News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2011
Castalia State Fish Hatchery Renovation Reduces Fall Trout Stocking
COLUMBUS, OH – The annual fall stockings of rainbow trout in waterways across Ohio will be significantly reduced due to renovation of the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, the hatchery’s renovation required changes in the fish production schedule.
“Taking the Castalia State Fish Hatchery offline for fish production was a necessary part of completing this much-needed upgrade,” said Ray Petering, Division of Wildlife executive administrator of Fish Management and Research. “The total number of fish available for fall stockings is 4,000 instead of the usual 25,000.”
The 4,000 fish will be stocked at Stonelick Lake in Clermont County on October 21, the Ohio-Erie Canal in Cuyahoga County on October 8, and Sycamore State Park Pond located in Montgomery County on October 6.
Renovation of the Castalia State Fish Hatchery will ensure the future of Ohio’s steelhead trout fishing as well the popular rainbow trout fishing. Facility improvements include a new building where eggs are hatched and young fish are raised, covered raceways where fish can grow to larger sizes, high-volume water pumps, and state-of-the art water quality monitors.
The hatchery renovation is expected to be completed yet this fall, allowing for the continuation of the spring steelhead and rainbow trout stocking program. The division stocks 400,000 steelhead in the tributaries of Lake Erie and 110,000 rainbow trout in waters throughout the state each spring. All steelhead are produced at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery as well as many of the rainbow trout. Anglers can expect the numbers of rainbow trout stocked during spring 2012 to be similar to previous years.
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For more information, contact:
Ray Petering, ODNR Division of Wildlife
ray.petering@dnr.state.oh.us
Tim Parrett, ODNR Division of Wildlife
tim.parrett@dnr.state.oh.us
1-800-WILDLIFE