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Every year Erwin National Fish Hatchery produces between 16 and 20 million certified disease free Rainbow and Brook trout eggs as part of the National Broodstock Program. One "by-product" of producing these eggs are the thousands of 2.5 pounds or bigger trophy trout that Erwin raises every year.
It takes around two years for a trout to become old enough to produce eggs. During this two year period, the staff at Erwin care for these fish, keeping their raceways clean, the fish fed, and monitoring their growth every month. By the two year mark the fish average around 2.5 lbs, and are ready to spawn. Some of these fish are held an additional year to spawn again as three year olds, and have an average weight of over 3.5 lbs.
After spawning ends the fish are stocked across Tennessee, providing anglers with the opportunity to catch trophy trout! The trout are primarily stocked in the cold tailwaters below dams in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers and the TVA. Some of the fish are stocked locally by Erwin National Fish Hatchery staff in the Watauga and Nolichucky river systems. Other fish are transferred to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to be stocked across the state, or are transferred to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who stock them in tribal waters in western North Carolina.
These trophy trout provide prized fish for anglers to catch, and help boost local economies by making them a fishing destination. Other trophy trout raised at Erwin National Fish Hatchery are stocked at the Johnson City VA Hospital pond, creating fishing opportunities for veterans that live on-site. Additional trout are stocked for children's fishing events, helping to foster an interest in fishing for the next generation.
