This blog identifies the ponds in northwestern New Jersey that provide the best odds of catching trout during the spring of 2013. For the purpose of this blog, northwestern New Jersey covers Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. The fishing action on these bodies of water can be fast and furious in the spring. Trout activity typically peaks for three or four weeks between mid-April and mid-May, after which the bite slows down due to rising surface water temperatures.
The best trout ponds in northwestern New Jersey for the spring of 2013 are highlighted below in alphabetical order. A pond is considered HOT due to its trout stocking density: everything else being equal, the more trout that are stocked per acre of pond, the greater the chances of catching those fish.
Directions to many of these ponds can be obtained from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/accesswater.htm. Details on actual stocking days are provided in http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/trt_allocation13_dates.htm. It would also be prudent to consult the latest law book about special fishing regulations that may apply. The most up-to-date rules are available at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2013/trtregs13.pdf.
Finally, feel free to use the website linked to this blog to discover how many trout are released per acre in the spring in all the 90+ ponds and lakes stocked by the State throughout New Jersey.
The hottest trout ponds for the 2013 spring fishing season in northwestern New Jersey are as follows:
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Alms House Pond covers 2 acres and is located next to the library off Route 655 (Morris Turnpike) in Hampton, Sussex County. This pond is stocked with 59 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 59 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
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Blair Lake covers 2 acres and is located next to Millbrook Road in Blairstown, Warren County. This pond is stocked with 140 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 105 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
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Burnham Park Pond covers 4 acres and is located in Burnham Park next to Burnham Road in Morristown, Morris County. This pond is stocked with 85 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 63 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 29 to May 3, 2013.
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Lake Ocquittunk covers 8 acres and is located next to Skellenger Road in Tuttles Corner, Sussex County. This pond is stocked with 45 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 34 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
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Mount Hope Pond covers 18 acres and is located next to Mount Hope Road in Mount Hope, Morris County. This pond is stocked with 23 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 17 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
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Saw Mill Pond covers 20 acres and is located next to Sawmill Road in High Point State Park in Colesville, Sussex County. This pond is stocked with 21 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 16 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
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Speedwell Lake covers 23 acres and is located off Ames Road in Morristown, Morris County. This pond is stocked with 23 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 17 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 29 to May 3, 2013.
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Stony Lake covers 15 acres and is located off Coursen Road in High Point State Park in Normanock, Sussex County. This pond is stocked with 27 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 20 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last spring stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 23 to 27, 2013.
Was the information in this blog useful? I invite you to provide your thoughts and opinions. Also, feel free to share your fishing experiences on any of the ponds highlighted in this blog.
Very interesting with the maps. Do you know if Stony Lake and Saw Mill Pond are good for bass and pickerel?
Unfortunately, I only focus my research on trout fishing and therefore do not know what other fish species might be present in the ponds and lakes I write about. I’d suggest googling your target ponds to see if you can obtain more fish species information that way. Best of luck.