ODFW Plans to Stock 35,375 Trout in Eastern Oregon in March

Elkhorn Media Group reports that 35,375 legals and trophies are bound for the Northeast and Southeast zones beginning March 16, a regional stocking plan that will touch waterbodies served by the La Grande Office, John Day Office and Lakeview Office. Anglers in Union County should note the largest single entry in the excerpt: Thief Valley Reservoir (La Grande Office) is listed for +10,500 legals during the week of March 30–April 3.

The Elkhorn excerpt lists multiple specific Lake County and Union County-area waterbodies and the weeks they are scheduled. McNary Channel Ponds (John Day Office) appears twice: +4,000 legals in the week of March 16–20 and +4,500 legals in the week of March 30–April 3. Tatone Pond (John Day Office) is shown as +500 legals in both March 16–20 and March 30–April 3. Hat Rock Pond (John Day Office) is listed as +1,000 legals in both March 16–20 and March 30–April 3. La Grande Office listings include Highway 203 Pond at +2,250 legals and +825 trophy for March 30–April 3, Murray Reservoir (Former Hardy Murray Reservoir) at +2,900 legals for March 30–April 3, Roulette Pond at +1,100 legals and +125 trophy for March 30–April 3, and Ladd (Peach) Pond at +1,075 legals for March 23–27. The La Grande Office entries for March 23–27 also include North Powder Pond-1 at +2,750 legals and Haines Pond-1 at +900 legals. The Lakeview Office entry in the excerpt shows Priday Reservoir at +200 trophy for March 16–20. Additionally, Willow Creek (John Day Office) is listed for +500 legals the week of March 30–April 3 and Willow Creek Reservoir (John Day Office) for +750 trophy that same week.

The Elkhorn excerpt contains ellipses indicating that the supplied snippet is not a complete schedule, and several sites are duplicated across weeks in the excerpt. ODFW’s public Recreation Report language underscores scheduling caveats: “The schedule shows the WEEK a waterbody will be stocked, not the exact date. The Monday dates listed indicate the START of the week,” and “The schedule is subject to change without notice; see individual waterbody listings in the Recreation Report for updates.” Given those caveats, the duplicated McNary, Tatone and Hat Rock listings may represent multiple stocking events or alternative schedule entries and should be confirmed.

Anglers and local managers who plan trips to Thief Valley Reservoir, Highway 203 Pond, McNary Channel Ponds, Roulette Pond, Ladd (Peach) Pond, North Powder Pond-1, Haines Pond-1, Priday Reservoir, Tatone Pond, Hat Rock Pond, Willow Creek and Murray Reservoir should check the ODFW Recreation Report for exact dates and any changes. ODFW’s site notes that “Each year, ODFW stocks millions of trout in dozens of reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the state,” and advises users that “You can use the search and filter functions to search the stocking schedule for specific locations and dates.”

This plan, as presented in Elkhorn Media Group’s Eastern Oregon roundup and subject to ODFW’s Recreation Report updates, places the bulk of activity in the weeks starting March 16, March 23 and March 30. Verify per-waterbody counts and whether repeated listings indicate multiple stockings with the John Day Office, La Grande Office or Lakeview Office before making travel or event plans. As Elkhorn put it: “EASTERN OREGON – While winter weather may have just started, ODFW is getting ready for spring trout stocking.”