Local lakes are in the middle of being supplied with catchable rainbow trout as part of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC's fall stocking program. (Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC)

By Jordan Davidson

ponds stocked

Fall fish stocking program topping up Nanaimo lakes with ready-to-catch trout

Oct 28, 2023 | 8:15 AM

NANAIMO — The fall season is one of the best times to go freshwater fishing in B.C. as local lakes are stocked with catchable-sized trout.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC) is in the middle of its fall stocking program, which brings over seven million fish from hatcheries into lakes near urban centers province-wide.

Tristan Robbins, hatchery manager of the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery, told NanaimoNewsNOW they have already stocked up most of the lakes around Nanaimo this fall, while a few will be topped up again over the next few weeks.

“If any local anglers want to get out, even today (Oct. 25), we stocked 500 fish into Diver and Green Lake each, and we also put a thousand fish into Long Lake and another thousand into Westwood Lake today, so the fish are there to be caught.”

As one of the most-used urban lakes in the Nanaimo area, Westwood Lake usually sees around 3,000 fish added each fall.

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Spider Lake, a popular fishing spot west of Qualicum Beach, also had 2,000 rainbow trout added this month.

Robbins said as of Oct. 25, FFSBC has already distributed almost 40,000 rainbow trout in lakes near Nanaimo this fall, with over 150,000 fish added to lakes annually across Vancouver Island.

He said the vast majority are ready to be caught, averaging 20 centimetres in size and around 250 grams in weight.

While recent rainfall has helped bring the Island out of severe drought levels, Robbins said the dry conditions did slow them down a bit.

“Diver Lake, the water level was a little bit low so we held off and didn’t stock Diver until earlier this week, but most of the lakes in Nanaimo, we can get fish stocked into them even when the water is low.”

He said spring and fall provide ideal conditions for fish stocking, as they work to put over 60,000 more fish in 30+ Island lakes over the next few weeks.

If you’re planning to drop a line in one of your local fishing holes, make sure to purchase a freshwater fishing license and follow all local regulations.

Robbins reminds anglers 100 per cent of licensing fees go directly back into research, conservation, and educational programs, as well as their stocking program.

You can learn more about FFSBC’s work and all things fishing in B.C., by visiting their website gofishbc.com.

Around 7,000 fish were distributed around Nanaimo’s lakes during their spring stocking program.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow