Hatchery Trout

Their lifestyle, their cultivation, and how to catch them.

What are they?

Pollution, logging, and erosion have depleted the population of the native brook
trout which in the past spanned the entire Chesapeake Watershed. They are now
only found in the mountains of Marylands westernmost county, the undeveloped
Garrett County, or in the mountains in northern Maryland.

What are they? Cont.

The Maryland DNR was forced to raise rainbow trout, which was originally found
west of the Rockies. Many other DNRs have followed suit. The hatchery trout
would be stocked in waterways where native populations of brook trout were
heavily pressured or extinct.

Rainbow Trout
The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in
Asia and North America. Adult freshwater stream rainbow trout average between 1 and 5 lb (0.5 and 2.3 kg), while lake-dwelling and
anadromous forms may reach 20 lb (9 kg). Coloration varies widely based on subspecies, forms and habitat. Adult fish are distinguished by a
broad reddish stripe along the lateral line, from gills to the tail, which is most vivid in breeding males.
Wild-caught and hatchery-reared forms of this species have been transplanted and introduced for food or sport in at least 45
countries and every continent except Antarctica. Introductions to locations outside their native range in the United States (U.S.), Southern
Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America have damaged native fish species.

Raising Trout
Trout are generally raised in massive raceways, which are systems are among the earliest methods used for inland
aquaculture. A raceway usually consists of rectangular basins or canals constructed of concrete and equipped with an inlet and outlet.
A continuous water flow-through is maintained to provide the required level of water quality, which allows animals to be cultured at
higher densities within the raceway.
Raceways are artificial streams were the trout are living at high densities. There is a continious water flow and filtering to keep
the water cool and clean enough for trout to live in. Rainbow trout in particular respond well to living in high densities in raceways,
which makes them particularly good for them to be raised.

Feeding and Care

Trout are fed high protein pellets for their entire lives. They are conditioned to eat
unmoving spheres, which makes imitation baits, such as Berkley Trout Dough, so
effective on trout. Many trout attractants are effective on freshly stocked hatchery
trout because they smell like pellets. Hatchery trout take a while to adjust to wil
insects after stocking, which makes using bait very effective.