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• 31. [Article] Draft - Trout and Warm Water Fish Running Waters

  Abstract -- Running Waters: Running waters include the main Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois rivers, and all associated tributary streams in the Rogue River basin. Historical information on trout in the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Draft - Trout and Warm Water Fish Running Waters Abstract -- Running Waters: Running waters include the main Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois rivers, and all associated tributary streams in the Rogue River basin. Historical information on trout in the Rogue River basin was summarized by Cole M. Rivers (in press) prior to 1962. Cutthroat and downstream migrating steelhead were abundant and easily caught from streams all through the settled portions of the basin. There was no need to take a trip away from home to fish for trout. Angling for trout was not thought of as a recreational pastime until the 1930s. The headwaters of the Applegate and Illinois rivers, and Jumpoff Joe and Grave creeks were preferred for trout fishing because of the easy access provided by mining roads. The California-Oregon Power Company provided access to trout fishing waters in the Prospect region as early as 1912. The completion of the Crater Lake and Diamond Lake highways in 1927 allowed access to the upper Rogue River and its tributaries. Access to other parts of the basin was provided when foot and wagon trails were made into roads by crews of the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930's. Most natural lakes were devoid of fish life until they were stocked by miners or cattlemen who wanted a supply of trout close to their camps. Fish Lake was one of the first impoundments preferred for sport fishing because of good cattle trails leading from the Bear creek Valley into the area. Anglers were packed in by cattlemen after the dam was built in 1898. Other impoundments providing good trout fishing in the 1920s included Emigrant Lake which received heavy pressure. Many lakes were barren of fish life until rainbow, eastern brook, or cutthroat were packed in by private parties, the Forest Service, or the Oregon Game Commission in the 1920s. Prospectors and early settlers stocked some of the lakes earlier with fish that had been collected or salvaged from creeks that were drying up. There are no records of the unofficial introductions, and those of the Game Commission burned in a fire in 1936. Table 1 lists the liberations of trout recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries from 1907 to 1940. Title: Draft - Trout and Warm Water Fish Running Waters Abstract -- Running Waters: Running waters include the main Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois rivers, and all associated tributary streams in the Rogue River basin. Historical information on trout in the Rogue River basin was summarized by Cole M. Rivers (in press) prior to 1962. Cutthroat and downstream migrating steelhead were abundant and easily caught from streams all through the settled portions of the basin. There was no need to take a trip away from home to fish for trout. Angling for trout was not thought of as a recreational pastime until the 1930s. The headwaters of the Applegate and Illinois rivers, and Jumpoff Joe and Grave creeks were preferred for trout fishing because of the easy access provided by mining roads. The California-Oregon Power Company provided access to trout fishing waters in the Prospect region as early as 1912. The completion of the Crater Lake and Diamond Lake highways in 1927 allowed access to the upper Rogue River and its tributaries. Access to other parts of the basin was provided when foot and wagon trails were made into roads by crews of the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930's. Most natural lakes were devoid of fish life until they were stocked by miners or cattlemen who wanted a supply of trout close to their camps. Fish Lake was one of the first impoundments preferred for sport fishing because of good cattle trails leading from the Bear creek Valley into the area. Anglers were packed in by cattlemen after the dam was built in 1898. Other impoundments providing good trout fishing in the 1920s included Emigrant Lake which received heavy pressure. Many lakes were barren of fish life until rainbow, eastern brook, or cutthroat were packed in by private parties, the Forest Service, or the Oregon Game Commission in the 1920s. Prospectors and early settlers stocked some of the lakes earlier with fish that had been collected or salvaged from creeks that were drying up. There are no records of the unofficial introductions, and those of the Game Commission burned in a fire in 1936. Table 1 lists the liberations of trout recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries from 1907 to 1940. Close

• 32. [Article] Population Assessment of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, 2005 Progress Report 2006

