Original research · 12.4M records analyzed

America's most-stocked lakes: where states plant the most fish

Using state wildlife agency stocking logs, we mapped where hatcheries invest the highest stocking density per surface acre.

FS
FishingScope Research Desk
Published March 2027

Stocking trends

State agencies increasingly prioritize catchable-size 10–12 inch rainbow trout for immediate harvest in high-traffic waters, while reserving fingerlings for big waters with reproductive carrying capacity.