Members of the Garden State fishing clan will be treated to another good spring of trout stockings during the 2005 season. Once again, the state-of-the-art Pequest Trout Hatchery has produced another bumper crop of rainbow, brown and brook trout. And thanks to the excellent production record of the hatchery and its staff, trout production has remained consistent for the last five years. Around 575,050 trout will be stocked this year.

The Pequest Trout Hatchery continues to consistently produce some 575,000 trout for New Jersey anglers each year. That’s a lot of fish! Photo by J.B. Kasper.

Stocking numbers in the state’s 16 top trout streams, which have closed stocking dates, have remained just about the same for the past five years. As per the last several years, the Raritan River (North and South branches and the main river) will be the most heavily stocked stream in the state. The No. 2 stream will once again be the Musconetcong River, followed by the Flat Brook, Pequest and Rockaway rivers.

Thanks to good water levels and high survival rates, trout anglers will also have plenty of carryover trout from the 2004 fall and winter stockings. Better than 100,000 trout (including 2,000 breeders and 50,000-plus surplus trout) were stocked during the fall stocking program. In addition, 13,170 trout were stocked in November of 2004 as part of the winter trout-stocking program. Now here are some of our top picks for the 2005 season.

MUSCONETCONG RIVER

The “Muskie,” as the Garden State trout fishing clan knows it, has a rich history. It flows through valleys and farmlands. The numerous old mills and their dams provide scenic backdrops for some of the better trout pools. Stone railroad trestles and bridges are reflected in the river’s waters and are all part of the aura and mystique that the Musconetcong River possesses.

The water of the Musconetcong River begins below the dam of Lake Hopatcong and flows southwest into the lake. Both Hopatcong and Musconetcong lakes are stocked with trout. After the river leaves the lake, it flows through Furnace Pond and runs west along the Sussex/Morris county border. It then flows under U.S. Route 206, which is another access point. Flowing westward, the next access point is Kays Road, which parallels a railroad bridge. These areas are traditionally heavily stocked, since they are close to the towns of Netcong and Stanhope.

The river then flows through Waterloo Lakes and under Interstate 80. The section between I-80 and Kinney Road is another area of the stream that is a favorite of local trout fishermen. Waterloo Road parallels the river past Saxton Falls, through Stephens State Park on into the town of Hackettstown, where it meets state Route (SR) 57, and provides anglers with ample access along the way. Flowing southwest, the river widens in several places as it makes its way to Saxton Falls. This area is one of the most heavily stocked sections on the river and is also one of the most heavily fished. Its picturesque falls and pools have always been a favorite of trout fishermen and have graced many a calendar and magazine.

As the river enters Hackettstown, it passes through the portion of the Charles O’Hayford hatchery, known as the east hatchery, and then flows under U.S. Route 46. The portion of the stream that passes alongside of Hackettstown is heavily stocked and has ample access for the angler.

As the river makes its way from Hackettstown, it parallels SR 57 west as far as Port Murray. This stretch offers the best angler access, as there are several crossroads that lead to the river. Most of the bridges over the river on these crossroads are stocked, providing anglers with the chance to hop from bridge to bridge to check out the fishing.

Bridges are both access and stocking points. Many of the bridges are old stone structures with excellent pools located below them. There are plenty of quiet stretches with riffles that are ideal for dry-fly fishing. Some of the better areas are at the old dam site, downstream from the fire- house and the old mill pool in Stephensburg. The river and SR 57 split near Penwell; Penwell Road runs along the river for a short distance, which gives you access to the old milldam at Penwell. This area is a Seasonal Trout Conservation Area, which is a 1.2-mile stretch from the Penwell Road Bridge to the Mountain Road Bridge.

Another good stretch of river to fish lies along Musconetcong River Road, which is county Route 645. Musconetcong River Road runs parallel to the river from Mowder Road. The river is stocked at the four bridges that cross the stream here and also directly from the road in several places.