  Abstract -- Five of the six native Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) populations in Oregon exist in the Coyote Lakes basin of southeast Harney County (ODFW 2005). The major drainage's ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Population Assessment of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, 2005 Progress Report 2006 Abstract -- Five of the six native Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) populations in Oregon exist in the Coyote Lakes basin of southeast Harney County (ODFW 2005). The major drainage's in the Coyote Lakes Basin are Willow and Whitehorse Creeks. Both drainage's originate on the north slope of Trout Creek Mountain, terminate in the dry Coyote lake bed and are currently isolated from each other or any other basin. Populations of Lahontan cutthroat in Willow and Whitehorse Creeks have been protected under the ESA as a threatened species since 1991 and are also listed as threatened under State of Oregon statute (Hanson et al.1993). Along with changes in management and land use activities, the federal recovery plan for Lahontan cutthroat trout requires the assessment of habitat conditions and population abundance at five year intervals (Coffin and Cowan 1995). Population monitoring of cutthroat in Willow and Whitehorse creeks was initiated in 1985 and has occurred on a five year interval since then (Jones et al. 1998, ODFW Aquatic Inventory Project unpublished data). The goals of this project was to continue population monitoring by obtaining an estimate of Lahontan cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Whitehorse Creek, and to test the application of the EMAP sampling design (Stevens and Olsen 2004) to obtain this estimate. Additionally, we determined distribution of cutthroat trout in tributaries where presence was suspected but not verified, and monitored distributions of the Antelope Creek populations. Title: Population Assessment of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, 2005 Progress Report 2006 Abstract -- Five of the six native Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) populations in Oregon exist in the Coyote Lakes basin of southeast Harney County (ODFW 2005). The major drainage's in the Coyote Lakes Basin are Willow and Whitehorse Creeks. Both drainage's originate on the north slope of Trout Creek Mountain, terminate in the dry Coyote lake bed and are currently isolated from each other or any other basin. Populations of Lahontan cutthroat in Willow and Whitehorse Creeks have been protected under the ESA as a threatened species since 1991 and are also listed as threatened under State of Oregon statute (Hanson et al.1993). Along with changes in management and land use activities, the federal recovery plan for Lahontan cutthroat trout requires the assessment of habitat conditions and population abundance at five year intervals (Coffin and Cowan 1995). Population monitoring of cutthroat in Willow and Whitehorse creeks was initiated in 1985 and has occurred on a five year interval since then (Jones et al. 1998, ODFW Aquatic Inventory Project unpublished data). The goals of this project was to continue population monitoring by obtaining an estimate of Lahontan cutthroat trout in Willow Creek and Whitehorse Creek, and to test the application of the EMAP sampling design (Stevens and Olsen 2004) to obtain this estimate. Additionally, we determined distribution of cutthroat trout in tributaries where presence was suspected but not verified, and monitored distributions of the Antelope Creek populations. Close

• 33. [Article] Fish Management Plan Blitzen River November 1980

  Abstract -- The Blitzen River heads on the west side of Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon and flows north into Malheur Lake which is 31 mi south of Burns.The upper system is primarily summer rangelands ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fish Management Plan Blitzen River November 1980 Abstract -- The Blitzen River heads on the west side of Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon and flows north into Malheur Lake which is 31 mi south of Burns.The upper system is primarily summer rangelands where alpine meadows and aspen thickets predominate, while the lower portion has been diverted into numerous canals and ditches to meet water requirements throughout the valley and into Malheur National Refuge. There are approximately 760 square mi in the drainage area, and 279 linear mi of trout producing water. The system contains a good population of wild redband trout; and hatchery fish are stocked only in the lower river adjacent to the one developed campground. Angling pressure is light primarily because of the remote location, few vehicle access sites, rough terrain, and private ownership. In September 1980, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission accepted the Department's recommendation to continue to manage the Blitzen River for wild trout except for that portion below Page Springs gauging station where yearling hatchery trout will be released annually. Title: Fish Management Plan Blitzen River November 1980 Abstract -- The Blitzen River heads on the west side of Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon and flows north into Malheur Lake which is 31 mi south of Burns.The upper system is primarily summer rangelands where alpine meadows and aspen thickets predominate, while the lower portion has been diverted into numerous canals and ditches to meet water requirements throughout the valley and into Malheur National Refuge. There are approximately 760 square mi in the drainage area, and 279 linear mi of trout producing water. The system contains a good population of wild redband trout; and hatchery fish are stocked only in the lower river adjacent to the one developed campground. Angling pressure is light primarily because of the remote location, few vehicle access sites, rough terrain, and private ownership. In September 1980, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission accepted the Department's recommendation to continue to manage the Blitzen River for wild trout except for that portion below Page Springs gauging station where yearling hatchery trout will be released annually. Close

