Eastside lakes to be stocked with large triploid trout

In mid-April Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatchery crews will stock 24 eastern Washington fishing lakes with 31,400 extra-large triploid rainbow trout.

The big trout, averaging 1.5-pounds each, are called triploids because they have three sets of chromosomes instead of the normal two; that makes them sterile, so all their feeding and energy goes into growth, rather than reproduction.

"This is the second year we've been authorized and funded by the Legislature to stock these big fish to help make up for loss of recreational fishing due to recent salmon and steelhead listings," explained Jim Uehara, WDFW's resident native fish program manager.

This year WDFW's triploid stocking effort will be twice as many fish as last year - 84,000 total -- in close to twice as many waters as last year -- 77 across the state.

The fishing lakes receiving triploids were chosen because they provide relatively easy access for a maximum number of people statewide, as legislatively directed. Of the 77 waters stocked, 53 are in western Washington and 24 are in eastern Washington.

Triploids will be stocked throughout the spring. Some western Washington lakes that were stocked earlier this month will be stocked again in April and May. Most of the triploids will be stocked the week of April 17 in waters that open to fishing April 28.

The eastside fishing waters to receive triploids are:

For more information see:

• Spring 2001 Hatchery Trout Stocking Plan
• 2001 Triploid Trout Stocking Plan