Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: South Dakota
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Harvest rate of stocked Rainbow Trout in small lakes and reservoirs (<40 acres) of the Black Hills, South Dakota is often well-below management objectives. To improve the cost/benefit of South Dakota's Rainbow Trout stocking program, a better understanding is needed of factors affecting survival of post-stocked trout. This project, in collaboration with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, & Parks, is evaluating the influence of stocking density, food availability, water quality and catch-and-release fishing on survival of stocked Rainbow Trout in the Black Hills. The goal of the study is to make recommendations that enhance South Dakota’s put-and-take trout stocking program.