Garden State Trout

Long ago, I remember overhearing a conversation about famed, but unsubstantiated wild trout that cruised under the NJ Turnpike.

Even though my recollection contradicts my intuition, I recall that stream flowed through Central/South Jersey (and not Northern), as in between Helmetta and Cherry Hill. Does anyone have any info on this legend?
Tight lines and GO RED SOX!

I recall reading a piece about Trout in the Meadowlands. Have searched but could not locate it. Also Big Timber Creek is known to have native Brookies, it is located near Cherry hill in Gloucester County.

Ive caught wild trout under a few highways but I really cant think of any that would be under the NJTP.

46er wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:02 am

I recall reading a piece about Trout in the Meadowlands. Have searched but could not locate it. Also Big Timber Creek is known to have native Brookies, it is located near Cherry hill in Gloucester County.

Interesting, the Division does list it as TP waters, but it is the only stream where they don't list brook, brown, rainbow or a combo of the three.

PART TWO

List of New Jersey Trout Production Waters
with Resident Reproducing Trout Species Identified
Trout Species
Brook Brown

Big Timber Creek Drainage

Masons Run (Pine Hill) x

Delaware River (Hunterdon Co.) Drainage

Delaware River (trib.)(Holland) x
Hakihokake Creek (Milford) x
Hakihokake Creek (trib.)(Wydner) x
Little York (Brook) Creek (Little York) x
Spring Mills Brook (Milford) x
Warford Creek (Barbertown) x

I see it doesn't copy and paste well, but there are three species and an "x" under each species of wild trout known in that waterway. Mason's Run correctly shows brook trout. But Big Timber was left blank. I know Pat Hamilton always says Mason's Run has the southernmost population of wild brook trout in NJ...

There are a lot of feeders to Big Timber proper, Trout Run used to have a small population of Brookies, probably still does.

Seems like a pretty built up area, quite far south, and not very hilly. What would make there be wild brook trout down there, versus countless other drainages in central/north jersey, or even the Tom's River? Are these cold, shaded, spring fed streams? Beyond that, is the PH of water somehow more suitable for trout, than the Toms? Are these streams very clean with little sedimentation? I am not debating that trout are there or not, but its just to curious to see why they would be there versus other areas.

martalus wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 3:50 am

Seems like a pretty built up area, quite far south, and not very hilly. What would make there be wild brook trout down there, versus countless other drainages in central/north jersey, or even the Tom's River? Are these cold, shaded, spring fed streams? Beyond that, is the PH of water somehow more suitable for trout, than the Toms? Are these streams very clean with little sedimentation? I am not debating that trout are there or not, but its just to curious to see why they would be there versus other areas.

In the case of Mason's Run, it is spring fed, full of sand except in the steeper gradient places, and tannic. The brookies only really thrive in the few places where the sand doesn't accumulate and choke out their habitat. But water temps in the short area they persist is very cold.

Just about in my back yard, there is a book about Mason run, Saving Mason's Run. Our TU chapter does work on this stream.

SNJAngler wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:53 pm

Just about in my back yard, there is a book about Mason run, Saving Mason's Run. Our TU chapter does work on this stream.

By Brian Burns. He is a great spokesman for that little stream and its native brookies! I have his book, and it is well researched. Most don't know that area was once a ski hill in winter. Today, it's a Trump golf course. Fortunately for the wild brookies, there is swamp pink, a federally endangered plant species that lives near the stream which helped protect both the trout and riparian corridor from harmful development when the course was built (Trump is the second owner).

SNJAngler wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:53 pm

Just about in my back yard, there is a book about Mason run, Saving Mason's Run. Our TU chapter does work on this stream.

Mason's Run sounds like it's worth a trip to explore. Thanks for the info, fellas. If it's a bust, at least the CowTown Rodeo ("the oldest weekly running rodeo in the USA") isn't too far away... I haven't been there in years but I remember it being tons of fun.
http://www.cowtownrodeo.com/

Can't fish Mason Run, private property owned by the golf course, I think since Trump took over the golf course they have been working with Brian. Brian is a great spokesman, there is some other streams which have some wild trout down here in South Jersey, but it is very tight lipped crew that fish for them.

SNJAngler wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 18, 2018 11:04 pm

Can't fish Mason Run, private property owned by the golf course, I think since Trump took over the golf course they have been working with Brian. Brian is a great spokesman, there is some other streams which have some wild trout down here in South Jersey, but it is very tight lipped crew that fish for them.

Hmmmm.....how much is a membership at the golf course?

I believe it is a $100,000 bond and $20,000 yearly, better off buying some mountain property. HAHA

SNJAngler wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 20, 2018 4:05 pm

I believe it is a $100,000 bond and $20,000 yearly, better off buying some mountain property. HAHA

Maybe I had 2 acres and a nice log cabin with 250' on the West Branch Ausable in NY. A tad more expensive then the golf stuff.