Brook Trout Tagging

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Savage River Watershed

On June 6th and 7th, Fisheries personnel tagged the first fish in a two year brook trout movement study in the upper Savage River watershed. Areas from the Savage River Reservoir upstream to Westernport Road were sampled and adult brook trout encountered were fitted with an either an external FLOY tag or a radio-transmitter tag as well as a FLOY tag. The tagged fish ranged from 4.5� to one large adult that measured 13.5�! Overall, a good portion of the fish collected were over 8� in length.

The FLOY tags are green in color and labeled with a phone number and 5-digit numeric code. Anglers who encounter tagged fish are asked to leave the tag attached and report the tag number, the date and time they caught the fish, the approximate location the fish was caught, and whether the fish was kept or released. The information can be reported to DNR Fisheries by calling 301.689.7168 or by emailing the information to [email protected] . Cooperating anglers will be eligible for a reward, a certificate of appreciation, as well as a summary sheet with information about their tagged fish. We also strongly encourage anglers who encounter tagged fish in the Put-and-Take management area to release those fish so that we may continue to collect information from them.

Angler participation in this study will help DNR to better understand the short term and seasonal movement patterns of Maryland�s only native salmonid as well as tailor our management of this valuable resource.