[dogfish246]

Is it me or is it a stupid idea to stock the lakes and streams with trout during spring break (Easter week)?

I want to be able to fish freshwater during spring break, but with the "two weeks of no fishing after the lake is stocked" is killing me!

 

[CHEVY1]

Why can't you fish for 2 weeks

dogfish246 wrote:
Is it me or is it a stupid idea to stock the lakes and streams with trout during spring break (Easter week)?

I want to be able to fish freshwater during spring break, but with the "two weeks of no fishing after the lake is stocked" is killing me!

Stocked trout can be fished for all year

Thats why they stock them, so people can eat them ( limit 3 ).

 

[Cowboy1530]

That rule is NOT true, I used to think it was a day, but unless you have some special county regulations, you can fish for them literally right after the truck leaves.

 

[qlty]

DEC checked me for licence 2 days after lake was stocked saw 2 fish in my creal and said have a nice day

 

[sssurfertim]

the didnt really put much fish in the streams this year like they usually do

 

[flukerr]

Streams...

The streams will be stocked by April 9. Or so i heard.....
First they do the lakes, then all the holes in the local rivers.

 

[DandJfish]

Correct.

Streams are usually stocked after they stock the lakes.

 

[sssurfertim]

never knew that, makes sense though

 

[dogfish246]

Over by me...

The lakes are closed for 2 weeks (during spring break) and I hate it!

 

[shebeen]

Up here (NH) Mother Nature dictates when the stocking takes place. They wait for water temps to be near hatchery water temps, 45F minimum. Also snow melt water speed/water height all factor into it.

This year, NH stocking is delayed due to all of the above.
I'm sure the same criteria are looked at in all States.

 

[636943]

Most lakes down here are stocked well before opening day.

We don't have snow melt/runoff issues.


dogfish, keep in mind that spring break is different for different schools. Stinks that you can't fish over spring break, though.

 

[shebeen]

Still waiting.....

From NH F&G today:

WE HAVE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR: QUALITY HATCHERY-RAISED TROUT
By Robert Fawcett, Supervisor of Hatcheries New Hampshire Fish and Game's Fish Culturists and Conservation

Officers are releasing over 200 tons of hatchery-raised trout this spring. Whether you fish for trout in waters open to fishing year-round or trout ponds that open the traditional fourth Saturday in April (April 26 this year), Inland Fisheries Division Management will provide excellent angling opportunities.

Stocking is delayed at least two weeks by wintry weather again this year. Things are still locked up tight. It will be a crunch to get all the trout ponds stocked by opening day. As of this writing there were still piles of snow blocking access, and ice on lakes.

THE PLAN FOR 2008 STOCKING CALLS FOR:

438,470 Eastern brook trout yearlings: 58.1% to streams, 41.9% to lakes and ponds; 14,515 two-year-olds: 39.4% to streams, 60.6% to lakes and ponds; and 1,685 "three-year-pluses" (surplus brood fish): 37.4% to streams, 62.6% to lakes and ponds.

Also:* 277,925 rainbow trout (RT) yearlings: about 26.5% to streams, 73.5% to lakes and ponds.* 132,120 brown trout (BT) yearlings: 58.3% to streams, 41.7% to lakes and ponds. * 5,000 tiger trout (TT). Tigers are a cross between a brook trout male and a brown trout female, and have the potential to keep growing to a trophy size if not hooked and cooked at a younger age. They are up to size and being stocked in the spring this year.

This year's trout yearlings are more than ready to go. The fingerlings are outgrowing their raceways and need space in the larger pools, currently occupied by the ones normally distributed by this time. There will be the usual nice big rainbow trout surprises in the southern part of the state.

The Fish Culturist's mission is "to produce fish of the right species, size, and timing to fill the gaps in the natural eco-cycle, to contribute to management goals for a wide variety of users, and restoration of self-sustaining native fish populations."
<END>

On the bass/northern/walleye front....plenty of them out there but too much flotsam in the river to risk launching.

Huge snow-melt river elevations have all the fish swimming in the woods.

This post edited by shebeen 08:35 PM 04/10/2008