Brazos River Authority issued the following announcement.
Not only are these fish big, but they are a rare treat for Texans.
Rainbow trout are coming to Texas waterways as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plans to stock them at several locations.
But don’t wait to hit the waterway as the TPWD annual stocking schedule is a much-awaited schedule release, and the fish are caught within a few weeks after hitting the water.
Oncorhynchus mykiss, better known as rainbow trout, aren’t native to the Lone Star State as Texas’ waters are too warm to provide suitable habitat for the species. These cold-water fish are associated largely with healthy mountain streams and lakes. They are considered among the top five sport fishes in North America and the most important game fish west of the Rocky Mountains, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This species’ beautiful colors vary widely based on sex, habitat and maturity. The species has a pinkish stripe or band running the length of their bodies, a pearl white underside and small black spots on the backs, fins and tail.
The largest rainbow ever caught was in Canada and weighed 48 pounds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rainbow trout are opportunistic feeders and will eat aquatic and terrestrial insects, fish eggs, small minnows, and worms. TPWD recommends cheese, kernel corn, nightcrawlers, red wigglers, and mealworms or a small inline spinnerbait.
This year there is no minimum length limit for catches and a five-trout daily bag limit. Trout anglers will need a valid fishing license that includes a freshwater fishing endorsement. Anglers under 17 years of age are not required to have a license.
Some of the stocking dates and locations in the Brazos River basin include:
Upper Basin (By Counties, City, Location and date)
• Baylor - Seymour - Seymour Pond North: 12/3/2020, 1/7/2021, 1/20/2021
• Hale - Hale Center- Caudle: 12/6/2020
• Haskell – Haskell - Haskell City Park Pond: 1/19/2021
• Hockley – Levelland - Breshears Lake: 12/2/2020
• Hockley – Levelland - Lobo Lake: 12/2/2020
• Hutchinson – Stanford - Meredith Stilling Basin: 12/15/2020
• Jack – Jacksboro - Fort Richardson State Park: 12/14/2020, 1/18/2021, 2/15/2021
• Johnson – Burleson - Bailey Lake: 12/3/2020, 1/6/2021
• Johnson – Cleburne - Cleburne-Hulen Park: 12/13/2020
• Palo Pinto – Graford - Possum Kingdom Tailrace: 12/4/2020, 12/18/2020, 12/30/2020, 1/15/2021, 1/29/2021, 2/12/2021, 2/26/2021
• Shackelford – Abilene - Fort Griffin State Historic Site, Pond 1: 12/13/2020, 1/17/2021, 2/14/2021
• Taylor – Abilene - Cal Young Park Lake: 12/6/2020, 1/6/2021, 2/2/2021
• Taylor - Abilene - Elm Creek Buffalo Wallow: 12/8/2020, 1/6/2021, 2/2/2021
Central Basin (By Counties, City, Location and date)
• Bell - Belton - Nolan Creek: 12/19/2020, 12/31/2020
• Bell - Harker Heights - Carl Levin City Park Pond: 12/15/2020, 1/14/2021
• Bell – Temple - Marvin Finn Pond-Sammons Park #2 - 12/6/2020
• Bell – Temple - Miller Park Pond: 12/6/2020, 1/20/2021
• Bosque – Meridian - Meridian State Park: 1/7/2021
• Coryell Copperas Cove - Copperas Cove City: 12/10/2020, 2/14/2021
• Erath – Stephenville -Stephenville Park Pond: 2/14/2021
• McLennan – McGregor - Amsler Park: 12/10/2020, 1/28/2021
• McLennan – Waco - Buena Vista Park Lake: 11/25/2020, 12/11/2020, 12/23/2020, 1/8/2021, 1/22/2021, 2/5/2021, 2/19/2021, 3/5/2021
• Somervell - Glen Rose - Glen Rose Town Lake: 12/3/2020, 1/6/2021
• Somervell - Glen Rose - Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley SP: 1/10/2021
Lower Basin (By Counties, City, Location and date)
• Brazos - College Station - Central Park Pond: 11/25/2020, 12/11/2020, 12/23/2020, 1/8/2021, 1/22/2021, 2/5/2021, 2/19/2021, 3/5/2021
• Brazos - College Station- Cy Miller Pond: 1/20/2021
• Burleson - Somerville - Bluestem Pond: 12/16/2020
• Lee – Somerville - Nails Creek Pond #1: 12/17/2020
• Leon – Centerville - Fort Boggy State Park: 2/28/2021
• Limestone – Kosse - Kosse City Park Pond: 12/9/2020
• Limestone – Mexia – Springfield: 12/16/2020
• Robertson – Hearne - Hearne Eastside Park Pond: 2/21/2021
Original source can be found here.
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