2019 - 2020 Texas Winter Rainbow Trout Stocking

Rainbow Trout

Over the winter, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be stocking a total of 343,650 rainbow trout in Texas waterways.

Winter stocking efforts in the state run from November 26, 2019, through the beginning of March 2020.

This year, TPWD will stock rainbow trout into the Canyon Tailrace on the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake, the Lewisville Tailrace located on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River below Lake Lewisville, and the Possum Kingdom Tailrace on the Brazos River below Possum Kingdom Lake.

Other stocking locations include dozens of local city and county managed park ponds, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center casting pond, and several rivers including the Frio, South Llano, and Guadalupe rivers and the Clear Fork of the Trinity River.

Rainbow trout can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. Depending on an angler’s experience level and interest, they can be caught using simple, light tackle or on hand-tied flies using a fly rod.

Because rainbow trout are unable to survive in Texas after the winter, TPWD encourages anglers to  keep trout for food and have ice available to keep them fresh. The statewide bag limit is five trout, except on parts of the Guadalupe River where special limits are in effect.

An attractive and popular sport fish, rainbow trout are well suited for the table. Anglers can easily find recipes to prepare these fish online or in traditional cookbooks.

The dates and locations for rainbow trout stocking are subject to change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Anglers can review the 2019-20 Trout Stocking Schedule online (tpwd.texas.gov) before fishing to confirm the stocking date, check fishing regulations, and to find other winter trout stocking program angling tips.

source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Delaware Largemouth Bass Stocking

Approximately 4,700 largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in Records Pond near Laurel, Delaware during 2013. DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife undertook the stocking project to help restore the pond’s largemouth bass population.

In the fall of 2012, an unknown number of largemouth bass were washed downstream when the water level was lowered to protect the pond dam in preparation for Hurricane Sandy.

Spring surveys of the pond found low numbers of largemouth bass, so the Division of Fish and Wildlife is requesting that anglers practice catch-and-release through 2014 to allow the population time to re-establish.

Bluegill and golden shiners were stocked last fall in an effort to boost the pond’s fish community and provide forage for predatory fish such as bass and crappie.

source: Delaware DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Idaho Kamloops Rainbow Trout Stocking

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently released about 15,000 pure Gerrard (Kamloops) rainbow trout fingerlings into the Pack River drainage and Spring Creek.

Eggs for the project were acquired from British Columbia. The fingerling rainbows were reared at the Cabinet Gorge Hatchery.

Community support for the stocking program comes from the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club. With help from the club, the fingerlings were recently adipose-fin-clipped so that Fish and Game can evaluate their performance and future contribution to the fishery.

source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game

2013 Maryland Fall Trout Stocking

During the month of October, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologists will release approximately 23,000 one pound rainbow and golden trout, and about 1,000 brown trout into Maryland’s freshwater streams and ponds. They will also stock about 150 rainbow and golden trout in the two-three-pound range.

Fall stocking locations include popular fishing areas such as the North Branch Potomac, Bear Creek, Town Creek, Blairs Valley Lake, Morgan Run, Patapsco River, Gunpowder Falls, Great Seneca, Wheatly Lake, Lake Artimesia, Greenbelt Lake, Big Elk, Deer Creek and Tuckahoe Creek.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

New Jersey Fall-Winter Trout Stocking

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently published a reminder to anglers that all of the trout New Jersey stocks during fall and winter measure 14 inches to 24 inches and weigh one and a half pounds to eight pounds.

More and more anglers are enjoying the larger fish stocked since a change in 2006 to stocking only larger trout. However, 67% of New Jersey trout anglers were not aware of this major stocking change when surveyed in 2010.

A growing number of anglers have begun enjoying big fish, cool water, great weather, and spectacular scenery that occur during New Jersey's fall trout fishing season. Trout fishing action extends through the winter months until spring stocking begins again in April.

From October 9 through November 21, more than 26,000 lunker trout will be stocked in 16 streams and 40 ponds and lakes throughout the state.

For more information on the fall and winter stocking program, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo.htm or call the Trout Hotline at 609-633-6765.

source: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife

Downstate Delaware 2012 Trout Season Opening Day

Several hundred rainbow trout were stocked in Tidbury Pond and Newton Pond prior to the opening of Downstate Delaware’s 2012 trout season on Saturday, March 3.

