TROUT STOCKING: They aren't native, but they got here as 
fast as they could ... we'll explain on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the 
Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Each year, when the temperatures begin to drop, so do 
the rainbow trout - into over 100 lakes throughout Texas.

We do it to provide a unique winter fishery for anglers. [:03]

Todd Engeling, program director with Inland Hatcheries, 
says it's too warm for trout to survive in Texas year-
round. So the fish used to stock our reservoirs in winter 
come from a producer in Missouri.
 
Our contract with the producer is for an eight to ten inch fish. 
That's typically about three to three and a half fish to the 
pound. We bring them in on a specified delivery schedule from 
our vendor; and then they may spend anywhere from a couple 
of days to a week on the hatchery before they're redistributed. 
[:15]

District biologists determine which lakes will receive the 
fish.

Obviously we don't have enough trout to put in every location 
that we would like to, but our resources are put in the places 
where they'll be getting the most use. [:07]

You will need a stamp to take trout - but not a trout 
stamp.
 
It has been replaced by the freshwater fishing stamp, which is 
funding hatchery projects over the next ten years. But also as 
the legislature indicated on the bill, we can buy sport fish with 
that money as well. [:10]

Go to the Texas parks and Wildlife website to find out 
where the trout will be stocked.

That's our show ... made possible by the Sport Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Program ... working to increase 
fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in 
Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.