not to mention think of the overcrowded lakes in NJ and neigboring state getting our NJ dollars if we had to travel for trout.

The one thing that I could be useful and shed more light is more education around wild trout streams and what they can provide. I would welcome your response in the hopes of education, collaboration and learning something new.