News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Local fishery areas will undergo trout stocking during the winter months.
TWRA official Travis Scott became involved with the winter trout program since the late 1990s.
Scott said the winter trout stocking provides easy access to trout fishing.
“The idea is to stock, ideally, small ponds near large urban areas to attract fishermen in the winter months,” Scott said. “We can stock trout in these ponds during the winter when the water is cold enough. And it offers an opportunity for fishermen to catch trout in places where they normally wouldn’t be able to.”
TWRA will stock local fisheries with trout during the winter months. (Photo: TWRA)
Trout only live in temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Scott said that Middle and West Tennessee sees the most stockings due to the lack of regularly cold bodies of water.
Scott said TWRA schedules trout stockings according to ecological surveys.
“We have been in the last couple of years evaluating our winter trout locations to make sure that we are still restocking the appropriate amount of trout. Whether it is too much or not enough, we need to know,” Scott said. “We don’t want to put too many fish in if there is not enough activity there that we can utilize those fish elsewhere. We have a limited amount to use, so we want to make sure we are making the best use of those fish.”
TWRA began working with the Student Fisheries Association at Tennessee Tech for a project at Cane Creek.
Scott said the students will lead a number of surveys regarding Cane Creek.
“They are going to be doing krill surveys and speaking to anglers, checking to see how many fish they are catching, getting some basic information about their feelings on the winter trout program,” Scott said. “And then use this data to maybe make some adjustments on how we do things there.”
Scott said the Cane Creek project will focus on more than just the winter trout stocking.
“But also we are going to continue that program on into the summer months, see how long those trout persist in the lake,” Scott said. “And also get some other ideas from the anglers about other fishing preferences. As we get into the spring and summer months, there may be more people targeting bass, bluegill, and catfish.”
Scott said the project utilizes many different efforts, including electrofishing surveys.
“So we are making a concerted effort to try to improve that fishery if it needs it,” Scott said. “We are going to evaluate that and try to create the best fishery possible at that lake to attract more angler.”
Meadow Creek Lake and Cumberland Mountain State Park will receive trout stocking on Wednesday, December 12. Cane Creek will undergo the next restocking in January.
