More than 50 local fisheries throughout North Dakota now have a fresh supply of catchable trout, as state Game and Fish Department personnel are wrapping up their annual spring trout stocking efforts.

Fisheries production and development section leader Jerry Weigel said while the number of fisheries statewide is at a historic high, many are not as easily accessible to youngsters, older adults and disabled anglers.

“The majority of these recently stocked waters are community fisheries that have fishing piers, and provide a great opportunity for first-time anglers to catch fish,” Weigel said. “These stockings put catchable fish in waters that are accessible.”

The trout were larger this year, with many averaging more than one-half pound, Weigel said. More than 60,000 11-inch rainbow trout were stocked, along with 1,000 1- to 3-pound cutthroat and rainbow trout. Weigel emphasized that trout are kid friendly and bite aggressively in spring before temperatures rise, so the best time to catch them will be in the next few weeks.

Daily updates are listed on the Game and Fish Department’s Facebook page, and a complete stocking report is available on the department’s website, gf.nd.gov. Area stockings of trout include:

– Bottineau – Strawberry Lake

– Burke – Northgate Dam

– Divide – Baukol-Noonan Dam, Baukol-Noonan East Mine

– McKenzie – Watford City Park Pond

– McLean – Custer Mine, Lightning Lake, Riverdale City Pond

– Mercer – Harmony Lake, Hazen Creek

– Mountrail – Stanley Pond

– Renville – Glenburn Pond

– Rolette – Hooker Lake

– Ward – State Fair Pond, Velva Sportsmen’s Pond

– Williams – Kettle Lake, Kota-Ray Dam, McGregor Dam, West Spring Lake Pond