NY DEC Trout and Salmon Stocking: Adirondack Lakes & Ponds

DEC Trout and Salmon Stocking

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plays an essential role in preserving and enhancing the state’s fish populations, particularly in the Adirondacks, a region known for its rugged wilderness and exceptional fishing opportunities. Through the DEC’s well-organized fish stocking program, the state ensures that its water bodies remain teeming with healthy populations of trout and salmon. In this article, we’ll explore the DEC’s stocking efforts, the complexities involved in fish conservation, and the vital role that both science and tradition play in maintaining these aquatic ecosystems.

Personal Experience and Historical Context

Two men standing on a beach reviewing paperwork with a seaplane in the background — *Tom Helms gets a list of ponds to stock trout by air.*

The Role of the DEC in Fish Conservation

The DEC is tasked with overseeing the management of wildlife and aquatic life in New York State. One of the key components of their work is fish stocking—a process that involves raising fish in hatcheries and releasing them into water bodies to support or supplement wild populations. The DEC’s fish stocking program serves a critical purpose, especially in the Adirondacks, where wild fish populations are affected by factors such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change.

Stocking trout and salmon, particularly in remote ponds, lakes, and streams, helps maintain healthy fish populations and ensures that anglers have continued access to these prized species. Stocking efforts also support the local economy, as the Adirondacks attract anglers from around the state and beyond, boosting tourism and local businesses.

A Personal Journey Through DEC Stocking Efforts

My personal journey with the DEC’s fish stocking program began in 1966 when I started working as a Forest Ranger in the Moose River area. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside the DEC in various capacities, participating in a wide range of fish stocking activities. From netting fish to using aerial means of stocking, I’ve had an up-close look at how the program functions.

One of my first responsibilities involved assisting with the collection of fish eggs from spawning streams and lakes, a process that requires both precision and timing. Eggs must be carefully harvested from female fish during the spawning season and brought back to the hatcheries where they are nurtured until they hatch. The young fish, or fry, are carefully monitored until they are large enough to be released into the wild.

Fish Stocking Methods and Techniques

Over the years, the DEC has refined its fish stocking methods, using a combination of traditional and innovative techniques to ensure that the fish are distributed effectively throughout the Adirondacks. Here are some of the primary methods used by the DEC:

Netting Work: This is one of the oldest and most traditional methods used by the DEC. Netting involves setting traps in spawning streams and lakes to collect adult fish. These fish are then carefully handled to harvest their eggs and milt, which are necessary for breeding in the hatcheries. The collected eggs are fertilized and incubated until they hatch into fry.
Stocking by Bucket: For smaller ponds and streams that are accessible by foot or truck, the DEC stocks fish by bucket. This method requires great care, as the fish are transported in large buckets and released into the water at designated sites. Stocking by bucket is often used for remote locations where larger-scale methods, like planes or helicopters, are impractical.
Aerial Stocking (Float Planes and Helicopters): For more challenging terrain and larger bodies of water, aerial stocking is the preferred method. Helicopters and float planes are equipped to carry large quantities of fish, which are then dropped into lakes and ponds. Aerial stocking is not only efficient but also crucial for reaching the more remote areas of the Adirondacks that are otherwise inaccessible.
Helicopter and Plane Drops: Aerial drops are particularly valuable in stocking difficult-to-reach waters in the Adirondacks. These areas may include remote high-altitude lakes or ponds that are only accessible by air. During the early spring months, the DEC coordinates flight schedules to drop thousands of trout fry into these bodies of water, ensuring that the fish can establish themselves in their new environments.

Challenges and Adjustments in Fish Stocking

Despite the best efforts of the DEC, fish stocking is not without its challenges. Environmental changes, such as climate shifts, acid rain, and invasive species, can all impact the survival and success of stocked fish. Furthermore, fluctuating water temperatures, droughts, and even fish diseases can affect stocking success.

One of the ongoing challenges in the Adirondacks is maintaining the delicate balance of fish populations. Stocking must be done in a way that supports healthy fish communities without overloading an ecosystem. When too many fish are released into a body of water, they can outcompete native species, resulting in an imbalance that harms the entire ecosystem.

