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Four-year-old August Otte with his dad Robert Otte, held one of the rainbow trout that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released into Hamilton Creek Dec 28. See the story below and find more photos on Page 3. Grace Gates/ Luedecke Photography
Texas Parks and Wildlife will makes its round at several locations throughout the state this winter for rainbow trout.
The agency made its annual stop at Hamilton Creek Park on Thursday morning, Dec. 28.
Parks personnel were met by eager anglers as approximately 750 trout were released into the waterway park venue in Burnet.
Nicci Pack, a TPWD representative, invited children to hold fish before they were cast into the water. Once the trout were released, kids and adults alike took the opportunity to practice both their skills and their patience.
Rainbow trout are popular fish that thrive in cold water. According to TPWD’s website, they are attracted to a variety of baits and lures and do not require elaborate equipment to catch.
The department does recommend bringing along a bucket of ice to keep the tasty fish fresh.
There is not a minimum length requirement to keep a rainbow trout, and anglers can take home up to five per day.
Texas Parks and Wildlife announced on Nov. 16 that it is delivering over 340,000 trout across the state through March 1. Locations include dozens of local and county park ponds, portions of the Guadalupe, Brazos, Trinity and South Llano rivers, and 18 urban lakes, courtesy of TPWD’s Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. This year’s stocking started on Nov. 22.
Since rainbow trout are usually unable to survive the summer months in Texas, TPWD is encouraging anglers to keep up to their daily bag limit. If Hamilton Creek happens to run dry, W.M. Brook park in Lampasas recently received a stocking, and Llano’s Grenweldge park will receive 2,000 trout on Feb. 4. Also, the stocking program took the agency crew to Castell on Dec. 5 in Llano County with 2,400 trout.
Texas Parks and Wildlife’s winter tradition provides a great opportunity forfamilies to spend quality time outdoors. For more information, visit https:// tpwd.texas.gov.