Fish get cool reception at Martin Slough

More than 400 fish were scheduled to be planted in Martin Slough, but after seeing how the first few netfuls dealt with their new home, Mason Valley Fish Hatchery Supervisor Doug Anderson decided to wait until it warms up a little.

"It's 20 degrees colder in the pond than in the truck," he said March 11. "I'm worried about how they're reacting."

The Eagle Lake strain of rainbow trout won't eat until it warms up to 38 degrees.

"They are my babies," he said of the 11-inch trout. "I didn't spend 13 months raising them to kill them."

Anderson said he'll make up the difference when it warms up a little.

"We'll put 1,500 fish in here by spring," he said. "I could put 1,000 fish a week for the next 14 weeks in here if we had them."

This is the second year the Nevada Department of Wildlife has stocked Martin Slough, which has turned into a popular urban fishery.

"It allows people to fish who would not normally have the opportunity," Anderson said. "It's a great place for kids to come and fish after school. I get calls that there are people out here all the time."

The state will continue to stock the ponds until it gets too warm for them.

"I'll put fish in until the water gets to be 70 degrees," he said. "If it warms up too much the water loses oxygen. Ponds that are too shallow warm up pretty quickly."

Neighbor Vick Morris said he's happy they were stocking, because his grandchildren are coming to visit.

The ponds are located on Gilman Avenue, next to Chichester Estates and within sight of Gardnerville Elementary School and Carson Valley Middle School.

Anderson said the fish are raised at the Mason Valley Fish Hatchery, which is now serving the entire state.

The hatchery is up to the gills with a million fish being raised there.