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Trout
Stocking Plan
Report
Archives
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2008
Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan for Washington Lakes and Streams
Introduction
This booklet is organized into two sections: First - the ponds and lakes
receiving catchable trout in 2008, and the kokanee and trout fry species
and numbers stocked in 2006 and 2007; and Second – the stream catchable
trout stocking table. These sections list the waters by county, and show
the trout species, the numbers, size, and approximate time to be stocked.
The locations, dates, and times presented are based on current information,
so unavoidable changes may occur.
The 2008 Washington
Triploid Trout distribution schedule is appended at the end of the document.
Catchable
Trout Plants
Over 3.5 million trout, 7 inches or larger, are scheduled to be stocked
in 374 Washington lowland lakes this year. These plants include over 33,900
quality “jumbo”- sized (1-½ to 2 pound average) rainbow
and cutthroat trout, as well as larger brood stock trout, being released
from WDFW hatcheries into these lakes. These, combined with the triploid
trout noted below, will provide opportunities for larger trout in selected
lakes. About 53,000 catchable-sized trout are planned for stocking in
selected streams to provide mitigation for lost opportunity to harvest
wild fish, or to provide recreational opportunity in areas where habitat
does not support wild trout populations.
Triploid
Trout
Nearly 20.7 million fry and fingerlings were stocked as 2-to-5 inch long
trout into 536 lakes and ponds, including 233 high lakes. Kokanee were
stocked in 2006 for the 2008 fishery, while trout fry were stocked in
2007 for this year's catch. Fry and fingerlings are stocked in the spring
and fall, where they feed and grow on natural food until the following
spring when they are large enough to be harvested. The survival rate of
fry varies depends on the lake. A number of eastern Washington lakes are
managed in such a way that fry survival is very good and are the primary
source of new trout available for harvest. Western Washington lowland
lakes depend primarily on catchable size trout plants because of relatively
low fry survival. Where fry are stocked, the ones that survive supplement
the catchable trout plants.
Trout
Fry Plants
Nearly 18 million fry and fingerlings were stocked as 2 to 5 inch-long
trout into 581lakes and ponds. Kokanee were stocked in 2005 for the 2007
fishery, while trout were stocked in 2006 for this year's catch. Fry are
stocked in the spring and fall, where they feed and grow on natural food
until the following spring when they are large enough to be harvested.
The survival rate of fry varies depending on the lake. A number of eastern
Washington lakes are managed in such a way that fry survival is very good
and are the primary source of new trout available for harvest. Western
Washington lowland lakes depend primarily on catchable size trout plants
because of relatively low fry survival. Where fry are stocked, the ones
that survive supplement the catchable trout plants.
Some Tips
for Catching Trout
As you read
through the stocking tables, please note that many lakes are open yearround,
or open on March 1, and are stocked as early as January. While it may
be too late this year to take advantage of this knowledge, stocking schedules
are fairly consistent from year-to-year, so you can plan to get in some
good early season fishing next year.
Research has shown
that trout tend to stay in the top three to five feet of water for the
first weeks after stocking. This makes them easy prey for cormorants and
other avian predators, which can take a significant bite out of our stocking
efforts. Where avian predation is prevalent, your best chance for success
may come in the first couple of weeks after trout are stocked. Angler
activity tends to disrupt the feeding birds and can save the fish for
a longer period of good fishing.
Because of this tendency
of stocked trout to remain shallow for a while after stocking, fishing
on the bottom may not be as productive early as it will be later. Troll
shallow with small lures, flies, or spinner-and-bait combinations early
in the season. When fishing from shore, use a float to keep your bait
up in the feeding zone.
After a few weeks,
the trout will cue in on natural food items and be found where the food
is, and this tends to be deeper. At this time, try fishing on or just
off the bottom, using floating paste type baits or other buoyant baits.
Also, natural baits such as worms, fish eggs, or flies and lures that
imitate natural trout food work well. This will also be the case in lakes
managed primarily with fry plants where the fish have grown up on natural
food. |
