NYS Spring Stocking List
Note: I have posted this on other boards too, but wanted to get the word out.
Anticipating the upcoming season I was perusing the DEC website stocking list to pick out a few new ponds that I haven't been to and got quite a shock. The site posts the 2010 stocking list but I couldn't find the 2011 one unless they are hiding it somewhere. There is a spring 2012 stocking list and when I looked at it I got a shock. Almost NO brook trout stocking and the few that were on the list were planned to be put in brooks or streams. NONE in remote Adirondack ponds. I was prepared for a reduction in stocking levels but nothing like this. I had heard or read a rumor somewhere that the state was no longer going to fly their helicopter into remote ponds to stock due to budget and pilot training issues. I suspected it was a bunch of hooey, but now am wondering. Hopefully they aren't going to curtail all remote pond stocking or we better enjoy the fishing while it lasts. Perhaps they will add to the stocking list later, but it seems to me that spring would be the time to stock the ponds while the water is still cold. Can anyone shed any light on this?