Oct. 19, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 419 

For more information, contact Craig Shirey, Fisheries Administrator, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9914, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

DNREC Fisheries announces freshly stocked trout swim in White Clay Creek

The Fisheries Section of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife announced today that White Clay Creek received its fall stocking of trout last week. 

The Fisheries staff, along with the help of numerous volunteers, stocked 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout throughout White Clay Creek from near the border with Pennsylvania downstream to Newark at all of the normal stocking locations. The volunteers used float boxes to carry hundreds of fish upstream and down from the truck access points along White Clay.

“The fish looked great! Most were over 12 or 13 inches, and they were all healthy, just a beautiful bunch of fish!” enthused Fisheries staff member Mark Zimmerman, who heads up the trout stocking efforts.

Fisheries Administrator Craig Shirey noted that fall stocking is handled with less hoopla than the spring stocking to give anglers a different flavor in a mellower season.

“We try to avoid the crowds and hype that often overshadow the spring opener on the first Saturday in April,” Shirey said, noting that the stocking schedule is included in the annual Fishing Guide and online but the exact date of the fall delivery is not publicized in advance.   

“We say that it will occur in ‘mid-October.’ When fishermen call to ask when we are going to stock, I explain our reasoning and so far everyone has been fine with it, especially when they go to one of their favorite locations, find fish swimming around in it, and have the stream mostly to themselves. It’s a beautiful time of year to enjoy some peace and quiet and catch some nice fish,” Shirey said. “And, since trout are a coldwater species, fish stocked in the fall should provide action throughout the winter.”