I remeber catching them as a teenager when they were stocked, it was fun and I took my stepson to do it once...not much fun for me to catch, but the kids like it and that is good! Some peoples only access to fishing is the trout stockings and everybody has the right to fish and enjoy the sport...it takes all kinds, me I do not fish for crappie, I rather jam a sharp stick in my eye!

The trout stocking began in 1980 and TPWD traded Rio Grande Turkeys with Arkansas for the Trout. The trout were only stocked in the Brazos River below PK and the Guadalupe below Canyon if I remember correctly. The Guadalupe is the only place in TX where the fish live year round and provide trophy sized trout of several species. The stamp was to generate revenue for the TX fish hatcheries and to cover the costs incurred from the actual stockings. Unless things have changed, TPWD now trades stripers with Missouri for the trout. It was not until the nineties that the stocking of urban parks began with most of these parks providing a kid fish day. It was a mini fishing tournament for kids with prizes given away for categories and a grand prize going to any kid catching a golden trout. I�m sorry but I just don�t see a problem with that and if you think there are fishing dieing off then you have never fished for them. They do not last more than a couple of weeks because they are caught, the cormorants eat them and a lot of these ponds have bass. The general fishing stamp that is proposed will eliminate the trout and the muzzleloader stamp. I would think the biggest complaint would be that the TPWD surplus was dumped into the state general fund and that needs to be changed back. So we all will continue to see higher prices for everything we do concerning the outdoors with less in return. Look at how many programs have already been dropped.

I think it's a big waste of time as well. The last two years in the pond by my house, the trout fishing has basically sucked. They spend all this money and use resources to throw 3000 trout in a small pond and I personally have only caught a 5 or 6 over the last two years, and it's not just me, I can promise you the pond had about 100 people fishing it and I did not see anyone pulling anything in. Walking around the entire pond looking at stringers, no one caught jack. After 2 days, no one even fished for them, I would notice maybe 1 or 2 people there for a couple of weeks and that's it. Hardly any kids except the first day. Who wants to drag their kids outside in the blistering cold? The whole concept is retarted.

If they put the same amount of money and resources into stocking and managing the bass population or catfish and improved the habitat by adding fishable structure, fishing piers, etc. the pond could be enjoyed year round instead of 2 days. Then I could take my kids in the spring, enjoy the nice weather and catch a few fish. I think it's a waste of a good pond and it makes me sick that it's sitting down the street from me and sucks so bad. Personally I'm not freezing my butt off for 2 days to catch one 9 inch non-native rainbow trout anymore. My kids DID NOT have fun the two years I took them. They say it's for kids, but it just doesn't make sense, it's freezing cold usually and the fishing is slow. They have more fun going down the street to another pond and catching blue gill.

The only thing good about the trout stocking in this pond is that it possible will feed a big ole bass, if there is one.

Now maybe it's just my pond, but as Forest Gump said... That's all I have to say about thayut.

Frankly, TPWD should do away with stocking Florida bass in Texas. This exotic is too hard to catch. I don't fish for them anyways, my kids don't have fun fishing for them and if I do catch a few keeper bass I catch all kinds of heck at the cleaning station when I'm filleting them up. Besides, they can reproduce on their own so supplemental stockings are a waste of my money and yours.

Come on, fellas, when I saw this topic I thought I had stumbled across the PETA web site. TPWD should be commended for venturing out to offer fishing opportunities for 1) kids, especially when fishing and hunting participation is on a national downward trend 2) urban dwellers--many of them kids, and 3) the off season, when many warm water fish are more difficult to catch.

The big picture regarding Texas freshwater fishing is that it's all good!

Besides, there ain't nothing wrong with rainbows..

Goat Farmer:You say you are sick of this pond being wasted and you and your kids can fish it legally. Here's a suggestion. Why don't you buy a couple hundred channel cat fingerlings and stock it yourself? Won't cost much and you can help everybody that fishes this pond. The fish supplier will probably even deliver them to the pond for you, if he knows what you are doing. You would be a hero to your local fisherman there and help yourself and the kids in the process.

My kids have just as much fun feeding the catfish in our stock pond as they do catching them.

SeanH: " Come on, fellas, when I saw this topic I thought I had stumbled across the PETA web site "

HUH ??? lol. How did you get that impression ? I am all for not abusing animals but I would eat a puppy if it was priced right and tasted good I am about as anti PETA as you can get without being a dangerous fanatic like a large percentage of them are.

My point is that It would be better for kids/urban dwellers etc if they would quit stocking a fish that can't breed and are going to die and started stocking good viable populations of sport fish that will provide a renewable, self sustained, quality fishery.

Hey Wiggles,

The PETA comment was a gross exageration to bolster my point. Not a shot at the fine TFF web site but rather a response to the mild shock after reading some of the criticisms to a self-funded, successful and wildly popular effort undertaken by the folks at TPWD.

