Cutthroat Trout Stocked in the Panhandle

Anglers fishing some water bodies in western Nebraska may encounter a different species of fish this fall.  On September 18, about 2,100 cutthroat trout were stocked in the White River near Crawford, Blue Creek near Oshkosh, the Alliance Gold Course pond, and the middle lake at Bridgeport State Recreation Area.  These fish were produced at the Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal and averaged about 10.75 inches in length.

None of the trout species commonly stocked in Nebraska are native to the state.  Rainbow trout came from the western U.S., brook trout came from the east, and brown trout originated in Europe.  Cutthroat trout were originally found in Nebraska Territory, but there is no scientific evidence that they were historically present in what is now the State of Nebraska.  There were, however, some anecdotal reports of cutthroats being caught from a few northern and western Nebraska streams.  The cutthroat trout recently stocked will provide some diversity that anglers will notice, appreciate, and enjoy.