05-21-2007, 07:10 PM
During the first two weeks of May, North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel stocked roughly 60,000 rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout in waters throughout the state. Thanks to the cooperative effort of Game and Fish and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery biologists, some 42 lakes now contain catchable trout measuring 11-12 inches long.
The stocked trout are on average 1-2 inches longer than in previous years because of more available growing space at the hatchery, according to Scott Gangl, Game and Fish Department fisheries management section leader.
Normally, various fish in the hatchery are raised in long narrow concrete ponds called raceways. Due to low water levels and the reduced need for salmon in Lake Sakakawea, fewer salmon were raised this year. As a result, more space was available in the raceways. "This year the trout grew really well in the hatchery, so anglers are going to see some really nice, fat, healthy fish," Gangl said.
Trout anglers can make the big catch at a number of different locations this summer. Gangl recommends trout fishing in waters such as Sheep Creek Dam, Grant County; Lightning Lake, McLean County; Strawberry Lake, Bottineau County; Moon Lake, Barnes County; Northgate Dam, Burke County; Turtle River, Grand Forks County; and Fish Creek, Morton County. These lakes contain newly stocked trout, plus larger trout that carried over from last year.
In response to public input, Game and Fish biologists also decided to stock cutthroat trout in one small lake, Lightning Lake, to provide something new for anglers.
"This year we went with a little something different to provide more diversity. Anglers at Lightning Lake wanted something new, so we planted a few cutthroats into the lake to meet their requests" Gangl said.
While cutthroat trout are similar to rainbow trout in size and life habits, cutthroats are differentiated by red marks found underneath their gills.
In addition to stocking cutthroat trout, to further diversify local lakes Game and Fish personnel introduced brown trout to Kettle Lake in Williams County and Riverdale Spillway Lake in McLean County to create a new fishing experience. "With the diverse, large and newly stocked population of trout, anglers will have many great opportunities to fish for trout this summer," Gangl said.
To find out more about North Dakota trout lakes, contact your local Game and Fish office, or visit the Department website at gf.nd.gov.
The stocked trout are on average 1-2 inches longer than in previous years because of more available growing space at the hatchery, according to Scott Gangl, Game and Fish Department fisheries management section leader.
Normally, various fish in the hatchery are raised in long narrow concrete ponds called raceways. Due to low water levels and the reduced need for salmon in Lake Sakakawea, fewer salmon were raised this year. As a result, more space was available in the raceways. "This year the trout grew really well in the hatchery, so anglers are going to see some really nice, fat, healthy fish," Gangl said.
Trout anglers can make the big catch at a number of different locations this summer. Gangl recommends trout fishing in waters such as Sheep Creek Dam, Grant County; Lightning Lake, McLean County; Strawberry Lake, Bottineau County; Moon Lake, Barnes County; Northgate Dam, Burke County; Turtle River, Grand Forks County; and Fish Creek, Morton County. These lakes contain newly stocked trout, plus larger trout that carried over from last year.
In response to public input, Game and Fish biologists also decided to stock cutthroat trout in one small lake, Lightning Lake, to provide something new for anglers.
"This year we went with a little something different to provide more diversity. Anglers at Lightning Lake wanted something new, so we planted a few cutthroats into the lake to meet their requests" Gangl said.
While cutthroat trout are similar to rainbow trout in size and life habits, cutthroats are differentiated by red marks found underneath their gills.
In addition to stocking cutthroat trout, to further diversify local lakes Game and Fish personnel introduced brown trout to Kettle Lake in Williams County and Riverdale Spillway Lake in McLean County to create a new fishing experience. "With the diverse, large and newly stocked population of trout, anglers will have many great opportunities to fish for trout this summer," Gangl said.
To find out more about North Dakota trout lakes, contact your local Game and Fish office, or visit the Department website at gf.nd.gov.