This blog identifies the ponds in northeastern New Jersey that provide the best odds of catching trout during the spring of 2016. For the purpose of this blog, northeastern New Jersey covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, 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.
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 northeastern New Jersey are listed below in alphabetical order:
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Dahnert’s Lake covers 4 acres and is located in Dahnert’s Lake County Park next to Midland Avenue in Garfield, Bergen County. This pond is stocked with 63 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 48 trout per acre on weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 during the in-season stocking period. The last stocking event on this lake this spring occurs during the week of May 2 to May 6.
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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 78 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 58 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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Indian Lake covers 6 acres and is located next to Lakeview Avenue in Little Ferry, Bergen County. This lake is stocked with 72 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 53 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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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 65 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 48 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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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 46 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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Milton Lake covers 10 acres and is located off Midwood Drive in Milton Lake Park in Rahway, Union 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, 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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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 77 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 57 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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Verona Park Pond covers 13 acres and is located in Verona Park alongside Lakeside Avenue (Route 636) in Verona, Essex County. This pond is stocked with 36 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 27 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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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 72 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 53 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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Woodcliff Lake covers 15 acres and is located in the James Braddock North Hudson County Park off Bergenline Avenue in North Bergen, Hudson County. This lake is stocked with 35 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 26 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.
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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