• 34. [Article] Trout Creek Watershed Assessment, Part 1: Findings

  Abstract -- This assessment (part 1 of 2) includes watershed characterization, historical conditions, habitat types, hydrology, water use and quality, riparian areas, sediment sources, channel modifications, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Trout Creek Watershed Assessment, Part 1: Findings Abstract -- This assessment (part 1 of 2) includes watershed characterization, historical conditions, habitat types, hydrology, water use and quality, riparian areas, sediment sources, channel modifications, fisheries, and fish habitat for Trout Creek in the Deschutes River basin. Discussion and recommendations are given for each chapter. Title: Trout Creek Watershed Assessment, Part 1: Findings Abstract -- This assessment (part 1 of 2) includes watershed characterization, historical conditions, habitat types, hydrology, water use and quality, riparian areas, sediment sources, channel modifications, fisheries, and fish habitat for Trout Creek in the Deschutes River basin. Discussion and recommendations are given for each chapter. Close

• 35. [Article] Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution - Redband Trout

  Abstract -- These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently and historically by redband trout populations. Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, a subspecies ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution - Redband Trout Abstract -- These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently and historically by redband trout populations. Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, a subspecies of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is native to the Fraser and Columbia River drainages, east of the Cascade Mountains to barrier falls on the Pend Oreille, Spokane, Snake and Kootenai rivers (Allendorf et al. 1980; Behnke 1992). Northern Great Basin redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss newberrii, are found in the closed basins of south-central Oregon as well as the Upper Klamath Lake basin. While Upper Klamath Lake now drains to the ocean, redband trout in the basin had ancestors that came from interior connections to the Great Basin and not from connections to the ocean (Behnke 1992). Redband trout, for the purposes of habitat distribution mapping, are generally defined as stream-resident O. mykiss gairdneri; migration is confined within their natal stream or watershed while steelhead, or the anadromous life form of O.mykiss gairdneri, migrate from their natal stream to the ocean and back. It is recognized, that while redband and steelhead habitat distribution datasets are published separately, overlapping areas represent the same subspecies. The term "currently" is defined as within the past five reproductive cycles. This information is based on sampling, the best professional opinion of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife or other natural resources agency staff biologists or modeling (see the fhdBasis field). Due to natural variations in run size, water conditions, or other environmental factors, some habitats identified may not be used annually. These data now comply with the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data Standard that was adopted by the Oregon Geographic Information Council in February 2011. The Standard document can be found at: http://gis.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/docs/OregonFishHabitatDistributionDataStandardv2.pdf Key features of the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data include: species, run, life history, habitat use, origin, production, the basis for each record, originator name, originator entity and reference. Habitat distribution data are mapped at a 1:24,000 scale statewide and are based on the Pacific Northwest Framework Hydrography dataset. The data are made available as GIS files in both shapefile and ESRI geodatabase format. The data were developed over an extensive time period ranging from 1996 to 2011. Title: Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution - Redband Trout Abstract -- These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently and historically by redband trout populations. Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, a subspecies of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is native to the Fraser and Columbia River drainages, east of the Cascade Mountains to barrier falls on the Pend Oreille, Spokane, Snake and Kootenai rivers (Allendorf et al. 1980; Behnke 1992). Northern Great Basin redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss newberrii, are found in the closed basins of south-central Oregon as well as the Upper Klamath Lake basin. While Upper Klamath Lake now drains to the ocean, redband trout in the basin had ancestors that came from interior connections to the Great Basin and not from connections to the ocean (Behnke 1992). Redband trout, for the purposes of habitat distribution mapping, are generally defined as stream-resident O. mykiss gairdneri; migration is confined within their natal stream or watershed while steelhead, or the anadromous life form of O.mykiss gairdneri, migrate from their natal stream to the ocean and back. It is recognized, that while redband and steelhead habitat distribution datasets are published separately, overlapping areas represent the same subspecies. The term "currently" is defined as within the past five reproductive cycles. This information is based on sampling, the best professional opinion of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife or other natural resources agency staff biologists or modeling (see the fhdBasis field). Due to natural variations in run size, water conditions, or other environmental factors, some habitats identified may not be used annually. These data now comply with the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data Standard that was adopted by the Oregon Geographic Information Council in February 2011. The Standard document can be found at: http://gis.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/docs/OregonFishHabitatDistributionDataStandardv2.pdf Key features of the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data include: species, run, life history, habitat use, origin, production, the basis for each record, originator name, originator entity and reference. Habitat distribution data are mapped at a 1:24,000 scale statewide and are based on the Pacific Northwest Framework Hydrography dataset. The data are made available as GIS files in both shapefile and ESRI geodatabase format. The data were developed over an extensive time period ranging from 1996 to 2011. Close

