Introduction
Note: The statewide trout stocking plan provides anglers with the earliest information on where and how many trout are planned to be stocked into lakes and streams around the state. While most of the lakes are stocked as planned, anglers can expect a few changes due to modifications in hatchery production, as well as the ability to stock excess brood fish
To see what has been stocked in lakes check our weekly stocking report.
The 2012 Statewide Trout Stocking Plan PDF contains trout stocking information on each of the state's six regions individually and for the entire state. The locations, dates, exact numbers and times presented are based on current information, so unavoidable changes may occur.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be stocking 12,980,185 trout into 557 lakes across the state in 2012. These will be comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "triploids", and "fry plants".
The 2012 Washington Triploid Trout distribution schedule is available both in this file and online.
Catchable Trout Plants
For the 2012 trout fishing season, 2.9 million catchables will be stocked throughout the state. Anglers will be pleased to find that on average, the size of catchables on opening day this year will be much larger than previous years. In previous years, catchables were at least eight inches in length, but this year, they will be closer to 11 inches, on average. The WDFW is in the process of producing a larger standardized catchable for opening day and although the target date for statewide implementation is opening day of 2013, this year, anglers will find the average size has increased noticeably, particularly in the Westside lakes. The catchable program will include 91,890 "jumbos", which are fish that WDFW hatcheries raise to be 1 - 2 pounds at release, as well as larger broodstock trout, being released from WDFW hatcheries. These, combined with the triploid trout noted above and below, will provide opportunities for larger trout in selected lakes. WDFW also plans to stock catchable-sized trout into 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
In 2012, the WDFW will stock 117 lakes and ponds throughout the state with 46,000 triploid trout that average 1½ pounds each. These trout, purchased by the Department from private growers, are sterile rainbows that have the potential to grow to trophy size if abundant food is available, and if not harvested the first season after stocking. These fish are not "genetically modified," but are sterilized by heat- or pressure-treatment on the eggs after fertilization. Numbers and locations of the stocked triploids can be found in both the Statewide Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan and online: Statewide Triploid Trout Stocking Schedule.
Trout Fry Plants
Over 10 million fry and fingerlings were stocked throughout the state as 2-to-5-inch-long fish. Kokanee fry were stocked in 2010 for the 2012 fishery, while trout fry were stocked in 2011 for this year's catch. Fry and fingerlings are stocked in the spring and fall, when they are able to 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 conditions of the lake. A number of eastern Washington lakes are managed in such a way that fry survival is very good and therefore are the primary source of new trout available for harvest the following spring. Western Washington lowland lakes depend primarily on catchable-size trout plants because of relatively low fry survival. Where fry plants are successful, 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 year-round, or open on March 1, and may be stocked as early as January. While it might 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.