Why Tag Large Trophy Trout?

June 2, 2016

Question: A friend caught a tagged fish in Deadman’s Creek near Glass Creek in Mono County. The tag was on the top fin of the fish, orange in color, about one inch long and slightly thinner than a spaghetti noodle with black printing on it. The message on the tag read: “CA DFW TROPHY – DO NOT REPORT.” What exactly does this mean? (Paul and Gloria W.)

Answer: This was likely a derby fish from Crowley Lake that migrated upstream. According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Fisheries Environmental Scientist Nick Buckmaster, “CA DFW-Trophy” floy tags are put on broodstock (or any large trout) that CDFW’s Fish Springs Hatchery releases in an effort to show the fishing public that CDFW does stock fish larger than the usual “catchables.” Many of these fish go to “special waters” for tournaments or events.

According to CDFW Fish Springs Hatchery Manager Matt Norris, who oversees the hatchery that stocks Deadman Creek, we do not have record of any trophy trout being stocked in Deadman Creek, but broodstock have been placed into the Upper Owens River and Crowley Lake (downstream of Deadman Creek). In spring many of our Eastern Sierra rainbow trout move into smaller headwater streams (such as Deadman Creek) to spawn, and this may be the case here.

CDFW’s Eastern Sierras hatcheries, especially Fish Springs, have been placing floy tags on broodstock, or super catchable, fish to inform the public that CDFW is stocking larger fish than the usual two-to-four-pound fish.

CDFW is smashing the delusions of anglers who like to think that they catch "natives" 

CDFW is smashing the delusions of anglers who like to think that they catch "natives" 

True

CDFW is smashing the delusions of anglers who like to think that they catch "natives" 

True

this is untrue.  its obvious that DFW is electro shocking trout then attaching these tags to the fish as a tracking mechanism, just like in sturgeon.  they're pretending that these are broodstock raised in hatcheries.

I alway thought the meat color was different on hatchery fish.  But haven't fished freshwater in awhile.  Are there fins removed like salmon or is there an actual way to tell them apart from the outside.  That would tell more than a tag.