Home About Archives RSS Feed

It's Spring When: They Start Stocking Trout

Staff Reports

Something fishy is about to happen. The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is dumping 540,000 "feisty" brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout in pounds and streams statewide.

"We'll be putting out 320,000 rainbow trout that will average 12 inches or longer, and about 78 percent of these rainbows will be 14 inches or larger," Chief Fish Culturist Ken Simmons wrote in the latest MassWildlife reprot. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices."

Stocking will begin as soon as ice, snow and mud conditions allow the trucks access to the waterways. Anglers are advised to contact their district office for updates on when stocking will begin in the area.

What's going into the water? About 47,000 brown trout averaging more a foot long will be stocked along with another 115,000 browns in the 9-to-11-inch range. Not surprisingly, the bigger fish will land in the larger water bodies, while most of the smaller fish will be releaseed in the streams and brooks.

Brook trout will be stocked in a similar fashion with approximately 11,500 fish measuring a foot or better, and more than 66,000 in the 6-to-11-inch class.

Simmons said he is particular excited about the quality of this year's crop of 2-year-old brook trout, which he puts down to a "combination of hard work by hatchery staff and good growing conditions at the hatcheries where they are produced." 

Some 6,000 tiger trout are set to be released as well, all topping the 14-inch mark. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, have become popular with folks lucky enough to hook and land one, say Wildlife officials. 

To find out the status of trout stocking here or call the Western District office at 413-684-1646.

Tags: fishing, trout, Mass Wildlife      

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
Pittsfield Super Details Emergency Communication with Families
Weekend Outlook: Bazaars, First Friday and Day of the Dead
Are your heirs ready to receive an inheritance?
Berkshire Organizations Awarded Food Security Infrastructure Grants
MCLA Announces the MountainOne Fund
Greylock Federal Promotes Assistant Vice President, Market Manager
Greylock School Project Moves Into Detailed Design Stage
MCLA Awaits for News on Donor Gift
Lanesborough Select Board Decreases Bailey Road Speed Limit
Pittsfield Licensing Board Says Bar Responded Properly to Melee


Categories:
Animals (8)
Arts (25)
Community (59)
Daily Beat (4)
Fun stuff (106)
Fundraiser (2)
Green (10)
Health (2)
North Adams (11)
People (14)
Pittsfield (7)
politics (1)
Richmond (2)
Sports (2)
State (4)
Technology (3)
Williamstown (12)
Archives:
Tags:
Richmond Wilco Latin Williams Holiday Scholarship Fundraiser Morning Report News Reading Program Family Volunteer Children & Families iBerkshires iBerkshires Food Drive Pittsfield Funeral Country Fair Bcc Downing Mass Moca Kalker Adams Champion Elm Election Baseball Library Concerts Music Fall Foliage Auditions Family Event Halloween
Popular Entries:
ABC News Features Cheshire's Madigan
Williams Student Dies in Avalanche
Adios, Karen
Prof's Fraud Past Cancels Caucus
Little Red Schoolhouse to Hold Craft Fair, Tag Sale
Will the Boys of Summer Return?
Williams Tops With Forbes, Unigo
ABC Broadcasts Travel Video on Berkshire Winter
Scholarship Available for Mt Greylock Seniors
Pittsfield Wins Arts Video Challenge
Recent Entries:
Are We There Yet?: Take A Moment to Breathe This Weekend
Are We There Yet?: Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Are We There Yet?: Warm Up On a Cold Weekend
Are We There Yet?: Halloween Times Two
Are We There Yet?: Halloween Is Just Beginning
Are We There Yet?: Enjoy a Quiet Fall Weekend
Are We There Yet?: Help Find a Cure for Type One Diabetes
Are We There Yet?: It's All About the Foliage
Are We There Yet?: Fall Into A Beautiful Autumn Weekend
Are We There Yet?: Curiosity, By George!