05-31-2009, 11:14 AM
Bay State anglers can look forward to over 579,900 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring according to figures released by MassWildlife. Weather and water conditions permitting, MassWildlife stocking trucks will be making their spring trout stocking runs beginning with selected lakes and ponds in the eastern areas of the state by mid-March. Other waterbodies in the state, still covered with snow will be stocked when weather, snow, water and mud conditions permit.
"Half of the 341,000 rainbow trout we will be putting out will be over 14 inches long," observes Chief Fish Culturist Dr. Ken Simmons. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices." 147,600 brown trout will be stocked of which more than 36,000 are larger than 13 inches. The larger water bodies will receive the larger fish with the smaller brooks and streams receiving the smaller fish. 86,000 brook trout, some of which weigh more than 3 pounds will be stocked in a similar fashion. Anglers can also anticipate trying to take some of the 5,000 tiger trout to be released. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout will average over 14" in length.
Once the stocking season begins, weekly trout stocking reports will be updated each Friday on the MassWildlife website (www.mass.gov/masswildlife). All schedules are subject to alteration or cancellation due to equipment failure, inclement weather, high water or other unforeseen circumstances. Please refrain from asking when a particular water body will be stocked for the same reasons! Anglers without Internet access may also call the nearest District office for information on trout stocked waters: Western 413/447-9789; Valley 413/323-7632; Central 508/835-3607; Northeast 978/263-4347 or Southeast 508/759-3406. Don't forget to "hook" a new angler of any age on to fishing!
"Half of the 341,000 rainbow trout we will be putting out will be over 14 inches long," observes Chief Fish Culturist Dr. Ken Simmons. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices." 147,600 brown trout will be stocked of which more than 36,000 are larger than 13 inches. The larger water bodies will receive the larger fish with the smaller brooks and streams receiving the smaller fish. 86,000 brook trout, some of which weigh more than 3 pounds will be stocked in a similar fashion. Anglers can also anticipate trying to take some of the 5,000 tiger trout to be released. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout will average over 14" in length.
Once the stocking season begins, weekly trout stocking reports will be updated each Friday on the MassWildlife website (www.mass.gov/masswildlife). All schedules are subject to alteration or cancellation due to equipment failure, inclement weather, high water or other unforeseen circumstances. Please refrain from asking when a particular water body will be stocked for the same reasons! Anglers without Internet access may also call the nearest District office for information on trout stocked waters: Western 413/447-9789; Valley 413/323-7632; Central 508/835-3607; Northeast 978/263-4347 or Southeast 508/759-3406. Don't forget to "hook" a new angler of any age on to fishing!