Anglers in the Magic Valley Region have been catching some giant trout in local fishing ponds recently after Clear Springs Foods in Mackay donated nearly 900 hatchery broodstock to Idaho Fish and Game. Hagerman State Fish Hatchery staff have been busy stocking these fish out into regional waters in late April, and more are on the way.
The trophy sized rainbow trout have been averaging 8-10 pounds each with some anglers reporting the scales tipping 11 pounds.These big fish are creating some big smiles with small anglers. Alexis Dannehl, with the help of her father Cory Slippey, landed a 7.5 pound trout at Freedom Park Pond in Burley earlier this week.
The great news is that over 1,000 more of these big fish will be on their way to the Magic Valley Region waters in May.
"We greatly appreciate Clear Springs' generosity and hope that people get out there and take advantage of this great opportunity," said Cassie Sundquist, Fish Hatchery Complex Manager in the Magic Valley Region.