HEAPS OF TROUT

There's still trout in them thar waters of the state, at least you have to figure all of the 620,262 stocked this spring haven't been caught. Even so, the catch-and-release factor means even more are still there. As long as water andweather conditions are favorable, you should be catching spring released trout well into the summer.
The state says 340,996 pounds of rainbows, brookies and browns were put into lakes, ponds and streams from March to Memorial Day weekend. These include broodstock up to nearly two-foot long fish. The average stocker was about 11 inches.
Go fish!

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Dave Plichta Sr. and Dave Plichta Jr. of  Flemington took four winning trout in the recent contest at Round Valley Reservoir held by the Hunterdon Anglers.
Two of their lake trout and two browns were winners. There were no real lunkers caught however as the biggest overall laker was 3.85 pounds caught by Frank Capobianco of Dunellen. The largest brown was a 2.45-pound fish in the adult division. Jackyln Bridgeman of Keport caught a 2.45-pound brown also to win the junior division.

FOUL CATCH

We've all snagged weeds, sticks and fishing tackle at one time or another, but a fisherman at Round Valley Reservoir won't ever forget what came in on the end of his hook. New Jersey State Police and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the discovery of "partial human remains." Law enforcement personnel will try to discover who that victim is.

BEARDED WONDER

Many turkey hunters save beards taken from gobblers, but a bowhunter in Onodaga County, NY collected a bunch in one shot. His tom had FOUR beards.

A REAL GETAWAY

YOU MAY HAVE READ ABOUT MY RECENT TRIP TO THE BEAVERKILL IN THE TRENTONIAN PRINT EDITION OF THE OUTDOOR COLUMN AND THE PLACE WE STAYED OVERNIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU AND IT'S FOR SALE. THE CABIN, THAT WILL SLEEP SIX IN A PINCH, SITS ATOP A MOUNTAINTOP NORTH OF ROSCOE, NY OFF OLD ROUTE 17. IT'S A TWO-MILE DRIVE UP AND IT'S A ROCKY AND DIRT ROAD. A 4X4 IS MANDATORY, ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. THE PLACE IS HEATED BY A WOOD STOVE, BUT HAS WELL WATER AND A BATHROOM AND IS POWERED BY A GENERATOR AND SOLAR PANEL. THE PLACE SITS ON FIVE ACRES. DEER ABOUND. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TURKEY. E-MAIL CATSKILLSCABINOWNER@YAHOO.COM FOR DETAILS AND PRICE.

CLASSIC TACKLE

A lot of anglers crave old tackle, whether it be a vintage plug in original box or a four-figure bamboo fly rod with the name Leonard or Payne attached. One outfit I've dealt with over the years, with complete satisfaction, is The Jordon-Mills Rod Co. run by Carmile Lisella of New City, NY. His spring, 2012 catalog is just out and packed width "wish-list" stuff. To get on his mailing list e-mail him at clisella@aol.com. Meanwhile I've just acquired an old Heddon No. 14 bamboo fly rod, two tips, with a cloth case. If anybody is interested in buying same at a fair price (I really don't need another fly rod) e-mail me at rikwrite@aol.com.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

Recent wildfires in the Pinelands have burned some 400 acres and are indicative of the high level of fire danger in our fields and woodlands. Dry conditions with little rainfall and windy days make the outdoors especially vulnerable to fires.
Trout fishermen and campers are reminded that campfire restrictions are in effect throughout the state and building a fire directly on the ground is prohibited unless in a fire ring of steel, brick, masonry or other non-combustible material.
The Forest Service says fire danger is very high in Burlington County as will as Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex County, south of the Raritan River.
The danger is graded as "high" in Hopewell Township and most Southern counties.
The Forest Service says 99 percent of all wildfires in New Jersey are caused by humans.