The Fate of Stocked Trout in Arizona Streams

This study was initiated in 2013 to evaluate aspects of Arizona’s stocked trout program. A variety of approaches were employed on six Arizona streams to better understand the fate of hatchery reared Rainbow and Apache trout post stocking, cost effective stocking stragegies, and angler success and satisfaction. We found that angler satisfaction was highly correlated with catch rates, which were variable by stream, the number of trout stocked, and the length of time since the last stocking. Thus, adjusting stocking densities and the day of stocking can be methods for improving overall angler satisfaction.  Radio telemetry records revealed substantial proportions of predation on stocked trout. Equal proportions of radio tagged fish were killed by predators (~24%) as were harvested and reported by anglers (~23%). In general, fish movement from stocking locations was minimal (<50m), however, downstream movements over one kilometer were observed. Larger distances of movement were observed in Rainbow trout when compared to Apache Trout. Median longevity post stocking was three days and six days for the Little Colorado River and the East Fork Black River, respectively; however, some individuals remained in the stream over three months post stocking. Results have shaped how managers think about stocking practices.