Many New Jersey trout anglers now find fall their favorite trout season.
One reason is that since 2006, all of the trout stocked in the fall measure 14 inches to 24 inches and weigh 1 1/2 pounds to 8 pounds.
The big fish, cool water, great weather and spectacular scenery combine to make the fall season what many consider to be New Jersey’s premium trout fishing season.
This year fall stocking begins Tuesday, Oct. 5 and continues through Oct. 13. Over this period, a total of 21,000 trout averaging 14 to 16 inches, and weighing 1 1/2 – 2 pounds and 1,000 exceptionally large broodstock trout, measuring 17 to 24 inches, and weighing 3 to 8 pounds, will be distributed in 16 streams and 16 lakes and ponds statewide. All trout are raised at the division’s Pequest Trout Hatchery.
Waters stocked during the first week of fall stocking are the 16 large streams and rivers in northern and coastal areas, such as the Big Flatbook, Pequest River, South Branch Raritan River, Musconetcong River, and the Manasquan and Toms rivers. All fall-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked. There are no closed days during fall stocking.
During the second week, 16 ponds and lakes in the central and southern portions of the state will be stocked. Some of the more popular waters are Farrington Lake, Oak Pond, Greenwich Lake, and Mary Elmer Lake.
The complete list of fall-stocked waters and the stocking schedule is available at www.njfishandwildlife.com/flstk.htm or through the Trout Stocking Hotline (609) 633-6765.
Other waters offer fine trout fishing opportunities even though they are not stocked in the fall. The Holdover Trout Lakes, like Lake Aeroflex and Lake Wawayanda, provide year round trout fishing opportunities. The landlocked salmon stocking program at these two lakes, now in its third year, is starting to yield harvestable size salmon (12 inches).
Our two trophy trout Lakes, Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, are also great trout fishing destinations. Shoreline fishing on Round Valley is particularly popular in the fall, as big rainbows cruise the shallows . Also, sea run brown trout begin returning to freshwater in the Manasquan River during the fall and early winter.
A distinctly different trout-fishing experience awaits anglers who fish the wild trout streams scattered across north Jersey. These small streams are not stocked with trout and anglers can expect to catch small, colorful trout, with most measuring less than ten inches.
Thirty-six streams are managed under special regulations to provide anglers with opportunities to catch stunning, stream-bred trout. All trout captured from designated Wild Trout Streams, from September 16, 2010 to April 9, 2011 at 8 a.m. must be released, and be sure to leave the bait buckets home – these streams are artificials only.

courtesy APP.com