The DEC continually monitors the health of stocked fish populations and adjusts its approach based on ongoing assessments. This includes tracking the growth of fish after stocking and observing how they integrate into local ecosystems. By collecting data, the DEC ensures that stocking remains sustainable and effective in the long run.

The Impact of Fish Stocking on the Adirondack Ecosystem

The DEC’s fish stocking program in the Adirondacks has had a profound impact on both the region’s ecosystems and its economy. By supplementing natural fish populations, the DEC helps ensure that anglers can enjoy healthy fishing experiences in the Adirondacks’ pristine waters. Additionally, the stocking efforts have bolstered the region’s tourism, with fishing season bringing thousands of anglers to the area each year.

Moreover, stocking has provided educational opportunities for local communities, schools, and conservation groups to get involved in environmental stewardship. Many groups have partnered with the DEC for hands-on experiences, such as helping with hatchery tours or participating in fish releases.

The stocking of trout and salmon plays an important role in preserving the Adirondacks’ aquatic biodiversity. While it does not replace the need for a comprehensive conservation strategy that focuses on habitat restoration and water quality improvement, it remains a critical tool in ensuring that the region’s fisheries thrive for generations to come.

Continued Involvement and Future of Stocking

Although I retired 15 years ago, I have continued to stay informed about the DEC’s fish stocking efforts. Through local contacts and ongoing outreach programs, I keep up to date with the latest research and developments in the field. The DEC remains committed to improving its techniques, engaging with the public, and ensuring that fish populations in the Adirondacks remain robust.

As a lifelong angler, I can attest to the importance of the DEC’s work in maintaining healthy fish populations. Fish stocking is a vital part of the Adirondacks’ rich natural heritage, and I am grateful for the DEC’s ongoing commitment to preserving these pristine waters for future generations of anglers to enjoy.

Through continued collaboration, innovation, and dedication to conservation, the DEC ensures that the fish populations in the Adirondacks will continue to thrive, providing opportunities for anglers and contributing to the region’s biodiversity for years to come.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) employs a diverse array of techniques to stock fish in the Adirondacks, ensuring that healthy populations of trout, salmon, and other species continue to thrive in these remote and pristine waters. From aerial stocking using seaplanes to ground-based operations, the DEC’s multifaceted approach reflects the need for flexibility and innovation in managing the region’s fisheries.

Aerial Stocking: Reaching the Remote Lakes

Aerial stocking is one of the most effective methods for distributing fish to remote lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks, particularly those that are difficult to access by land. This method involves using specialized seaplanes equipped with compartments to carry and release large numbers of fish into various bodies of water.

During one such mission, I had the privilege of joining Jim Payne and Tom Helms on an aerial stocking mission in southern Hamilton and Herkimer Counties. Our seaplane was equipped with four compartments, each designed to carry fish safely to multiple lakes and ponds in one flight. A few highlights of the mission included:

Stocking 3,000 Wild Horn Lake Strain Brook Trout: These brook trout were released into Little Indian Lake, which had been unable to support a trout population for over 40 years. Thanks to the DEC’s efforts, the lake can now sustain a healthy population of wild trout, significantly enhancing its biodiversity.
Restoration of Acidified Lakes: Lakes like Brooktrout Lake, Spruce Lake, and Deep Lake have been recovering from past acidification, thanks to successful stocking efforts. These lakes, which had previously struggled to support trout, can now sustain brook trout populations, a vital step in the region’s fish restoration.

Aerial stocking has proven essential for ensuring that fish are distributed across a large number of remote and previously inaccessible lakes. The success of this method can be seen in the thriving fish populations that were once deemed unsustainable due to the physical limitations of traditional stocking methods.

Ground-Based Stocking: Maintaining Local Fisheries

While aerial stocking is crucial for remote lakes, the DEC also conducts ground-based stocking for more accessible bodies of water, particularly streams and lakes within reach by vehicle or foot. This method typically involves transporting fish by truck or boat to their stocking locations, where they are carefully released into the waters.

In these ground-based operations, DEC staff take great care in ensuring that the fish are released at the appropriate sites and under the right conditions. Stocking locations are selected based on water quality, habitat suitability, and fish populations to maximize the chances of survival and successful reproduction for the stocked fish.

