Chasing the Rainbow

Texas Parks and Wildlife, http://tpwd.texas.gov/

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) stocks catfish and rainbow trout in season that are big enough to catch and keep, except in August. Stocking takes place every two to four weeks during summer and winter seasons. There should be a good supply of fish whenever you find time to visit!

Rainbow trout are “in season” now. These fish prefer cold water and survive only during winter in most parts of Texas. Trout stocking begins in late November or early December and continues until March.

Every winter, many anglers eagerly anticipate the annual rainbow trout stockings offered by TPWD and their cooperators across the state. Rainbow trout are produced and delivered from out of state to our hatcheries, where they are prepared for their final destination in Texas waters. Once all conditions are met, the fish are delivered by TPWD personnel and stocked on a schedule. The stocking schedule can be accessed at the TPWD website www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.

Rainbow trout are not only fun to catch for the entire family; they are an attractive fish that make for excellent table fare. Easy to catch and great eating makes this fish very popular among Texas anglers.

About the rainbow trout
Rainbow trout are a cool- to cold-water fish species. Although rainbows have been known to tolerate higher temperatures, they do best in areas where the water remains below 70°F. Rainbow trout are carnivores, but not exclusively piscivorous [fish eating]. They feed on a wide variety of prey including insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fish. At hatcheries, they are raised on prepared feed pellets.

Rainbow trout are native to North America west of the Rockies, from Alaska into northwestern Mexico. Introductions have extended the range to include the Great Lakes region, south central Canada and portions of the Great Plains east of the Rockies, and southwestern Mexico.

In Texas, high temperatures prevent reproduction or even over-summer survival in most areas, though some may survive in tailrace areas below large dams such as at Canyon Reservoir. The only self-sustaining population in the state exists in McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains.

Since rainbow trout generally do not reproduce in Texas, and are unable to survive through the summer in most areas, the species is primarily used in winter put-and-take fisheries. Each winter, several hundred thousand rainbows are stocked in community fishing lakes (CFL) and Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes around the state. On occasion, banks are lined with anglers eager to catch their limit immediately after the trout are stocked.

Some tips to consider when trout fishing stocked waters

• Arrive early to stock sites on stocking days.
• Maintain a safe and courteous distance from fellow anglers.
• Have an array of baits or lures available.
• When harvesting trout, have ice available to keep catch fresh.