This blog identifies the ponds in northeastern New Jersey that provide the best odds of catching trout during the spring of 2014. For the purpose of this blog, northeastern New Jersey covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union 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.
Note that trout fishing in New Jersey during the spring of 2014 should be a real bonanza because the State had to substantially modify its original stocking program due to an outbreak of a fish skin disease at the Pequest Trout Hatchery. This disease, called furunculosus, is not harmful to humans. However, the State did not want to introduce it to waters containing wild trout populations and other year-round trout fisheries. As a result, the fish originally scheduled to be stocked in these more sensitive trout fisheries were re-allocated to ponds and lakes that only support “put-and-take” trout fishing.
The best trout ponds in northeastern New Jersey for the spring of 2014 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 water, the greater the chances of catching those fish!!
Driving directions to these choice fishing spots are available at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/accesswater.htm. The ponds and lakes can also be found on the interactive Google map provided under the New Jersey “Search” function on the home page of the website associated with this blog. Details on actual stocking days are available from http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/trout_allocation14-sched.pdf. 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.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/digfsh14.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 2014 spring fishing season in northeastern New Jersey are as follows:
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Dahnert’s Lake covers 4 acres and is located in Dahnert’s Park next to Midland Avenue in Garfield, Bergen County. This pond is stocked with 173 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 53 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 48 trout per acre on weeks 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this lake occurs during the week of April 28 to May 2, 2014.
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Diamond Mill Pond covers 4 acres and is located next to Brookside Drive in South Mountain Reservation in Millburn, Essex County. This pond is stocked with 208 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 63 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 58 trout per acre on week 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 21 to 25, 2014.
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Indian Lake covers 6 acres and is located next to Lakeview Avenue in Little Ferry, Bergen County. This lake is stocked with 192 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 57 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 52 trout per acre on weeks 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 28 to May 2, 2014.
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Lower Echo Park Pond covers 6 acres and is located next to Park Drive in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, Union County. This pond is stocked with 177 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 53 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 48 trout per acre on week 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 21 to 25, 2014.
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Mill Pond (also known as Silver Lake) covers 9 acres and is located next to Mill Road in Park Ridge, Bergen County. This pond is stocked with 122 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 37 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 33 trout per acre on week 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 21 to 25, 2014.
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Milton Lake covers 10 acres and is located off Midwood Drive in Milton Lake Park in Rahway, Union County. This lake is stocked with 121 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 36 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 33 trout per acre on weeks 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 28 to May 2, 2014.
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Seeleys Pond covers 3 acres and is located off New Providence Road in Watchung Reservation in Berkeley Heights, Union County. This pond is stocked with 210 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 63 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 57 trout per acre on week 3 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 21 to 25, 2014.
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Verona Park Pond covers 13 acres and is located alongside Lakeside Avenue (Route 636) in Verona, Essex County. This pond is stocked with 97 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 28 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 26 trout per acre on weeks 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 28 to May 2, 2014.
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Whites Pond covers 6 acres and is located at the end of Sherman Avenue off Hopper Avenue in Waldwick, Bergen County. This pond is stocked with 60 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 52 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 14 to 18.
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Woodcliff Lake covers 15 acres and is located in the James J Braddock North Hudson County Park off Bergenline Avenue in North Bergen, Hudson County. This lake is stocked with 93 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 28 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 25 trout per acre on weeks 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this pond occurs during the week of April 28 to May 2, 2014.
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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