Egg Collection Process: The Foundation of Stocking Programs

The DEC’s fish stocking efforts begin long before the fish are released into the wild. One of the key components of the program is the egg collection process, which allows the DEC to raise fish in hatcheries before releasing them into the wild. Each species requires a specific process to collect eggs, and the DEC’s expertise in handling these delicate procedures ensures that the stocking program is successful.

Brook Trout

Location: Mountain Pond, north of Paul Smith’s
Method: Trap nets are set in the pond to catch adult fish
Process: Once the fish are brought to shore, females are stripped of their eggs, and males provide milt for fertilization. The eggs are then carefully incubated until they hatch.
Result: Over 25,000 eggs were collected in just two days for the Chateaugay fish hatchery, supporting ongoing trout populations in the region.

Lake Trout

Location: Raquette Lake
Method: Trap nets are set on shoals, where lake trout are known to congregate.
Process: Fish are sexed, weighed, measured, and scale samples are taken for aging. This data helps the DEC monitor fish health and track population changes over time.
Note: In a recent collection, the DEC fell short of their goal, collecting 87,000 eggs instead of the targeted 160,000. Despite this setback, the DEC’s careful management ensures that egg collection will continue to support lake trout populations.

Landlocked Salmon

Location: Little Clear Pond and the Adirondack Hatchery
Goal: To collect 1.2 million eggs in just six days.
Process: Wild salmon from Little Clear Pond are used alongside hatchery-raised females to provide eggs, which are then fertilized with milt from wild salmon. This ensures genetic diversity and helps preserve the health of the fish population.
Additional Collection: In addition to stocking efforts in the Adirondacks, the DEC also collects eggs for the Tunison Lab (USGS contractor) in Cortland, contributing to broader conservation efforts.

The Broader Impact of DEC Stocking Programs

The DEC’s stocking efforts play a crucial role in sustaining the region’s fisheries, enhancing the ecosystem, and providing recreational opportunities for anglers. These efforts are essential for maintaining healthy fish populations in waters that might otherwise struggle to support them due to environmental pressures or historical changes in water quality.

As stocking programs continue to evolve, the DEC remains committed to ensuring that the Adirondacks’ lakes, ponds, and streams remain vibrant and full of life. Whether through aerial stocking or carefully executed egg collection, these efforts contribute to the sustainability and health of the region’s aquatic ecosystems.

Hatchery Operations

*DEC crew members prepare for stripping lake trout eggs at Raquette Lake.*

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) operates a network of hatcheries that are pivotal in supporting trout populations across the Adirondacks. These hatcheries are strategically placed to ensure that fish stocking efforts reach a wide range of lakes, streams, and ponds, promoting biodiversity and providing recreational fishing opportunities for local anglers. Below is an overview of the DEC hatcheries and their specialized roles:

Chateaugay Fish Hatchery: A Central Hub for Trout Stocking

The Chateaugay Fish Hatchery is a cornerstone of the DEC’s trout stocking efforts in the Adirondacks. It is responsible for raising and stocking various species of trout, with a particular focus on brook trout and splake (a hybrid of lake trout and brook trout). The hatchery plays a critical role in replenishing populations in local lakes, supporting both recreational and ecological needs.

South Otselic Hatchery: Specializing in Brook Trout

The South Otselic Hatchery specializes in the production of brook trout, which are raised using warmer well water. This unique feature allows for earlier hatching of brook trout compared to other hatcheries, ensuring that fish are ready to be stocked at the optimal time. This hatchery is vital in maintaining healthy brook trout populations in Adirondack waters, particularly in smaller, colder lakes and streams.

Warrensburg Hatchery: Collecting Eggs and Raising Brook Trout Strains

The Warrensburg Hatchery plays a dual role in supporting the DEC’s stocking efforts. It collects eggs from local ponds and from Horn Lake, and raises various strains of brook trout, ensuring genetic diversity and a healthy trout population across the region. This hatchery contributes to efforts to maintain and restore native fish populations in Adirondack waters.

Adirondack Hatchery: Focused on Landlocked Salmon

The Adirondack Hatchery is dedicated to raising landlocked salmon, a species vital to the region’s fishing ecosystem. The hatchery conducts large-scale egg collection and fertilization operations, with a primary focus on maintaining and enhancing the health of the landlocked salmon population. These efforts help ensure that landlocked salmon populations remain robust and provide excellent angling opportunities for local and visiting fishermen.

