After a hiatus of several years, trout will again be planted at Loch Lomond Reservoir! The fantastic news came last week, and all parties involved feel this is a win-win situation that was made possible by the efforts of many people.
“The new trout stocking program is possible for a few reasons: The trout will be triploid rainbows, the number of trout will be reduced, and the plantings will be done after the spring rains,” said Chris Berry, water resource manager for the city of Santa Cruz.
The city of Santa Cruz manages the reservoir because it serves as a water supply for the city.
Triploid trout are sterile and lack the ability to reproduce. They will be a rainbow trout strain and should weigh about half a pound each. There should be at least two plants this spring, with 1,000 pounds of trout planted each time. The stocking program will have to take place after the last spring rains to avoid any trout “spilling” over the dam into Newell Creek.
Many people are excited to hear that trout will be returned to Loch Lomond. The trout plant should attract visitors to the lake, even if the trout are not huge and the stocking program is smaller than in years past.
The trout can also serve as a staple food for large bass that grew dependent on trout as a feed source during earlier plantings. As the trout stocking program ended, bass turned to bluegill, crawfish and even each other as a feed source. Adding the trout back will help the reservoir and its fish in many ways.
I made the call to Loch Lomond to check in with Scott Lang, the chief ranger. We actually talked about trout, and you could hear the smiles through the phone as Scott reported: “We are very excited for trout, more visitors and the other fish we have here.” Scott reminded me that the quarantine for Quaga snails and Zebra mussels is still in place. Boat owners can decontaminate a boat by storing it at the lake. The quarantine process requires a hot water pressure wash and two weeks’ dry layup time before the boat can be docked in the lake.
The lake does host storage spaces for those who would like to store their boats there for use. Others may decide to rent boats that range from $5 per hour for a rowboat.
Boats with electric motors rent for $10 an hour or $65 a day.
Combined with hiking trails, picnic areas and the most beautiful setting around, this is all a bargain for the entire family. The lake opens at 6 a.m. March 1 at 100 Loch Lomond Way in Felton.
– Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. Contact him at [email protected].
