New Trout Fishing Opportunities At Tuckahoe Lake

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service will stock trout for the first time at the Tuckahoe State Park on the middle Eastern Shore later this month.

"In the past, trout stocking and trout fishing opportunities were only available on the lower Eastern Shore and in Cecil County," said Bob Lunsford, Director of Freshwater Fisheries for the department. "We're excited to offer anglers from the middle Eastern Shore this opportunity."

Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout from the Albert Powell Fish Hatchery near Hagerstown will be stocked in the 60-acre Tuckahoe Lake and spillway in mid-February, just prior to the annual yellow and white perch runs. Trout stocking has been shown to have no adverse impacts on wild fish populations.

Like other trout species, rainbows are opportunistic feeders and consume a large variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects and macroinvertebrates. When stocked in large lakes, rainbow trout, unlike brook and brown trout, can grow very quickly strictly on a diet of lake plankton.

Anglers must possess a valid non-tidal/freshwater fishing license and a trout stamp in order to possess trout. Because the Tuckahoe Lake and spillway are not regulated put-and-take streams, the daily creel limit is only two trout per day under statewide regulation.

Fishing hours within the park are from 5:30 AM until sunset, when the park closes. Anglers are reminded that Maryland state parks are "trash free." Anglers are asked to take their trash and dispose of it properly. Failure to do so could jeopardize the chance of any future stockings.

DNR's trout stocking program is funded entirely by the sale of freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps, and federal Sportfish Restoration Program (Wallop-Breaux) funds which are generated by anglers' and boaters' tax dollars.

Posted: 2-8-2001