This blog identifies the TOP ponds in northwestern New Jersey that provide the best odds of catching trout during the spring of 2016. For the purpose of this blog, northwestern New Jersey covers Morris, Passaic, 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.
A pond is considered TOP due to its trout stocking density: everything else being equal, the more trout that are stocked per acre of water, the greater the chances of catching those fish!!
Click here for driving directions to these choice fishing spots. Click here for details on actual stocking days. Click here for the latest law book about special fishing regulations that may apply.The TOP trout ponds for this spring in northwestern New Jersey are listed below in alphabetical order:
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Alms House Pond covers 2 acres and is located off Morris Turnpike (Route 655) in Hampton, Sussex County (note: on the Google Map above, the pond is next to the Sussex County Main Library). This pond is stocked with 50 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 50 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2 and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Barbours Pond covers 12 acres and is located next to Park Road in the Garret Mountain Reservation in West Patterson, Passaic County. This pond is stocked with 35 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 27 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2 and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Blair Lake covers 2 acres and is located next to Millbrook Road in Blairstown, Warren County. This lake 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Burnham Park Pond covers 4 acres and is located in Burnham Park off Burnham Parkway 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of May 2 to May 6.
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Lake Ocquittunk covers 8 acres and is located in Stokes State Forest next to Skellenger Road in Tuttles Corner, Sussex County. This lake 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Mount Hope Pond covers 18 acres and is located in Mount Hope Park next to Mount Hope Road (Route 664) 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Oldham Pond covers 15 acres and is located next to High Mountain Road in North Haledon, Passaic County. This pond is stocked with 29 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 22 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2 and 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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Speedwell Lake covers 23 acres and is located in Speedwell Park off Speedwell Avenue 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of May 2 to 6.
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Stony Lake covers 15 acres and is located in Stokes State Forest at the end of Coursen Road 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 stocking event on this pond this spring occurs during the week of April 25 to 29.
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.
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