Hot off the Press!

**AaronJasper** · 12-17-2008, 10:50 PM

Here is the preliminary future stocking number for the Housatonic TMA.

Spring
3,000 adults 10-12 inches
3,000 survivor yearlings 6-8 inches
3,000 12 inch rainbows

Fall
3,000 yearling survivor brown trout around 9-11 inches
5,000 8 inch rainbow trout
1,000 12-14 inch brown trout

alanb_ct · 12-17-2008, 11:06 PM

Please recall the current total annual stocking in the TMA has been
6000 6-9in brown trout
3000 9-12in brown trout

I guess this preliminary data represents progress, but the figures are still way below what the river could support. Thanks to HRO for supporting and attending the meeting.

**JUICE** · 12-17-2008, 11:19 PM

I'd say doubling your stocking is a great first step. Great job guys.

**Nymphmeister** · 12-18-2008, 02:03 AM

I think this is a huge step forward, not only are they doubling the stocking numbers, but they are committing to an equal number of trout for the Fall (before this it was only a supplementary stocking "as needed"), and they have added Rainbows back into the mix, as well a bunch of larger trout. Remember, for the last 20+ years, they haven't put fish in bigger than 12", other than in the random Fall stockings that they did SOME years with 12-14" fish that sometimes ran as large as 17-18".

One minor correction, the Spring Survivor Yearlings will average 8" and be in the 7-9" range.

I'm sure if you were to look at the total biomass increase in the stocking for '09 that it is a huge increase. I would imagine that the Yearlings weigh about 4 oz. and the adults average about 12 oz. or so. The 12-14" fish are prob in the 1 pound plus range. My uneducated guess is that the "normal" Spring stockings for the last 20+ years consisted of about 3,000+ total pounds of trout, all stocked in the Spring. For '09, I would say that the total weight for the Spring & Fall would be about 9,000+ total pounds, give or take about 1,000 pounds or so. That's a doubling in stocking numbers and about a 3 fold increase in total biomass.

Of the 15 or so people present at the DEP meeting, representing various "stakeholders"- guide services, fly shops, TU, HFFA as well as 4 DEP personel, there was unanimous consensous on the stocking makeup & numbers- that surprised me! While some would have liked to see both even more & bigger fish stocked (yeah baby!) and others would like to have seen more 6-12" fish stocked, overall it was an excellent compromise that had something for everyone. More fish, more biger fish, rainbows, more Yearlings, Survivor Strain Trout (from the Farmington), and regular Spring & Fall stockings. What more could you want?

'09 should be a great year for Housy trout! Hopefully we can get the first batch of trout stocked in March or early April, rather than late April as they have done in recent years.

**Magnet** · 12-18-2008, 06:00 AM

That is incredible news! What a great river.

**TroutAholic** · 12-18-2008, 10:18 AM

That is great news! Thanks guys for the effort made to accomplish this.

Now, can you get them to give us a couple of cool summers in a row, with just enough rain?

Steve

**Adam** · 12-18-2008, 10:37 AM

thanks for the update. encouraged to see that there was complete agreement.

alanb_ct · 12-18-2008, 11:06 AM

This is great progress, and I was just thinking about the numbers for 2009. If we assume that the spring fish (browns and rainbows) grow 2 inches by the fall, after the fall stocking here's what will be new in the river using weighted averages assuming zero mortality:

10,000 browns, average length 11.2 in
8,000 rainbows, average length 10.25 in

Keep in mind the TMA is 10 miles long, but it is deceiving to say there is 1800 fish per mile. A better measure is the pounds / hectare which is a density measurement for surface area, but that is harder to quote.

Now the worry is about mortality. I believe there is on average maybe an optimistic 20% survival rate year-to-year. That means that of the 18,000, only 3,600 will survive to 2010. Many things conspire against trout survival in the Housatonic:
(1) Favorable weather and flows,
(2) Poaching,
(3) Careful catch-and-release practices,
(4) Fishing pressure,
(5) Predation by pike and bass, and
(6) Resurgence of mergansers, osprey, heron, otters and mink.

I guarantee with the increased stocking in 2009 you will see blue heron on the Hous like never before! Controlling the blatant poaching that goes on would likely have as much benefit as the increased stocking.

This new regime represents real progress, but never stop looking out for the river and trying to achieve even greater goals.