• 36. [Article] Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution (NHD format)

  Abstract -- Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution. These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently or historically by wild, natural, and/or hatchery fish populations. The ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution (NHD format) Abstract -- Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution. These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently or historically by wild, natural, and/or hatchery fish populations. The term "currently" is defined as within the past five reproductive cycles. Historical habitat includes suitable habitat that fish no longer access and will not access in the foreseeable future without human intervention. This information is based on sampling, the best professional opinion of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife or other natural resources agency staff biologists or modeling (see the fhdBasis field). Due to natural variations in run size, water conditions, or other environmental factors, some habitats identified may not be used annually. These data comply with the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data Standard that was adopted by the Oregon Geographic Information Council in February 2011. The Standard document can be found at: http://gis.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/docs/OregonFishHabitatDistributionDataStandardv2.pdf Historical habitat distribution data are within the scope of the standard and are identified via the habitat use (fhdUseType) attribute. Historical habitats are only identified outside of currently accessible habitat and are not comprehensive. Key features of the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data include: species, run, life history, habitat use, origin, production, the basis for each record, originator name, originator entity and reference. Habitat distribution data are mapped at a 1:24,000 scale statewide and are based on the were originally developed against the Pacific Northwest Framework Hydrography dataset. The data are made available as GIS files in both shapefile and ESRI geodatabase format. The data were developed over an extensive time period ranging from 1996 to 2014. Data were migrated to the National Hydrography Dataset in 2014. The attached geodatabase includes distribution for: Coastal Cutthroat trout, Bull trout, Redband trout, Rainbow trout, Westslope Cutthroat trout, Lahontan Cutthroat trout and Western Brook Lamprey. Data for Coastal Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout and Western Brook Lamprey are not comprehensive. Title: Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution (NHD format) Abstract -- Oregon Resident Fish Habitat Distribution. These data describe areas of suitable habitat believed to be used currently or historically by wild, natural, and/or hatchery fish populations. The term "currently" is defined as within the past five reproductive cycles. Historical habitat includes suitable habitat that fish no longer access and will not access in the foreseeable future without human intervention. This information is based on sampling, the best professional opinion of Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife or other natural resources agency staff biologists or modeling (see the fhdBasis field). Due to natural variations in run size, water conditions, or other environmental factors, some habitats identified may not be used annually. These data comply with the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data Standard that was adopted by the Oregon Geographic Information Council in February 2011. The Standard document can be found at: http://gis.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/docs/OregonFishHabitatDistributionDataStandardv2.pdf Historical habitat distribution data are within the scope of the standard and are identified via the habitat use (fhdUseType) attribute. Historical habitats are only identified outside of currently accessible habitat and are not comprehensive. Key features of the Oregon Fish Habitat Distribution Data include: species, run, life history, habitat use, origin, production, the basis for each record, originator name, originator entity and reference. Habitat distribution data are mapped at a 1:24,000 scale statewide and are based on the were originally developed against the Pacific Northwest Framework Hydrography dataset. The data are made available as GIS files in both shapefile and ESRI geodatabase format. The data were developed over an extensive time period ranging from 1996 to 2014. Data were migrated to the National Hydrography Dataset in 2014. The attached geodatabase includes distribution for: Coastal Cutthroat trout, Bull trout, Redband trout, Rainbow trout, Westslope Cutthroat trout, Lahontan Cutthroat trout and Western Brook Lamprey. Data for Coastal Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout and Western Brook Lamprey are not comprehensive. Close

