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 at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly/ |
The 2017 Statewide Hatchery Trout and Kokanee Stocking Plan contains stocking information for each individual Washington County and for the entire State. The locations, dates, exact numbers and times presented are based on current information, unavoidable changes may occur.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be stocking or has stocked 16,330,000 trout and kokanee into 546 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2017. The stocking will be comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants.
Catchable Trout Plants
For the 2017 trout fishing season, 2.35 million catchables will be stocked throughout the state. Anglers will be pleased to find that like the last few years the average size of catchables on opening day will be larger than in previous years. Catchables were on average eight inches in length, but this year, they will be closer to 11 inches. To keep track of when catchables are stocked in real-time, anglers can consult http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly/
Jumbo Trout
In 2017, the Department will stock hundreds of lakes throughout the state with 130,370 jumbo trout averaging greater than 14 inches in length and 1 pound or larger in weight. Included in this Jumbo stocking will be 17,500 triploid trout that average 1½ pounds each. The triploid trout are purchased by the Department from private growers. To keep track of when Jumbo Trout are stocked in real-time, anglers can consult http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly/
Trout and Kokanee Fry, Fingerling and Put, Grow and Take Plants
Over 12.3 million fry, fingerlings and put, grow and take fish were stocked throughout the state as 2-to-8-inch-long fish. Kokanee fry were stocked in 2016 for the 2018/2019 fisheries, while trout fry, fingerling and put, grow and take were stocked in spring and fall 2016 for this year's catch.
Fry, fingerlings and put, grow and take are stocked in the spring and fall, when they are able to feed and grow on natural food until they are large enough to be harvested. The survival rate for these differing sizes of fish 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 trout available for harvest. Western Washington lowland lakes depend primarily on catchable-size trout plants because of relatively low fry survival. In Western Washington, where fry plants are successful, the ones that survive supplement the catchable trout plants.
Some Tips for Finding and Catching Trout To find when, where and how to catch trout in Washington visit our Fish Washington website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington/