Oregon with More Trophy Trout Releases

SALEM, Ore.—Extra-large rainbow trout continue to be released at locations around the state this fall as the as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife continues its “Trophy Trout” program.

Bred to fight, more large rainbow trout than ever are being released at locations around the state this year, adding excitement to what is already one of Oregon’s most popular outdoor activities—trout fishing. ODFW considers a trout a “trophy” once it reaches a length of 15 inches.

ODFW has been releasing large trout for years into many lakes around the state. However, during the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) worked with ODFW to program even more big fish into the mix through a Trophy Trout pilot program, which focused on using bigger fish to promote economic development in communities that rely on hunting and fishing dollars.

Initially, five waterbodies were designated as Trophy Trout lakes—Phillips Reservoir in Baker County, Willow Creek Reservoir in Morrow County, Timothy Lake in Clackamas County, Trojan Pond in Columbia County, and Garrison Lake in Curry County.

First reactions to the program have been positive. At Timothy Lake, a mid-elevation Trophy Trout lake on the Mt. Hood National Forest, biologists are tagging both 8-inch and trophy-sized trout in an effort to get them to call with information about their experience. With stunning views of Mt. Hood, Timothy is generating some buzz among anglers both for its trophy trout and kokanee salmon.

“Almost every angler we talked to was very happy about their fishing experience at Timothy Lake,” said North Willamette District Fish Biologist Todd Alsbury, who would like to see the program expanded even further.

Trophy trout are generally two years old, according to Jake Rice, manager of ODFW’s Roaring River trout hatchery. He noted that as the fish get larger they need more space and food to minimize stress from rearing densities. As with bigger fish, they take more food based on body weight. The additional time in the hatchery means staff needs to keep an eye on potential disease issues longer with the additional year of rearing. All of the fish are inspected monthly by a pathologist, and feed programs are updated on a daily basis to account for size, density, water flow, water temperatures and release date.

“We really stress the importance of health fish, and this take a little more effort and time over the additional year of rearing,” he said, noting there are additional costs associated with bigger fish. There are extra costs associated with raising larger fish but he sees the benefits.

“Our biggest compliments come from the quality of our trophies,” he said.

Trophy trout comprise a small portion of the 2 million trout catchable trout that ODFW releases in more than 300 locations around the state every year. The vast majority of these are referred to in the agency’s Trout Stocking Schedules as “legals” – which are released as soon as they are 8 inches long and meet the legal minimum size for retention fishing in Oregon. Fishery managers believe that shifting hatchery production to a higher percentage of larger fish may help spur interest in trout fishing in Oregon, which ODFW is promoting as a family-friendly outdoor activity through its Trout 365 campaign, 36 Family Fishing Events, and the Weekly Recreation Report.

About 800 of them have been released in Bradley Lake near Bandon this fall. Trophies, which weigh in at about two pounds qapiece, have also been released in several water bodies in the Coos Bay area. Timothy Lake on the Mt. Hood National Forest is another good bet for larger trout as it has had multiple trophy releases earlier this season, and it is large and cool enough to hold them through the summer.