First Successful Trout Reproduction Documented in the Lower Mountain Fork River (5/11/06)
For the first time ever
documented in Oklahoma, fisheries biologists have documented
natural reproduction of rainbow trout. The discovery was made in
the lower Mountain Fork River trout fishery below Broken Bow
Lake.
“Clearly, this new information
sets the lower Mountain Fork River apart as one of the premier
tail water fisheries in the nation,” said Barry Bolton, Chief of
fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Anglers reported observing
trout spawning activity in December and January. A few months
later, scattered reports began coming in of very small rainbow
trout being caught by anglers. In ODWC sampling efforts in four
different locations, biologists caught a total of 17 young
rainbow trout.
The Wildlife Department first
stocked the Lower Mountain Fork River with trout more than 17
years ago. Since that time the 12-mile designated trout stream
has seen many habitat improvements. Additionally, thanks to the
efforts of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, the U.S.
Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act in 1996 to
ensure that cool water from Broken Bow Lake is released
throughout the year to sustain the trout fishery.
These young trout are, in
part, a reflection of all the hard work done through a number of
cooperative habitat initiatives which could have never completed
without generous donations, both in financial support and sweat
equity, from several dedicated trout clubs in Oklahoma and
Texas.
Rainbow trout have very
specific habitat requirements in order to spawn successfully and
biologists have completed several projects to make the river
more suitable for trout. For example, the Spillway Creek area of
the river was once mostly a swift and straight area, not the
most suitable for trout or trout anglers. Today, the area is one
of the most dynamic areas of the river. Wildlife Department
personnel and their cooperators used large boulders and logs to
improve the river channel creating a series of riffles, runs and
pools - all prime trout habitat. The habitat efforts also
trapped clean gravel in shallow areas of the river providing the
type of habitat needed by spawning rainbow trout.
Wildlife Department fisheries
biologists will monitor possible future trout reproduction and
track the survival of these young trout. In the meantime,
fisheries biologists will continue improving habitat in the area
through projects like the Evening Hole Restoration Project – the
most ambitious stream restoration project undertaken by the
Department. Following two years of research and development,
biologists have completed the huge task of renovating the area
known as the Evening Hole located on the Lower Mountain Fork
River. This project included the creation of a Lost Creek, a
“new” trout stream almost a half-mile long that will connect to
the main river channel and provide new angling opportunities.
Additionally, a restoration project has been completed on
Spillway Creek to further enhance trout habitat and fishing
opportunities in the Lower Mountain Fork river.