Ohio Division of Wildlife to release rainbow trout in Columbus area
Mother nature does not speckle Ohio’s inland waters with rainbow trout, though regular human effort does.
The trout, native to chilly Pacific Ocean waters and tributaries, are elevated in hatcheries and launched each and every spring by the Ohio Division of Wildlife for catching through the Buckeye State. Some 84,000 rainbows, usually 10 to 13 inches extensive, are scheduled to be allow go at 88 areas during the months of March, April and May well.
The rainbows do not last long, mostly for two factors: They just take bait conveniently, and they really don’t endure the warm drinking water temperatures of summertime.
That clarifies the division’s motivation to get the word out when a stocking can take area, and there are some approaching in Franklin County with a lot more established to arise in surrounding places.
Stockings will happen Friday at 4 Franklin County ponds, together with Franklin Park, Linden Park, Westgate Park and Whetstone Park. In one thing of an Easter custom that attracts a flock of eager anglers, Antrim Lake will get its supply of rainbows on April 7.
Trout will be additional to the ponds at Goodale Park and Schiller Park on April 10 and at Krumm Park on April 12. Rainbow infusions are scheduled April 21 in the ponds at Franklin Park, Westgate Park and Whetstone Park. The Franklin County trout finale, selected as a special occasion, is scheduled for April 22 at Linden Park Pond.
Other stockings in central Ohio incorporate Cenci Park Lake in Lancaster on April 6, Mirror Lake at Granville on April 15, Ashley Upground Reservoir and Sunbury Upground Reservoir No. 1, both of those on May well 5 in Delaware County.
Stockings took location earlier this thirty day period at Blue Limestone Park in Delaware, Mt. Gilead Lake in Morrow County, Heritage Park in Groveport and Delaware Point out Park Youth Pond in Delaware County. Some early rainbows likely are nonetheless hanging all around.
The everyday restrict for trout caught in Ohio’s inland waters is five. Anyone 16 and more mature is required to keep a legitimate fishing license, which prices $25 per year for residents.
Hatcheries open
The rainbow trout sprinkled all around the point out this spring symbolize only a compact fraction of the 40 million fish created every year at the 6 hatcheries operated by the wildlife division.
Open properties have been scheduled at all 6 amenities, such as two within just easy driving distance of Columbus. Website visitors will be granted excursions:
— April 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hebron Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Road SE, Hebron. Fish produced at the 230-acre web page in southern Licking County involve saugeye, walleye, channel catfish, blue catfish and bluegill.
— Could 6, 10 a.m., to 2 p.m., at London State Fish Hatchery, 2470 Roberts Mill Highway. Fish developed at the 80-acre facility in Madison County consist of muskellunge, rainbow trout and brown trout.
Other hatcheries scheduled for open up residences, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in each and every circumstance:
— April 1, Seneca in Guernsey County, wherever saugeye, walleye, hybrid striped bass and channel catfish are raised.
— April 15, Castalia, the nursery in Erie County for lake-run rainbow trout, extra normally acknowledged as steelhead.
— April 15, Kincaid in Pike County, where rainbow trout and muskellunge are nurtured.
Fish elevated for stocking consist of millions of sportfish these types of as rainbows, brown trout, saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, muskellunge, hybrid striped bass, channel catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass. Also raised are non-activity species to re-build threatened and endangered fish populations.
Staff will be on hand at the open properties to show website visitors all-around and remedy issues about fish production and fisheries management.
