02-16-2007, 11:19 PM
[size 1]Frankfort, Ky. - The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is stocking trout early because of concerns about trout production being hampered at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland.
"This is strictly a precautionary measure," said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We anticipate water quality and water quantity issues due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland. We want anglers to enjoy these fish instead of potentially losing them at the hatchery."
The hatchery draws its water from the dam at Lake Cumberland. Because the lake is being maintained 43 feet below normal summer pool this year while repairs are being made to Wolf Creek Dam, the volume of water going into the hatchery has been reduced significantly. Spring trout stockings have been advanced two months to help ensure the health of the trout remaining in the hatchery.
Over 286,000 rainbow trout and 67,000 brown trout will be stocked by the end of March. Fisheries officials will stock roughly 112,000 trout this week in Laurel River Lake, followed by stockings of 20,000 trout in the Cumberland River next week.
"These two stockings will significantly reduce the total number of trout currently held at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery," Buynak said. "The Laurel River Lake stockings are normally scheduled stockings, but the Cumberland River stockings are what we normally stock in the month of April."
To help reduce pounds of trout in the hatchery, officials plan to begin stocking trout that are one inch smaller than normal. This reduction in size will not be noticed until April and the numbers of trout stocked will not change.
It is undetermined which lakes or streams will be stocked after the Cumberland River stockings are completed. A tentative stocking schedule will be posted on the internet at fw.ky.gov. Click on the "Fishing" tab, then the "Stocking" tab. "There may be changes to this schedule depending on weather related conditions at the stocking site such as ice cover," Buynak said. "We will post those changes."
Media Contact:
Lee McClellan (800) 852-0942 ext 330 [/size]
[signature]
"This is strictly a precautionary measure," said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We anticipate water quality and water quantity issues due to the drawdown of Lake Cumberland. We want anglers to enjoy these fish instead of potentially losing them at the hatchery."
The hatchery draws its water from the dam at Lake Cumberland. Because the lake is being maintained 43 feet below normal summer pool this year while repairs are being made to Wolf Creek Dam, the volume of water going into the hatchery has been reduced significantly. Spring trout stockings have been advanced two months to help ensure the health of the trout remaining in the hatchery.
Over 286,000 rainbow trout and 67,000 brown trout will be stocked by the end of March. Fisheries officials will stock roughly 112,000 trout this week in Laurel River Lake, followed by stockings of 20,000 trout in the Cumberland River next week.
"These two stockings will significantly reduce the total number of trout currently held at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery," Buynak said. "The Laurel River Lake stockings are normally scheduled stockings, but the Cumberland River stockings are what we normally stock in the month of April."
To help reduce pounds of trout in the hatchery, officials plan to begin stocking trout that are one inch smaller than normal. This reduction in size will not be noticed until April and the numbers of trout stocked will not change.
It is undetermined which lakes or streams will be stocked after the Cumberland River stockings are completed. A tentative stocking schedule will be posted on the internet at fw.ky.gov. Click on the "Fishing" tab, then the "Stocking" tab. "There may be changes to this schedule depending on weather related conditions at the stocking site such as ice cover," Buynak said. "We will post those changes."
Media Contact:
Lee McClellan (800) 852-0942 ext 330 [/size]
[signature]