Assessment of Stocking Hatchery Trout: A Wyoming Perspective

Abstract

We evaluated Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) file information to determine the species of trout raised, the number of catchable-and subcatchable-size trout stocked, the return rate of stocked fish to the creel, reasons for variability of return rates, and the direct cost associated with stocking trout. About 8.9 million trout were planted yearly from 11 WGFD hatcheries during 1987-1990; 86% were of subcatchable size (<8.25 in) and the rest were of catchable size (^8.25 in). Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and cutthroat trout O. clarki were most often stocked. Evaluation showed that return rates (percent of number planted that were caught) to anglers were usually greater for catchable than for subcatchable fish. Catchable trout should be stocked in spring and when fishing pressure is highest for best returns; few catchable trout planted after the fishing season survive to the next season. Return rates of subcatchable trout planted in streams varied due to differences in water quality in the hatchery and receiving water, poststocking competition with other fish, time of stocking, and size of fish stocked. Subcatchable trout should be stocked in streams in spring and only when hatchery and receiving water are of similar quality, water temperature and flows are not limiting, and few competing fish are present. Higher returns in streams also occur as larger fish are stocked. Return rates of subcatchable trout were greater for lakes than for streams. For highest lake returns, subcatchable trout should be stocked in productive waters (indicated by total dissolved solids) where competing planktivores and piscivores that prey on stocked trout are few. The cost of production and distribution was US$0.68/fish for catchable and $0.13/fish for subcatchable trout. Mean cost offish reaching the creel was less for catchable trout (lakes, $2.32; streams, $3.67; 1953-1989) than for subcatchable trout (lakes, $37.44; streams, $6.29; 1953-1988). Research opportunities include developing foresighted management plans based on a combination of biological technology and public desire, evaluating the elimination of subcatchable plantings in streams and alternative management for wild trout, evaluating the transplantation of wild trout or eyed eggs of wild fish as a means of establishing fisheries, evaluating stocking guidelines applicable to various Wyoming conditions, determining the effect on harvest of behavioral differences between hatchery and wild trout, and comparing the genetic backgrounds of hatchery trout to determine their effects on postplanting survival.Anglers in Wyoming believe both that planting in southeastern Wyoming was high because drainhatchery-reared trout is valuable for maintaining ages such as the North Platte River had no native good fishing and that wild trout are important, and trout. More recently, the Wyoming Game and Fish they have a wide variety of perceptions about fish-Department (WGFD) has used hatchery trout to ing (Anderson et al. 1990). Production of hatchery replace wild stocks lost throug...

Largemouth bass consumption demand on hatchery rainbow trout in two Washington lakes

“…For example, it has been suggested that stocking trout in the fall increases survival because warm-and cool-water predators such as largemouth bass and walleye become less active (Wiley et al 1993, Yule et al 2000. However, we observed largemouth bass predation on rainbow trout to occur only during the fall due to spatial habitat overlap and stocking of vulnerable sized fish.…”

Full Issue Article Volume 29, Issue 6

“…Wiley (2003) reported that average costs for stocking subcatchable trout in headwater lakes in Wyoming were relatively low, about $260 per lake. This estimate is for the short-run marginal cost of producing fish (i.e., limited to costs associated with operating hatcheries and distributing fish), which in Wyoming was $0.13 per subcatchable and $0.68 per catchable trout (1990 dollars; Wiley et al 1993). Johnson et al (1995) and Loomis and Fix (1999) derived similar estimates-$0.57 (1988 dollars) and $1.11 (1992 dollars)-to produce a catchable trout in Colorado state hatcheries.…”

“…Pister (2001) issued a challenge to fisheries managers to assess the costs and benefits of headwater fisheries in wilderness areas, arguing that it was unlikely that stocking was cost-effective. Wiley et al (1993) stated, "Trout stocking programs can generate further pernicious demand, resulting in increased and unnecessary dependence on hatchery trout, because people come to expect planted trout. Successful management programs address public interests as well as the biology of the fish so than angler expectations are at least partly met by foresighted management agencies."…”

“…For two highly popular river fisheries in Colorado, the marginal benefit to anglers of harvesting an additional trout was $0.70-1.40 (Johnson et al 1995), leading Loomis and Fix (1999) to question the costeffectiveness of the hatchery program for catchable trout when long-run costs were included. If subcatchable trout are used for stocking, as is common in many headwater ecosystems, costs could be even higher (Wiley et al 1993). Most critical, perhaps, is the opportunity cost associated with stocking nonnative trout in headwater ecosystems (cf.…”

Growth, condition, diet, and consumption rates of northern pike in three Arizona reservoirs

“…An evaluation of stocking rainbow trout at various sizes in Seminoe Reservoir, Wyoming, found an increase in creel return rates for larger fish (≥210 mm TL) because smaller fish (<210 mm TL) were susceptible to predation by walleye (Wiley et al 1993). Yule et al (2000) suggested that in the presence of established walleye populations, rainbow trout needed to be stocked at sizes >208 mm TL to maintain viable rainbow trout fisheries.…”