April 28, 2005
Contact: Jon Anderson, (360) 902-2711

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatchery crews are adding nearly 62,000 big, triploid, rainbow trout to 91 fishing lakes across the state in preparation for the April 30 season opener.

The fish average one-and-half pounds each at the time they are stocked. As triploids- sterile trout that only feed and grow- they have the potential to reach trophy size, if not harvested in the first season.

"These lunkers kind of sweeten the pot for anglers who have been counting the days to the biggest fishing season opener of the year," said WDFW Resident Trout Manager Jon Anderson.

"The lakes are well stocked with last year's fry and fingerling plants, which grow well, too, plus this spring's catchable-size trout," Anderson noted. "These triploids just add to the possibilities of catching big fish."

A few fishing waters in almost every county in the state receive triploids this spring. The full list where is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/2005triploid.htm on the WDFW Internet website or at any WDFW regional office.

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Ninety-one waters throughout the state will be stocked with triploid trout averaging 1-½ pounds each.  These trout, purchased by WDFW, are sterile rainbows that are voracious feeders and have the potential to grow to trophy size if not harvested the first season after stocking and if sufficient forage is easily available.  A total of 61,968 triploid trout will be stocked, mostly in April, and as close to the April 30 lowland lakes fishing season opener as possible.  Later in May, thirty-five lakes will receive additional triploid plants to extend the opportunity to catch one.

There are thirteen more lakes in the stocking schedule than last year.  Four lakes were dropped and seventeen added this year.  These changes were made to improve the distribution and mix of the triploid fish with other hatchery trout plants.