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Success! - The Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Program
By Bob Papson
Principal Fisheries Biologist
April, 2001

The Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Program appears to have been well received by anglers and a resounding success. Reports from anglers indicate that those who took advantage of winter trout-fishing opportunities were very satisfied with the program, and many anglers amassed impressive catches. Trout caught at Oxford Furnace Lake

The good news for the spring trout angler is that many trout stocked as part of this new program remain in these waters and will be available during the traditional trout-fishing period. Our tagging evaluation will continue for the remainder of the year in order to determine the total harvest of these winter-stocked trout. Anglers are asked to continue their cooperation in this evaluation by returning the tags of all tagged trout that are harvested. The tags may be deposited at the lakeside receptacles or flattened and mailed to the Lebanon Fisheries Lab in the envelopes provided.

The program began with a total of 12,940 rainbow trout, averaging 11 inches in length. They were distributed in twenty-four lakes throughout the state, ensuring that at least one lake would be within easy driving distance of anyone interested in trying their luck on a beautiful winter's day. The trout were raised at the division's Pequest Trout Hatchery specifically for this program.

Preliminary harvest results from tag returns received up to the beginning of the trout stocking closure period (March 18, 2001) were quite impressive from some lakes, ranging as high as 38 percent. South Jersey anglers appeared to take full advantage of the winter trout-fishing opportunities as the two south Jersey evaluation lakes posted the highest harvest rates.

North Jersey anglers were also out in good numbers, enjoying an extended ice-fishing season, while in the south just having safe ice to fish was amazing enough, but to have an opportunity to ice-fish for trout close to home was a unique treat.

Overall, when conditions allowed for fishing, either safe ice where ice-fishing is permitted, or open water, anglers braved the winter chill and took advantage of these trout-fishing opportunities and were well rewarded. The Division looks forward to continued success with the Winter Trout Stocked Lakes Program and other innovative programs we are developing.

Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes

2007 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2006 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2005 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2004 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2003-04 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2002-03 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule
2001-02 Winter Trout-Stocked Lakes Stocking Schedule

North Jersey Lakes Stocked November 27 - December 1, 2000

Bergen County
Mill Pond - 400 trout

Essex County
* Verona Park Pond - 500 trout

Hudson County
Woodcliff Lake - 510 trout

Hunterdon County
* Amwell Lake - 410 trout

Middlesex County
Hook's Creek Lake - 520 trout

Morris County
Mt. Hope Pond - 410 trout
Speedwell Lake - 520 trout

Passaic County
Barbours Pond - 420 trout
* Shepherd Lake - 1,000 trout

Union County
Lower Echo Lake - 420 trout

Warren County
* Furnace Lake - 900 trout

Sussex County
Lake Aeroflex - 1,000 trout
* Lake Ocquittunk - 500 trout
Little Swartswood - 1,000 trout
Silver Lake - 600 trout

South Jersey Lakes Stocked January 2 - 5, 2001

Atlantic County
* Birch Grove Park Pond - 460 trout

Burlington County
Laurel Pond - 250 trout

Camden County
* Rowands Pond - 250 trout

Cumberland County
Shaws Mill Pond - 510 trout

Gloucester County
Mullica Hill Pond - 410 trout

Monmouth County
Spring Lake - 480 trout
* Topenemus Lake - 470 trout

Ocean County
Lake Shenandoah - 580 trout

Salem County
Riverview Beach Pond - 420 trout

* - Indicates presence of a Tag Reporting Station. Please help us evaluate this new trout stocking program. Remove tags only from trout that are kept. For each tag complete an envelope (available at reporting station), put tag in the envelope and place in the lock box. The tag may also be mailed to NJDFW, P.O. Box 394, Lebanon, NJ 08833. If mailing, please flatten the tag and provide the following information: waterbody, tag number, date caught, fish length, and whether caught from shore, boat, or through the ice.