• 37. [Article] Pine Creek and Catherine Creek Bull Trout Surveys - 2011

  Abstract -- Spawning ground index surveys for bull trout in the Pine Creek Basin (Baker County) and the Grande Ronde Basin (Catherine Creek)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Pine Creek and Catherine Creek Bull Trout Surveys - 2011 Abstract -- Spawning ground index surveys for bull trout in the Pine Creek Basin (Baker County) and the Grande Ronde Basin (Catherine Creek) Title: Pine Creek and Catherine Creek Bull Trout Surveys - 2011 Abstract -- Spawning ground index surveys for bull trout in the Pine Creek Basin (Baker County) and the Grande Ronde Basin (Catherine Creek) Close

• 38. [Article] Fish Management Plan for Hyatt Lake 1990

  Abstract -- The wild fish policy and fish management policy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife {ODFW) directs that fish management plans will be written for all waters of the state. The Oregon ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fish Management Plan for Hyatt Lake 1990 Abstract -- The wild fish policy and fish management policy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife {ODFW) directs that fish management plans will be written for all waters of the state. The Oregon Trout Plan and Warmwater Fish Management Plan, give the direction for trout and warmwater management in basin plans as well as in plans for individual rivers and standing water bodies. Hyatt Lake is a 957 acre irrigation impoundment located 21 miles East of Ashland on the Cascade divide at an elevation of 5,016 feet. The reservoir was built in 1923 to store 16,900 acre-feet of water for irrigation use in the Medford area by the Talent Irrigation District (TID). Early in 1989, a Hyatt Lake Management Advisory Committee was created. Included were landowners, agency personnel, sportsmen's club members, legislators and other interested individuals. The group agreed that the lake should again be chemically treated to eliminate bullheads in order to pursue trout, warmwater fishes, or a combination of warmwater and trout. No management direction other than brown bullheads appeared feasible to the committee in the absence of treatment. Title: Fish Management Plan for Hyatt Lake 1990 Abstract -- The wild fish policy and fish management policy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife {ODFW) directs that fish management plans will be written for all waters of the state. The Oregon Trout Plan and Warmwater Fish Management Plan, give the direction for trout and warmwater management in basin plans as well as in plans for individual rivers and standing water bodies. Hyatt Lake is a 957 acre irrigation impoundment located 21 miles East of Ashland on the Cascade divide at an elevation of 5,016 feet. The reservoir was built in 1923 to store 16,900 acre-feet of water for irrigation use in the Medford area by the Talent Irrigation District (TID). Early in 1989, a Hyatt Lake Management Advisory Committee was created. Included were landowners, agency personnel, sportsmen's club members, legislators and other interested individuals. The group agreed that the lake should again be chemically treated to eliminate bullheads in order to pursue trout, warmwater fishes, or a combination of warmwater and trout. No management direction other than brown bullheads appeared feasible to the committee in the absence of treatment. Close