In my experience, urban waters get hammered, with any keeper (and untold thousands of undersized fish) being taken home. I'm specifically referring to bass, catfish and bluegills. What little that remains from the constant pressure on native species is usually undersized and in the case of sunfish species, stunted.

Sure, TPWD could constantly replenish native species to small, urban bodies of water across the state, but at what cost and what return? I guess we could expect to see a special license stamp for urban ponds to ensure that funding is available for stocking natives. Otherwise, I'd be able to hear the shouting from bass clubs from as far away as Longview about how "their" lakes aren't getting stocked with bass while the pond down the street just recieved its annual allotment.

Stocker rainbows are almost always hungry, easy to catch, willing to play during the cold months, and excellent table fair. Plus, they are stocked for the sole purpose of being retained, with liberal bag limits and no lenght limit. Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same for many of our native species.

With Regards,
SH

Your argument still doesn't make sense to me lol

Trout:
Stocked with the sole purpose of being retained,
hungry, easy to catch, good table fair. Reasonable bag limits.

The same qualifications could be applied to almost every native gamefish.

The only difference is the natives at least have the opportunity to breed and reproduce; replenishing the fishery at NO COST.

The argument that they can be caught when it is cold is minimally effective. Most fish can be caught when it is cold. That and the percentage of people who fish in the cold is a fraction of the total casual fishing population.

The idea that is somehow great for kids is also thin. Kids aren't out there to catch Trout they are there to catch fish. Load up any number of other species that will live through the hot summer and they will be just as happy and able to fish the whole season.

I am also suspicious of the idea that the program pays for itself. From what alot of the proponents are saying this is a huge deal for kids...who don't buy fishing licenses. Unless alot of adults are purchasing that trout stamp it stands to reason they aren't coming out ahead. Of course that is just an opinion I have no data to that effect

the only place they live in is the guad at the tailrace... other than that i dont think they grow anywhere else....

Ouch! State an opinion and those that disagree fire off with Peta comparisons. Talk about getting flammed!

Alright, alright, I digress. I'll never live down the PETA comment. No harm or flaming intended toward anyone's opinion. 'Tis as valid as mine.

I see the program as a big positive. I didn't realize that others view it as a big waste, or as "stupid" as one so profoundly stated. Seems like a win-win to me, but then again, I'm sure there are folks who are still moaning over the fact that walleyes are no longer being stocked all over the state.

So there, call me PETA boy, trout lover, whatever. I dished out the medicine, I can take it, too.

Anything that brings some kind of fishing to a place where twern't none before is fine with me, and I know it's fine with the kids of the communities.

Hadn't heard that about the muzzleloader stamp. How is a stamp that is supposed to be for hatcheries eliminate a hunting stamp?

I have fished this program since it started and have never walked away without my limit unless I was given an hour or so to fish. It was not until recently that the size of the fish or their aggressiveness has changed. They now feed the fish before stocking to make them harder to catch and the size has been down graded to an average of 10�. This info is from the TPWD guys that are doing the stocking. I do not know what areas that no one is fishing or not catching fish but, I have fished Irving, Hurst, Allen, Flower Mound, Coppell, Mesquite and Garland and there is no shortage of fisherman or skunked fisherman. So maybe a complaint needs to be made in that aspect. As far as stocking goes I can tell you that the urban city parks are being stocked. The Hurst Park was dredged and restocked with crappie, catfish and bream in 2001, An Irving Park was dredged and restocked 2002, A Flower Mound Park was restocked in 2002 and this one has been stated on the bank fishing forum. There are stockings taking place that most of us do not know about and that web site is outdated. I think one thing that you are not taking into account is that for the most part native fish are reproducing and don�t need help. The non native species is another question. I have not verified it but, the trout species in the Guadalupe may actually be reproducing. Again, if you think the trout program is a waste of money then let those that regulate it know. I did a quick search and can not find any info on how much money is generated or how many participants take place in this program but this is what I did find.

General Fishing Stamp.
Look at the end of the third paragraph.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/news/news/040202a.phtml

TPWD Response on Trout survival.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/hatchery/species3.phtml

If you think your local fishing hole is getting the short end of the stick then maybe you should be upset that TX legislation took the TPWD surplus funds and made it apart of the TX General Funds. These additional funds were used to balance the state budget hence, the sudden increase in fees and discontinued programs. TPWD has always showed a surplus until this happened. So, put the blame where it belongs, on the Politicians of this State and not on a program that many find beneficial. I have met many TFF members fishing this program, even if they choose not to respond here, I think you would be surprised how many participate here in the DFW area. A little research goes a long way.

Tracker: You may have just hit the nail on the head.

There is nothing wrong with the program. Putting the fish below a dam where they have somewhat of a chance is different from stocking fish in a stagnant pond where they soon become food for predators and die from the heat is what makes the program suspect to me and probably most of the sportsmen footing the bill. That should upset everyone who wants this program to succeed in my opinion.

Increase in fees and discontinued programs in one sentence pretty much says it all.