Medina County Park District stocks 1,800 pounds of rainbow trout across five fishing sites

Anglers have new opportunities to reel in rainbow trout this fall after the Medina County Park District stocked 1,800 pounds of fish across five local lakes and ponds. 

Buckeye Woods Park, Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park and River Styx Park each received 200 pounds of trout, Brunswick Lake Park was stocked with 400 pounds and Killbuck Lake received the largest share at 800 pounds. 

Fishing at all of these sites is license-free, making them accessible to families and new anglers. The only park district locations where a fishing license is required for ages 16 and older are Chippewa Lake, Chippewa Inlet and the Rocky River.

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, are native to the western coast of North America and were introduced to Ohio. Larger rainbow trout that migrate between freshwater and the Pacific Ocean are commonly known as steelhead. 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources describes rainbow trout as having a streamlined trout shape, an adipose fin and a squared tail covered in black spots. Their white mouth and gums distinguish them from coho and Chinook salmon, which occasionally appear in Lake Erie. 

Lake Erie steelhead are usually bright silver with a vivid pink lateral band, and males develop a hooked jaw, or kype, during the spawning season. 

Adults typically reach 20 to 23 inches in length and weigh 2 to 8 pounds, though some individuals reach 36 inches and up to 19 pounds.

Rainbow trout are a cold-water species that naturally spawn in moving water over gravel or cobble. Because little natural reproduction occurs in Ohio, the Division of Wildlife raises and stocks trout in Lake Erie tributaries. 

Young fish spend one or two years in streams before migrating to the lake, returning as adults to run upstream and attempt to spawn. The species prefers cold streams with cobble, boulders, deep pools and overhead cover, feeding on aquatic insects and small fish.

With cooler temperatures arriving and fall stocking complete, anglers can expect lively activity at Medina County lakes as trout settle into their new environments. 

For more information on fishing in park district waters, visit medinacountyparks.com.