• 39. [Article] Fish Management Plan Upper Klamath Lake and Agency Lake 1981

  Abstract -- Upper Klamath Lake is Oregon's largest lake. It lies north of Klamath Falls and is the focal point of the upper Klamath Basin. Agency Lake lies just north of Klamath Lake and the two are connected ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Fish Management Plan Upper Klamath Lake and Agency Lake 1981 Abstract -- Upper Klamath Lake is Oregon's largest lake. It lies north of Klamath Falls and is the focal point of the upper Klamath Basin. Agency Lake lies just north of Klamath Lake and the two are connected by a strait. Upper Klamath Lake averages 64,000 surface acres and Agency Lake 8,200 acres. Both lakes are shallow, and highly productive, and produce large trout. Rainbow trout is the common species found. Brown trout are also present but most are found in Agency Lake. These lakes have sustained fisheries for many years and have long stocking histories. A review of the management history and the discovery of a fish disease ("Ceratomyxa shasta") led to the conclusion that stocked rainbow have contributed little to the fishery. In July 1981, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission accepted the Department's recommendation to manage Upper Klamath Lake and Agency Lake for wild trout. Title: Fish Management Plan Upper Klamath Lake and Agency Lake 1981 Abstract -- Upper Klamath Lake is Oregon's largest lake. It lies north of Klamath Falls and is the focal point of the upper Klamath Basin. Agency Lake lies just north of Klamath Lake and the two are connected by a strait. Upper Klamath Lake averages 64,000 surface acres and Agency Lake 8,200 acres. Both lakes are shallow, and highly productive, and produce large trout. Rainbow trout is the common species found. Brown trout are also present but most are found in Agency Lake. These lakes have sustained fisheries for many years and have long stocking histories. A review of the management history and the discovery of a fish disease ("Ceratomyxa shasta") led to the conclusion that stocked rainbow have contributed little to the fishery. In July 1981, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission accepted the Department's recommendation to manage Upper Klamath Lake and Agency Lake for wild trout. Close

• 40. [Article] Estimated contribution of hatchery rainbow trout using a series of high-reward tagging programs; a statewide comparison among stocking sizes (2014-2017), Information Reports 2019-02

  Abstract -- Tag reward programs were implemented at 14 lakes across Oregon between 2014 and 2017 to evaluate the effect of the stocking size of hatchery rainbow trout and their contribution to the fishery. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Estimated contribution of hatchery rainbow trout using a series of high-reward tagging programs; a statewide comparison among stocking sizes (2014-2017), Information Reports 2019-02 Abstract -- Tag reward programs were implemented at 14 lakes across Oregon between 2014 and 2017 to evaluate the effect of the stocking size of hatchery rainbow trout and their contribution to the fishery. In general, trophy fish (~1 fpp) returned to the fishery at higher proportions than catchable (~2 fpp) or legal sized fish (~ 3 fpp), often making them a more cost-effective choice to achieve the same angler catch rates. While several hypotheses are proposed to explain why small fish fail to return to the creel, without angling effort they remain confounded. Future trout evaluations should focus on finding complementary tools to assess fishing effort and address uncertainty in tag reporting rates. The effect of specific trout stocks was not assessed in this analysis. Title: Estimated contribution of hatchery rainbow trout using a series of high-reward tagging programs; a statewide comparison among stocking sizes (2014-2017), Information Reports 2019-02 Abstract -- Tag reward programs were implemented at 14 lakes across Oregon between 2014 and 2017 to evaluate the effect of the stocking size of hatchery rainbow trout and their contribution to the fishery. In general, trophy fish (~1 fpp) returned to the fishery at higher proportions than catchable (~2 fpp) or legal sized fish (~ 3 fpp), often making them a more cost-effective choice to achieve the same angler catch rates. While several hypotheses are proposed to explain why small fish fail to return to the creel, without angling effort they remain confounded. Future trout evaluations should focus on finding complementary tools to assess fishing effort and address uncertainty in tag reporting rates. The effect of specific trout stocks was not assessed in this analysis. Close