Question for y'all who are hookin' into trout already: are the trout this year the average stocker size?

Don't get me wrong, I love trout fishing as much as the next guy! But last year the trout around the DFW counties were pretty small, almost fingerling size. A couple years ago I fished a stocker pond closer to Austin and the trout were a bit bigger. I'm not sure if it has to do with the fishery that stocks them or if the cities pay variable prices per trout size.

On that last note, last year I was trout fishing McKinney Towne Lake and met a guy who works for the city of McKinney. He mentioned that the cities do in fact purchase the trout at specific quantities in order to offer this program, but I am unsure if they can request/dictate fish size (ex: 50% medium, 25% fingerling, 25% larger).

Just curious since I really enjoy the trout fishing and one of the coolest programs TPWD offers!

The average size rainbows I caught last Friday were noticeably larger than last year. I fished San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, Tx. The fish I caught last year in several different locations were small until late in the season. No matter what size the rainbows are they are a blast to catch! I fish with ultra lite tackle with 2-4 pound test Stren or Trilene and very small Super Duper lures. If I can’t catch with this setup, I just go home.

It varies every year and with every stocking. So far this year is larger on every stocking I've hit (3). First one was 12-14" for every fish (7 total), 2&3rd stockings at different ponds were 9-12". Last year I hit a number of stockings that were 6-9" average.

The fish I have been catching this year are bigger so far compared to last year. The average is 8 to 10 inches. There are also plenty of 11 to 13 inch fish. Every now and then you can catch a 15plus inch fish.

Hatcheries will retire their breeders and often stock them with their normal sized fish. Therefore, you always have a chance at a really nice fish. I caught this Plnor fishing state record rainbow on the Trinity River several years ago.

How long ago was that?
Was that state record or a record for the trinity?
what was the weight?

Well when you get old like me things don’t seem as long ago as they were. Although it seems like the other day, the fish was caught in 2014. I caught the fish without using a reel and it was a state record in the Other Methods (unrestricted) category. Texas Parks and Wildlife changed the Other Methods category to an All-tackle category, so the record is no longer listed, although TPWD says it is still active. I am not sure how that works, so for clarification, here is the State Record.

Barry that is quite the catch! Congrats on such a nice fish!

Hooked into 'em yesterday in Dallas! I caught a limit fairly quickly (~45 mins), and then helped some other fishermen catch a few more. As you all mentioned above, the sizes are a lot better this year.

Here they are cleaned up ready for the pan, cheers!

Congratulations. Nice fish. What did you catch them on?

1/8 oz white rooster tail!

The Trout we caught in Lampasas were 8 to 10 inches. https://youtu.be/UBJbc-bhZsA. We caught a few 12 inchers in the Guadalupe River.

I caught this 16 incher in the Guadalupe River Jan 2nd.