Big Stocker Trout

Recent trout stockings have not only produced fish, but some very nice specimens as well!  A good number of fish were over 20 inches in length.




I owe a debt of gratitude to my friend Darrin for giving me a heads up about an Erie Metroparks Trout Derby. The ODNR does a lot of them and I often attend, but this was my first time doing one sponsored by a different agency. It is always nice to do a bit of guilt free harvesting of trout as these events are clearly intended as 'put & take'. Being that this wasn't the ODNR, I was curious if it would still be the same Rainbow Trout in the 10-13" range, or if a few Goldens might be thrown in as the state usually does. In fact, often I find myself going to a stocking for the sole purpose of catching one of the Golden Trout. Despite my many efforts, this still eludes me.

While no Golden Trout were seen, the pleasant surprise was the class of Rainbow Trout that were stocked. There were plenty of the typical size but also a nice mix of larger fish including some well past the 20" mark. Darrin, his son Leo and I all caught fish consistently and had a great time. The derby itself was for kids, and Leo took home the top honor in number of fish caught and was runner-up on largest fish (edged out by a mere .25").  He won largest fish last year and almost defended his title.