Fish Stocking: Rainbow Trout for Successful Winter Fishing

Written by Industry Expert Aaron Cushing, Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist

With temperatures dropping, fall and winter are the perfect times to support your community fishing pond or bass fishery by stocking rainbow trout. Throughout the mid-Atlantic region, the fish naturally found in our ponds and lakes, such as largemouth bass and bluegill, are warm-water fish. This means as fall approaches and water temperatures cool, the fish themselves, along with the fishing, often slows down and many of us turn to our indoor cold weather activities. Rainbow trout, a cold-water fish, are the perfect addition to both community and trophy bass ponds to keep the fishing going all winter long.

Rainbow trout can adapt to a variety of habitats, given proper temperature and water quality conditions. A temperature range from 54º to 66º F is optimal and they feed on fish pellet food from fish feeders, aquatic and terrestrial insects, plankton, larger invertebrates, and even small fishes. In the wild they typically live 4 to 8 years and can grow 9 to 29 inches in length.

Stocking your neighborhood pond with these popular sportfish is a surefire way to keep kids and adults fishing through fall and winter and into the spring. Rainbw trout are easy to catch and can be caught using a simple hook and bobber set up using a worm or even canned whole kernel corn! Because they are so easy to catch, families can spend time outside on a mild winter day fishing together with almost guaranteed success. Rainbow trout can be stocked for fishing at a variety of different sizes. Adding some additional larger sized fish makes for great community fishing tournaments or competitions.

In trophy bass fishing ponds, rainbow trout are a great seasonal supplemental forage fish. When stocked in the fall or early winter, they provide extra food throughout the winter months. In the spring, water temperatures warm up and trout begin to slow down, making them easy prey for hungry bass that have just completed spawning.

Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management’s fisheries biologists and download our free report to find innovative ways to improve the fishing experience in your lake or pond.

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Contact the experts at 888-480-5253 for all of your lake, pond and fisheries management needs. 

Aaron Cushing is a Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist with SOLitude Lake Management. Since 1998, SOLitude Lake Management has been committed to providing full service lake and pond management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Services are available throughout the Eastern United States. Fisheries management consulting and aquatic products are available nationwide. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.