Fall Trout Stocking 2024
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making changes to trout stocking in 2024 into 2025 in response to survey feedback from trout anglers and heat and drought-induced challenges faced at the hatcheries over the summer.
Fishing and Boating Services periodically surveys anglers to receive feedback on their preferences and opinions. Results from these surveys help guide our management approach and the services provided. A recent survey of Put and Take trout anglers suggested that many anglers would prefer to catch larger trout, even if they caught fewer trout overall.
In response, we will be implementing a number of changes to the trout stocking program:
- For the fall of 2024, the hatcheries will stock approximately 3,000 brown trout and 12,000 rainbow trout. This represents a 30% decrease from 2023, but the trout will be larger, averaging slightly over a pound each.
- Additional fish will be held from the fall to the spring of 2025 to increase the number of trout available in the spring and to allow for several more months of growth in the hatchery.
- Hatcheries staff are working to increase the number of trophy-sized trout stocked, mostly with trout in the three to four pound range.
- DNR is also planning to stock more brown trout in the future. Anglers can look forward to approximately 12,000 brown trout during the spring 2025 season.
- An additional 2,000 “holdover” brown trout that will average about a pound each will be new for 2025.
Fall trout stocking will begin in early October as soon as water levels and temperatures are acceptable for trout.
Trout Stocking Resources:
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