In less than an hour, about 275 pounds of fish were released in Tidbury Pond, plus a small number of trophy-sized trout. Most of the fish averaged 11 inches long and weighed about one-half to three-quarters of a pound, while the larger trout measured at least 14 inches and weighed two pounds or more.

Both ponds were scheduled to receive a second stocking of rainbow trout in late March.

Tidbury Pond is owned and managed by Kent County Parks and Recreation, and anglers are asked to be respectful of the vegetation and fences erected to protect landscaped areas. Newton Pond, a 10-acre restored borrow pit, is owned and managed as a state wildlife area by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and features a boat ramp for small car top boats and canoes (no gasoline motors allowed), a fishing pier and plenty of shoreline access to allow anglers to spread out.

source: delaware.gov

How To Catch Stocked Trout

Rainbow Trout

Each spring across North America, fish and wildlife agencies, fishing clubs, and other organizations release hatchery-raised freshwater rainbow trout into lakes, reservoirs, ponds, creeks, and streams. Stocked trout provide opportunities to catch fish for fishermen of all ages and skill levels.

Fishing tackle required for catching stocked rainbow trout is basic; is a light-action rod and reel combination, light line (6-12-pound test), small hooks, bobbers, and split shot or other weights.

Recently stocked trout can be caught with a variety of baits including canned whole-kernel corn, cheese, salmon eggs, small worms or pre-packaged trout baits.

The best baits and tackle for catching stocked trout vary somewhat, depending on water conditions, weather, and other factors. In areas of calm water, most anglers use bobbers (floats) to suspend baits at mid-depth. Having a selection of different size bobbers and weights allows anglers to adjust their rigs depending on current conditions.

In streams and other areas where currents are significant, other techniques may be required. When fishing in streams, some anglers rig worms, corn or salmon eggs on a short leader that can be casted and allowed to drift until it reaches the bottom.

A Carolina rig is one of the more common rigs for bottom fishing. This rig is made by adding a small inline weight on the line. A swivel is tied below the weight, followed by a hook on an 18-24" leader. By separating the weight and bait, Carolina rigs allow the bait to move freely near the bottom with less chance of spooking fish.

Eventually, stocked trout become acclimated to natural food sources, making bait fishing less effective. These "naturalized" trout are much harder to catch. Despite their selective habits, anglers still catch these fish using artificial lures, fly-fishing gear, or other equipment.

For spinning enthusiasts, the best lures for catching stocked trout often include small, brightly colored inline spinners. Jigs are also used to catch stocked trout. As stocked trout increase in size and age, their natural diets change from small insects and invertebrates to mostly small fish.

Anglers fishing with spinning tackle target these trout with crankbaits, topwater plugs, or other offerings that resemble baitfish. Fly fishermen also target large hatchery-raised rainbow trout using streamers and other baitfish patterns.

2012 Maryland Trout Stocking

Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun releasing rainbow and brown trout for the 2012 trout fishing season.

“Early trout stocking is possible because of the warm and dry weather conditions - beginning with our eastern streams and ponds,” said Assistant Fisheries

Director Don Cosden. “Eager trout anglers will be pleased to know that they may take advantage of the great weather and perhaps catch a trophy trout as large as eight pounds.”

For 2012 Maryland trout stocking information and updates, contact the DNR trout hotline at (800) 688-3467. The stocking schedule and maps to stocked and special trout management waters are available at dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/stocking.

Anglers may also pick up the updated (green) Spring Stocking Schedule charts at DNR Service Centers and tackle shops across the State.

Some stocked streams and ponds are reserved for delayed harvest to sustain quality angling between stocking periods and through late spring.

source: MD DNR

Maryland Spring Trout Stocking Schedule

In February, 2011, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to begin stocking rainbow and brown trout into freshwater streams and ponds across the State. According to the agency, approximately 327,000 fish will be released.

The stocking schedule is online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/stocking and is also available at DNR Regional Service Centers and license vendors. Anglers can also call 1-800-688-3467 for fish stocking updates.

Pre-season stocking usually starts in the eastern part of the State followed by the western region as the weather warms up.

source: MD DNR

Update: In 2011, some Maryland stocked trout were infected with whirling disease