I haven't seen many post about rainbow trout fishing this year. Anyone been out?

Gone: I asked this same question about a month ago. It seems that this year there is VERY little interest. My town, Midland, Texas shows almost NO interest as opposed to the last couple of years. I must admit, I am to blame also, have been once or twice but that's it, don't know why it just is not as exciting!

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Thanks and Gig'em, Mark Fairchild

Am I the only one that thinks it is a
waste to stock these trout which are
going to die in less than six months?
I think TPWD should put the time and
money to a better use.
Just my opinion.
MO

I don't think it's a waste. It's especially great for kids and those without a boat stuck to bank fishing. Assuming that people take and eat a majority of them before they die then I don't see how it's a waste. I haven't yet seen bankfulls of dead trout and any of the places they stock (although I haven't been to too many sites and watched carefully as the water warms up..and what the heck, birds and turtles have to eat too).

I especially love to spend time on the Guadalupe and it was incredible fishing before the floods a couple years ago. It's coming back though, slowly but surely thanks to TP&W and Trout Unlimited.

I still think rainbow trout are the hardest fighting freshwater fish pound for pound. Okay, a smallmouth bass isn't far behind...but rainbows are a blast to hook especially when they get out of the water and put on an arial show for you.

They will not go to waste. Once they start getting weak from the warmer water the bass will have a feast. Throw a trout colored stick bait.

a post over the the Fly fishing section asked the same question!
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ubb/Forum13/HTML/000522.html

The trout stocking in the ponds around the Houston area are a waste of money. The water turkeys eat them up within 2 weeks.

I would rather the TPWD stock bass or crappie into the ponds or place structure to improve the enviroment. The trout stockings are a waste and will become nonexistant next year when the freshwater trout stamp goes away.

personally I think the money could be better spent, I think they should just manage the ponds a little better and make changes add structure, baitfish, docks, etc. so these little ponds can be enjoyed. My kids aren't too thrilled about waiting on the bank in freezing cold weather for a 9 inch fish to eat an egg.

Bass and catfish do great in Texas so why not go with 'em, why bother with tiny farm raised northern fish in ponds??? I think it's OK for the rivers though.

I made 2 trips right after they stocked here in Midland back in December. Fished all by myself one Saturday morning, which suprised the **** out of me!! Caught my limit in 30 minutes and haven't been back. Planning on going after the next stocking this week.

Mark,
I saw a grand total of 10 people at both CJ Kelly and Beal fishing. Sure were a bunch more fishin' last year!

James

Up in the Dallas area, the water turkeys are already sitting on the ponds waiting for the trout to be stocked. (They are now conditioned to come to these certain ponds).

I use to enjoy catching trouts, but the last few years the water turkeys catch 10 times as many as bank fisherman.

They should make them a nuisanse bird, and shot them all. I would be the first in line to kill them.

I went with a buddy Saturday and tried Mesquite and Allen city parks in his neck of the woods. Even though I knew it was not a good idea because it had been 6 days and 3 days respectively since the stockings. I have fished the trout stocking program since it started in early 1980�s. Best I can remember, the Brazos River was all that they would stock for the longest time with some nice stocky Rainbow trout. We used to trade Rio Grande Turkeys with Arkansas for the trout and now we are trading stripers (I think) with Missouri for the Rainbows. I have noticed over the years with the city ponds that the first two days are always the best days with artificial and after that it just gets tough and you have to use bait. I do know that around the DFW area the fish are quickly fished out. I have watched and heard of many people that take way over their limit and the Cormorants (Water Turkeys) eat a lot of the trout. I would include larger fish but, I do not think they exist for the most part in most of the DFW city park ponds that are stocked. I do not know if this program will end completely since a lot of the parks hold a Kid Fish Day with prizes to be given away. I did notice that the few fish I saw being caught are a lot smaller (8�) than the previous years or maybe that is all that was left. At Mesquite there were about 20 people fishing and at Allen there were easily 35-45 people fishing. I will be hitting the local parks near me in the next few months as they finally get stocked. All in all it is still a lot of fun and great eating fish!

The stocking in the park Kidd Springs in Oak Cliff is most definitely NOT A waste of time or resources!

The large resident population of elderly all around the park make the most of the stockings. Conversely, the huge contingent of kids that belong to and use the Rec Ctr facilities also find a new way to while away time in the great outdoors with a feisty 8-9 or 10 inch rainbow putting on an aerial, acrobatic show on the other end of their fishing poles!

Waste? HARDLY!!!!

I have two limits of rainbows in my freezer. One batch is destined for the smoker! Any of you who have a smoker and haven't done the smoked trout thing, YOUR LOSS! Nothing finer!!

The other batch is Trout Almadine, with grilled veggies, a garden salad, and a bottle of Llano Estacado's Finest White!

A waste? NO WAY!!!

Next stocking in February,and my ultralight rig, my Super Duper trout special, and my meat smoker grill are standing by!

Rudy

Midlanders, where do they have the trout stocked? (directions please) I'd like to try it a couple of times this winter. Thanks, GL

Wing: Come on down! Take 385 or Telephone Post and just come in 158 to Loop. I'd go south then to CJ Kelly. Take Loop 250 south to the Wadley exit, exit and turn West under overpass. Follow road past Lowes parking lot and turn right, follow road to stop sign, park is then NW of you, you will see the fountain spraying into the air. Hope you enjoy it!

WestTx: Wow, this year is SLOW, but I am part of the problem and not the solution. I have only been twice also, just not into it this year!

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Thanks and Gig'em, Mark Fairchild

Thanks, Mark. I may try it out Saturday if I can get loose. Man, I got de cabin fever bad. If it's by Lowe's I can find it. Now is CJ Kelley the name of the park or the name of a street? Also, is that the only one in Midland with trout? GL