Golden trout stocked in Northeast Tennessee waters
ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – Tennessee’s rivers, streams and lakes offer anglers a wide variety of fish to catch, one of which will certainly catch the eye.
East Tennessee waters are brimming with bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish and walleye. Even muskellunge can be caught in certain spots. East Tennessee is particularly fortunate to have numerous places where trout can be caught.
Brook, brown, cutthroat, lake and rainbow trout can all be found in the colder waters of the Appalachian Mountain range. Brook trout are native to Tennessee, while the other species are stocked by state officials.
What’s the penalty for illegally catching trout in Tennessee?
One strain of rainbow trout sports a noticeable gold coloration: palomino rainbow trout.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) shared in April that 100 palomino rainbow trout, also known as West Virginia Golden Trout, had been stocked into the Hiwassee River. The strain was developed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in the 1960s.
Palomino rainbow trout attribute their first-place hue to a recessive gene, according to the TWRA. The TWRA stocks the trout for the purpose of fishing, and the golden fish are treated just like rainbow trout as far as regulations go.
The TWRA informed News Channel 11 that the Hiwassee River isn’t the only place the palominos can be caught. In fact, since 2022, the golden trout have been stocked in Northeast Tennessee waters.
According to the TWRA, eggs were acquired from a West Virginia state hatchery and then hatched and reared at the Erwin State Fish Hatchery. The palomino rainbow trout have been stocked in several Northeast Tennessee waterways.
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Outdoors Appalachia
The trout can be found most notably in the following locations:
Rocky Fork and Fishery Park Pond in Unicoi County
Dillard Ponds and Paint Creek in Greene County
Wilbur Reservoir in Carter County
Goose Creek/Town Creek and Ralph Stout Park Pond in Johnson County
The TWRA also noted the palominos are stocked for youth fishing events.
Anglers hoping to catch trout of all kinds can use the TWRA’s Stocking Locations map. The agency does require fishers to have supplemental trout privileges in addition to their base fishing license if they plan to catch them.
The TWRA has a full list of regulations for catching trout, as well as tips for releasing them properly if caught, on its website.
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