Citation Award Winner

Type: Nontidal
Region: Northern
Location: Patapsco Valley

Attached is a picture of the 22� Rainbow Trout pulled out of the Patapsco in the McKeldin Area. I wanted to submit this photo, as I thought it was very cool that this trout was carrying 200+ eggs.

DNR Response:
It is possible for stocked fish to contain eggs. In terms of reproduction, that's another story. First, by the time fish leave the hatchery, the majority are females. Males are aggressive in the hatchery and usually don't make it to adult size or are culled out as being too small. Therefore, males to fertilize the females are very scarce. Also, rainbows are not always successful in our waters. In a stream like the Patapsco where the water gets warmer, a spring spawn occurs about the time the cool or warm water species get active and hungry, so the eggs and fry if they occur wouldn't last long. If the habitat is not correct to dig a spawning redd, the females won't release their eggs. The rainbows we've had in the hatchery don't reabsorb the eggs, so they decompose in the body and the females usually die. Bottom line - the odds of getting a hatch off are slim.