March 31, 2004 (rt23 news) - TRENTON - In preparation for the opening of trout season, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today joined Lawrence Township Mayor Mark Holmes and representatives of the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife to stock Colonial Lake in Lawrenceville with broodstock trout.

Trout season officially begins in all waters open to the fishing public on Saturday, April 10 at 8:00 a.m. By opening day, 173,000 trout will be stocked in the state’s streams and waterbodies.

"The opening of trout season is a beloved rite of spring for New Jersey’s sportsmen," said Commissioner Campbell. "This year, the additional supply of broodstock will make trout fishing even more exciting than usual. The Pequest Hatchery has done an outstanding job of stocking the state’s lakes and ponds to ensure that the spring 2004 season is a high watermark for trout enthusiasts. I’m happy to have this opportunity to help prepare for opening day."

Spring trout stocking begins about three weeks prior to the opening day of trout season and continues for another seven weeks after the season starts. By May 29, the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will release more than 575,000 brook, brown and rainbow trout into 95 streams and 89 freshwater lakes, ponds and impoundments.

Brook, brown, and rainbow trout are raised at the DEP’s Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County. When stocked, the trout measure 10 to 11 inches in length and weigh between one-half and one pound.

An increased supply of broodstock will be allocated statewide before opening day. An estimated 5,000 broodstock, measuring 16 to 24 inches in length and an average of two to three pounds, will be released in streams, ponds and lakes throughout the state.

Before the start of trout season, DEP will stock five times more bonus broodstock than usual in nine ponds and lakes including Colonial Lake. Bonus Broodstock, which weigh an average of three to five pounds, will also be distributed at Woodcliff Lake (Hudson County), Verona Park Lake (Essex County), Burnham Park Pond (Morris County), Roosevelt Park Pond (Middlesex County), Holmdel Park Pond (Monmouth County), Grenloch Lake (Gloucester County), Riverview Beach Pond (Salem County) and Birch Grove Park Pond (Atlantic County).

The DEP will announce several exciting changes to the spring stocking program in the coming weeks. New Jersey’s 2004 trout season will offer larger trout, additional fishing locations and increased opportunities for wild trout fishing.

For more information on spring stocking, call the Trout Hotline at (609) 633-6765 or visit the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife’s website at www.njfishandwildlife.com.