01-18-2024, 11:55 PM
(01-16-2024, 05:48 PM)wormandbobber Wrote: I wish more were stocked too...but, you have to remember that biologists have to put in quotas in advance. In other words, without the crystal ball of knowing that last winter was going to bring so much good water, the quota was going to be smaller because hatcheries only produce so many and quotas are scheduled prior to the production. With that being said, gill netting numbers last spring were much higher than expected. I bet there are more fish there than you think or realize...and, with lower numbers, growth will be really good. Fishing may be tougher, but sizes are going to be awesome! Those fish that survived the open regulations and low water from two summers ago will be hogs!!
Let's look at how last year's stocking compared to previous years: 2017--about 45,000 bows were stocked and about 27,000, cutts 2018--14,000 bows were stocked, 2019--17,000 bows were stocked and 10,000 browns, 2020--32,000 bows were stocked, 2021--30,000 bows were stocked, 2022--15,000 bows were stocked. So, last year's trout stocking was higher than any other year in the past 6 other than 2017 when the cutthroat stocking combined with the rainbow trout stocking were higher. And, last year's stocking of rainbow trout was higher than any other year. I'm happy with the 48,000 because it shows that they are trying to up the numbers. Also, those beat up fish were probably extras that were not initially scheduled to be dumped into Minersville. That, too, is a sign that they are trying to increase numbers and is a good thing.
Wormandbobber, yes I agree with most of what you say. Your stocking data is right on the money, except for some undisclosed stockings made by the DNR.
Most of the stocking data you mentioned that is prior to 2022 is irrelevant to our discussion. Of course no one can see what the future holds as far as moisture. Because of that the decision makers we’re betting against Minersville with high demand for hatchery fish coming out of a killer drought.
Feb. and March can often be the big months for snow pack on the Beaver Mountains, so I have hope. Probably going to be at least a couple of more years before we even get a glimpse of what it was like before drought caught up to Minersville this last time.
With the high water this past spring the LMB spawn was off the charts,, at least on my end of the lake.