Trout season arrives in Echo Park on the back of a truck. The truck carries an aerated tank of cold water filled with trout that have spent almost a year growing from eggs at the Ventura County Filmore Hatchery operated by the California Department of Fish & Game. The vehicle travels down the 5 Freeway before arriving at Echo Park Lake, where, if the water is cold enough and other conditions are just right, the trout weighing a half-pound and more are released. One hatchery employee said the trout could arrive at Echo Park Lake this week, but he made no promises. In fact, the department never publicizes the exact date a lake will be stocked to avoid a run on the fish, said department spokesman Harry Morse. "We do not ever publish exact times since it can create a crowding problem."The trout survive better in cold water and are released, or as the department says "planted," beginning in the early fall following the planting of catfish in the warmer m
onths. The department has already stocked trout in some of Southern California's bigger lakes but the water at the smaller lakes - including Belvedere, Echo Park, Hollenbeck and Lincoln Park - takes longer to cool down down for trout. Some anglers prefer trout because they tend to put up a bigger fight than catfish but others say the catfish are meatier. Whether it's catfish or trout, word spreads quickly when the lakes are stocked. Here are some other urban fishing facts provided by Morse in a Q & A:Q: When does the department begin stocking Los Angeles area lakes with trout?
A: Stocking depends on the temperature of the ponds. The last two weeks have been hot with the water temperature above 70 degrees which can kill trout. DGF tries to stock at least once a month temperature permitting.
Q: How many fish are stocked in each lake?
A: 1-5,000 depending on the size of the water. Trout are stocked depending on the size of the water and the fishing pressure. Each manager makes these decisions.
Q: Have the state budget cuts reduced the number of fish that are stocked?
A: We have re-allocated some stocking and had to reduce others.
Q: How long do the fish usually last in these waters? Are they safe to eat?
A: Most are caught with in 1-3 months. They are safe to eat.
Top photo by Velo Steve/Flickr
8 comments:
This seems like a bad idea on so many levels.
The lake is extremely toxic right now, why are we dumping fish into it?
This is bad for both the fish and bad for the people who will catch and eventually eat them.
Plus given the city's extremely strapped funds, a waste of money considering the above toxicity.
Restocking can wait till next year, after they've dredged and cleaned the lake.
The lake remake is going to take several years. Won't be a two-month project. By far.
I agree that the lake's water could be dangerous, I would bet the DFG would say the fish aren't going to be in there long enough to absorb. I don't like stocking in general, as I as a wild trout fan -- and a catch and release angler -- but there is something very nice and cool about being able to catch a trout in Echo Park Lake. I have to vote yes here.
That's a great photo. It looks like the fish has ears!
The money for fish plants comes from state funds, that they get from the expensive fishing license that the state sells. No money comes from city funds. Fish plants are great for the kids in the city, since trout are usually in cold regions not near the city, and out of reach for most of the city kids who live in EP. I just wish that the adults who fish EP without a fishing license, would leave the trout, and all of the other fish alone, so that the kids can experience some fun. FYI a citation for fishing without a license is over $200.00, so think twice about fishing, if you are an adult. EP is where I caught my first Large Mouth Bass. My first EP trout was less than a 1/2 LB., and my largest was over 9 LBS., but it was from Santa Ana River Lakes. By the way I'm a catch & release angler Happy fishing!
I think it's a great idea - the world is such a harsh place it feels these days - a little fishing in one's own neighborhood seems like a great idea.
Just pay attention to the signs, "Catch and Release" So that many others can enjoy the fun.
Hooray for fun outside at the park.
???
I thought that Echo Park Lake was a "catch and release" site. Has that changed?
Of the two fish that are planted in EP Lake, trout and catfish, only the second will survive.
The trout are meant -- doomed you might say -- for the skillet, pan or wok.
They used to plant other fish, besides trout & catfish. As a teen in the 70's I witnessed plants of bass & bluegills. They used to have a truck pull up by the bridge at the island, and they had trash cans full of fish. I saw them toss out 5 LB. bass, then they dumped trash cans full of small bass & bluegills. At one time they tried to planted talapia, I saw a dead one on the north side of the park once. I wish that they still had crappies though, they were really fun to catch. There used to be alot of carp, but I used to see people catching them to keep. When they plant the trout they want you to catch & keep them, since they will die when the water warms up. Alot of the trout get eaten up by the larger bass in the lake anyway. My brother caught a 10 LB. Bass years ago, and I have caught a few 5 LB. Bass. Catch & release, so that everyone can enjoy the fun.
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