Now that temperatures in Texas have started to drop, its become a bit easier to enjoy the state’s great outdoors. Those who love to fish know that the drop in temperature also means it’s time for trout season.
Rainbow trout are a popular sport fish, but they can’t survive Texas’ hot months. So when it cools off, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks ponds and lakes across the state with them.
Carl Kittel, a program director for fish hatcheries with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, shared more about why rainbow trout are so popular and the best way to get in on the fishing action.
This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:
Texas Standard: So every year, your department distributes rainbow trout in bodies of water throughout the state. Can you give us a ballpark of how many y’all are putting in the water?
Carl Kittel: Yeah, we will stock right around 350,000 trout in 205 different sites all over the state. Yep.
And you are responsible for raising these trout in the offseason, I guess, right?
Actually, I’m responsible for coordinating their delivery. But because it’s so hot in Texas, we don’t raise them here. They’re raised by a supplier. We purchase them through a contract, and we distribute them in the months of mostly December, January and February.
I see. So how long has this been happening?
I think it started in the ’60s, so we’ve been doing it for over 50 years probably. And it has grown a lot. It started as a much smaller program but has been popular with anglers.
And we have a number of ways of sort of acquiring fish. We started our neighborhood fishing program, and so they get catfish in the warmer months but trout in the cooler months in urban areas.
We have a program where partners, municipalities and parks and rec departments and counties can actually pay for trout that we stock in lakes at their request, often because they’re having an event for the public. And we also have an allotment of trout that we pay for ourselves and distribute throughout the state.
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So if I’m a novice trout fisherman – which I am – let’s say I’ve got my rod and reel, I’m all set, except I don’t know how to actually catch a trout. What do I need to put on the end of that to lure in a rainbow trout? What do they like?
Well, the good news is, to some extent, almost anything. Canned corn is actually a real good type of bait. And earthworms are real good. But there are commercially made trout pellets.
I kind of like fishing with a little spinner. You can use a jig. And they’re excellent. They’re kind of the best – trout were first targeted by fly fishermen, so they’ll take a variety of flies as well.
So all types of angling opportunities are available, and it’s easy to find bait that will be interesting to trap.
And do I want a big hook? A little hook? What about that?
They’re generally pretty small. You know, they don’t have a real big mouth. And we’re stocking fish that are mostly in the, say, 8 to 12 inch range – not big fish. So a smaller size hook is going to be your best bet.
Actually, we have a webpage, tpwd.texas.gov … if you click on that link that says trout stocking schedule, it goes to a complete schedule of all our trout stocking sites and how many fish will be stocked at each site.
And there’s a little link to some tips on how to fish that will give real good advice on getting started catching trout if you want more.
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So maybe not a trophy-sized fish catching opportunity here, but are they good eating?
They’re excellent eating, and I think that’s why it’s become so popular. They fight real well in cold water when some other Texas fish are not so interested.
You’re allowed to take five per angler home. The limit is five per day and they’re really good to eat. And again, there’s a variety of ways to cook them that all come out very good.
And if folks want to get out there and catch themselves a trout this winter, do they need a fishing license?
Generally speaking, yes, with a freshwater endorsement. So a freshwater fishing license for Texas.
However, you can fish in state parks; a water body that’s completely imposed in a state park does not require a license. And anglers under 17 years of age do not require a license if they’re fishing with an adult.
