Fall stocking - when do water bodies open

[Uplandhunter75]

I have been really looking forward to this year's fall trout stocking, and with all the rain we should be getting this week I'm even more excited.

 

Dumb question however... I see the flat brook is slated to be stocked Thursday 10/12. Is the river open to fish 10/13? I know in the spring the river is closed to fishing on Fridays, but I believe that is because the fish are stocked on Fridays.

 

Anyone who has a quick answer? Would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

[GhostBear]

They start stocking the 10th thru the 18th, waters are open now and will be during the fall stocking.

[GhostBear]

But remember, the former fly stretch of Flattbrook is now a "no kill" any tackle can be used but only artificial lures, no bait of any kind, including power bait.

[Uplandhunter75]

Yessir, thank you GhostBear!

 

The no-kill stretch of the flat is by far my favorite stretch and I'm familiar with the regs. My concern was during the spring season areas of the flatbrook aren't open to fishing on Fridays until 5pm. I took Friday off work to hit the river and then became worried that the fall stocking might follow suit.

[Bucksnbows]

No in-season closures with fall stockings unlike with the spring stockings.  

[Pintail]

On the big flatbrook, the stretch of water between the old troopers barracks and shaffers bridge is no kill but if everyone were putting everything back why are there hardly any fish? Hummmmmm?

[GhostBear]

On the big flatbrook, the stretch of water between the old troopers barracks and shaffers bridge is no kill but if everyone were putting everything back why are there hardly any fish? Hummmmmm?

uhhh, my guess would be that they swim away?, lol they de spread out and mink, herons even Bears will eat a bunch, that and a few unscrupulous anglers likely take some too.

[Uplandhunter75]

On the big flatbrook, the stretch of water between the old troopers barracks and shaffers bridge is no kill but if everyone were putting everything back why are there hardly any fish? Hummmmmm?

 

I'd argue you aren't looking hard enough...

 

I can honestly say that there isn't a 50 yard length within that stretch that doesn't have pockets of fish... with about 3 pools holding 100+ at anytime. I've fished it at least 3 times a month since February and not once did I not find plenty of fish. Where there days where the water was low/clear and they were spooky or holding tight under cover & structure sure. But never a lack of fish by any means..

Edited October 9, 2017 by Uplandhunter75

[Bucksnbows]

On the big flatbrook, the stretch of water between the old troopers barracks and shaffers bridge is no kill but if everyone were putting everything back why are there hardly any fish? Hummmmmm?

 

The Division is conducting a study of the state stocked rainbows to see where they go and what are some reasons for their high mortality.  The latter is simple biologically speaking - our state rainbows have poor genetics.  They are raised for only one reason, so they they have a fall spawning rainbow population which allowed first Hackettstown and later Pequest to raise them to 10" by spring stocking.  Wild rainbows reproduce in late winter/early spring. 

 

We know and have always known that poaching is a serious problem on the Flatbrook.  So is predation, especially by river otters and, to a lesser extent, mink.  But as another posted said, he's been catching them all year long in that river.  I guided on the Musky the other day and was shocked at how the trout were all hiding under boulders in-stream due to extremely low, clear flows.  They were there, but weren't immediately obvious until they came out to eat once in a while.  Recent rains with more coming will greatly improve fishing conditions.      

[Pintail]

( some tongue in cheek humor there)  No problem with catching fish if you work for them. The numbers just are not there like in the spring months for some reason. I'm sure the numbers get beat up by a culmination of things. That area is pretty thick for herons but I have seen mink and otters on occasion over the last 40 some odd years fly fishing there.

[Bucksnbows]

( some tongue in cheek humor there)  No problem with catching fish if you work for them. The numbers just are not there like in the spring months for some reason. I'm sure the numbers get beat up by a culmination of things. That area is pretty thick for herons but I have seen mink and otters on occasion over the last 40 some odd years fly fishing there.

 

Fisheries biologists figure a 5% to 10% holdover rate for stocked trout in either trout production (TP) or trout maintenance ™ waters is on the high side.  Wild trout have a much higher holdover rate.  So it makes sense that most of the stocked trout from spring are long gone by now although there are more than enough in the river still left from spring, last fall, the spring before that, etc. as well as a handful of wild browns and brookies (in the Flatbrook).  Again, trout are not reared in hatcheries for things anglers want like fighting abilities, they are raised to grow fast in a hatchery setting, to spawn in early fall in a hatchery setting, to be disease resistant whenever possible (oops on that one, LOL), and none of that means they will survive long once released into our rivers that can support trout year round like the Flatbrook.  

[Uplandhunter75]

I certainly agree by winter the numbers are reduced from peak spring. If I had a "complaint" about the river, specifically the no-kill stretch, it would be that the general size of the fish confuses me.

 

Like I said earlier there is certainly no lack of fish in that stretch, but in my experience the size of the fish rarely exceed 12inches throughout. Now around fall and spring stocking of course there are a few big guys they stock.. but outside of that I just don't see fish growing up. I no nothing about poaching in the no-kill stretch or how prevalent is.. but it is curious that with the sheer number of fish in that river we don't see more 14+ inches coming out if it..

[Bucksnbows]

I certainly agree by winter the numbers are reduced from peak spring. If I had a "complaint" about the river, specifically the no-kill stretch, it would be that the general size of the fish confuses me.

 

Like I said earlier there is certainly no lack of fish in that stretch, but in my experience the size of the fish rarely exceed 12inches throughout. Now around fall and spring stocking of course there are a few big guys they stock.. but outside of that I just don't see fish growing up. I no nothing about poaching in the no-kill stretch or how prevalent is.. but it is curious that with the sheer number of fish in that river we don't see more 14+ inches coming out if it..

 

Unfortunately, since the designation of No-Kill, our area and that river has seen near constant drought, and that isn't helping.  But I fully agree and so does Division biologists that this river should, on its surface, hold a lot more trout over.  We all believe predation is the culprit as it is the most intact watershed we have when it comes to trout production waters.  There just aren't that many wild trout (browns or native brook trout) nor are there many stocked rainbows that hold over.  It will be interesting to hear what Ross Shramko, biologist, finds with his telemetry studies on stocked bows.  I'll likely see him Thursday morning, and if so will ask him where he's at with that study.  

[bwd172]

Water flow is picking up.

[_X7]

I was hoping for a great downpour from Nate. After almost a month of no rain the water level on the Pohat has not changed a whole lot. Memories of the snag fest of last year play on my mind