The effects of recent flooding are still rippling through the state’s coldwater hatcheries, but anglers can be assured this spring’s record rainfall didn’t wash away prospects for a good year of trout fishing in Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) coldwater hatchery system is recovering from this spring’s record flooding. The network – which includes Montauk near Salem – produces more than two million trout for the state’s trout areas annually. Flooding and flood-related water quality issues at some hatcheries claimed about 30 percent (approximately 280,000 fish) of the fish that were near stocking size.
To adjust for the loss, stocking rates at the state’s trout parks and Lake Taneycomo will be slightly reduced for the remainder of 2017.
The move is similar to last year’s adjustment after the 2015-2016 winter floods. MDC said its staff will continue to evaluate hatchery fish inventories and stocking plans and will make adjustments throughout the year as appropriate.