Fish Strains and Their Advantages

The DEC’s stocking programs rely on a variety of fish strains, each selected for its unique qualities and advantages in terms of survival, growth potential, and adaptability. These strains help ensure the long-term sustainability of fish populations and improve angling opportunities for recreational fishermen:

Wild Strain Brook Trout: The DEC stocks wild strain brook trout, including the Windfall and Temiscamie strains, which are known for their ability to thrive in colder waters. These wild strains typically have a longer lifespan (6-7 years) compared to domestic brook trout, which typically live only 3 years. Wild brook trout are also more likely to reproduce naturally in stocked waters, helping to establish sustainable populations.
Domestic Brook Trout Hybrids: Hybrids of domestic brook trout are stocked in waters where wild strain brook trout cannot thrive. These hybrids offer greater resilience and can adapt to varying water conditions, increasing the chances of successful stocking in less-than-ideal habitats.
Splake: A hybrid of lake trout and brook trout, splake are stocked in waters where a cross between the two species is beneficial. These hybrids are known for their larger growth potential and increased survival rates compared to pure lake trout or brook trout. Splake are stocked in several Adirondack waters to support recreational fishing while helping to preserve native brook trout populations.

Stocking of Mature Fish

In addition to the traditional stocking of fingerlings, the DEC also stocks mature fish in certain Adirondack lakes to boost fish populations quickly. This is especially important for lakes that have been recently restored or where natural fish populations need to be replenished. Some notable stockings of mature fish include:

Taylor Pond: 52 fish
Lake Eaton: 50 fish
Lake Colby: 50 fish
Green Pond: 55 fish
Moose Pond: 150 fish

These mature fish help quickly populate bodies of water and provide immediate opportunities for anglers to catch larger fish, contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem.

Public Involvement and Information

The DEC is committed to transparency and encourages public involvement in the fish stocking process. Here are a few ways that the public can participate or learn more about the DEC’s stocking efforts:

Visitor Opportunities: Hatcheries are open to the public, and staff are available to answer questions about stocking procedures, fish species, and fishing opportunities in the Adirondacks.
Stocking Volunteers: The DEC welcomes volunteers who can assist with stocking operations, especially when stocking trucks are in the area. This is a great way for community members to actively participate in conservation efforts and learn more about the intricacies of fish stocking.
Detailed Information: The DEC provides detailed stocking information on its website, including specifics about which species are stocked in each county and body of water, and the quantities released. This resource is invaluable for anglers looking to target specific species or locations for fishing.

Through these efforts, the DEC not only helps ensure healthy fish populations in the Adirondacks but also fosters a sense of community involvement and education among the region’s anglers.

Conclusion

The DEC’s fish stocking program is a cornerstone of the Adirondacks’ aquatic health, directly benefiting both the region’s fish populations and its recreational fishing community. By employing a range of stocking methods—from aerial operations to ground-based efforts—the DEC ensures that fish populations remain robust, diverse, and sustainable. The combination of advanced hatchery systems, careful selection of fish strains, and public involvement makes this program a vital part of the Adirondack conservation landscape.

For anglers, the opportunity to enjoy these healthy and thriving fish populations is the reward of these ongoing efforts. With continued dedication from the DEC and the support of local volunteers, the future of Adirondack fishing looks bright.

Now, it’s time for anglers to hit the water, armed with knowledge of these stocking programs, and make the most of the abundant fishing opportunities that the Adirondacks offer. Whether casting for brook trout in the shallows or chasing lake trout in deeper waters, the DEC’s work ensures that the fishing experience remains enjoyable for years to come.

Special thanks to the dedicated hatchery and fishery staff, including Nicole Vogt, Zack Goodale, Doug Peck, and Brett D’Arco, whose insights and contributions helped make this article possible. Their work, alongside that of many others, continues to support the health of Adirondack fish populations and the enjoyment of anglers everywhere.

Original Article By Gary Lee

About The Author

Gary Lee is a retired NYS Forest Ranger and licensed guide. He writes a column in the Weekly Adirondack and is co-author of Adirondack Birding. He is an active volunteer with the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program. Follow Gary on twitter @eightacrewoodm1.