Eight waters, including major trout streams such as the Big Flat Brook, Musconetcong River, Pequest River and the Wanaque River, will be stocked with trout earlier than originally planned this week to accommodate the mandatory closing of the Department of Environmental Protection for a one-day furlough on May 22.

Waters scheduled to be stocked on May 22 will now receive their allotments of trout either on Tuesday, May 19; Wednesday, May 20, or Thursday, May 21. Other stocking already scheduled for May 19, 20 and 21 remains unchanged.

The Big Flat Brook, Musconetcong River, Pequest River and the Wanaque River will be open to fishing on their rescheduled stocking days. However, in accordance with the State Fish Code, those same waters will still be closed to fishing on the original stocking date of May 22 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For all other regulations affecting trout-stocked waters, anglers are reminded to check the Freshwater Fishing Issue of the Fish & Wildlife Digest, available at all license agents and online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/digfsh09.htm.