DEP: Grenloch Lake Trout Stocking This Week

Grenloch Lake is slated to receive 170 trout in the annual fall stocking this coming week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced on Wednesday.

The DEP's fall trout stocking began Tuesday in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Grenloch Lake, which is located between Camden and Gloucester counties, just off the Black Horse Pike, is scheduled to be stocked on Tuesday.

DEP will place approximately 20,000 2-year-old brook and rainbow trout, averaging 14 to 16 inches, in 17 streams and 15 ponds and lakes across the state over two weeks. Up to 1,000 additional 3-year-old rainbow trout, averaging 18 to 22 inches, will also be stocked.

In addition to Grenloch, DEP will stock 170 trout in each of the following waterways in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties next week: Crystal Lake, Oak Pond, Sylvan Lake, Greenwich Lake, Iona Lake, Schadlers Sand Wash Pond and Swedesboro Lake.

For a complete list, click here.

Grenloch Lake was shut down for fishing and other recreational uses in January after a fuel spill at a New Jersey Transit bus depot in Washington Township fouled local waterways. DEP canceled Grenloch's spring trout fishing season in March before reopening the lake to fishing in May.

This year marks the second straight year DEP has initiated its fall trout stocking the second week of October. In the past, DEP began stocking trout in New Jersey's streams, ponds and lakes the first week of October, but high water temperatures and low stream flows postponed in the years leading up to 2011.

Moving the start of fall stocking to the second week of October takes advantage of cooler temperatures, which benefit trout.