This blog identifies the ponds in central New Jersey that provide the best odds of catching trout during the spring of 2014. For the purpose of this blog, central New Jersey covers Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset 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 central 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 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 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 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 central New Jersey are as follows:
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Amwell Lake covers 10 acres and is located in the Amwell Lake Wildlife Management Area off Route 31 in East Amwell, Hunterdon County. This lake is stocked with 103 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 31 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 28 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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Colonial Lake covers 10 acres and is located in Colonial Lake Park next to Lake Drive off Brunswick Avenue in Trenton, Mercer County. This lake is stocked with 103 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 31 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 28 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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Echo Lake covers 6 acres and is located in Echo Lake Park next to Maxim Southard Road off Lanes Mill Road in Southard, Monmouth County. This lake is stocked with 153 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 48 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 43 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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Englishtown Mill Pond (also known as Lake Weamaconk) covers 6 acres and is located next to Park Avenue off Main Street in Englishtown, Monmouth County. This pond 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 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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Garveys Pond covers 2 acres and is located next to Lakeside Avenue off Locust Point Road in Navesink, Monmouth County. This pond is stocked with 205 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 60 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 55 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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Hamilton Fire Pond covers 2 acres and is located behind the Hamilton Fire Company next to Jumping Brook Road in Neptune, Monmouth County. This pond is stocked with 200 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 60 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 55 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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Holmdel Park Pond covers 5 acres and is located in Holmdel Park off Longstreet Road in Holmdel, Monmouth County. This pond is stocked with 114 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 34 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 30 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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Lake Papaianni covers 8 acres and is located in Papaianni Park off Lincoln Highway (Route 27) in Edison, Middlesex County. This pond is stocked with 130 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 39 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 35 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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Mohawk Pond covers 2 acres and is located next to Henry Street off Newman Springs Road in Red Bank, Monmouth County. This pond is stocked with 230 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 65 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 60 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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Roosevelt Park Pond covers 10 acres and is located in Roosevelt Park off Parsonage Road (Route 657) in Edison Township, Middlesex County. This pond is stocked with 110 trout per acre before opening day. It is then stocked with an extra 33 trout per acre on weeks 1 and 2, and 30 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, 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.
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