British Columbia is home to over 200,000 lakes less than 1,000 hectares in size. Since only a small fraction have been selected for the provincial stocking program, have you ever wondered why some lakes are stocked while others remain wild?
In this article, we dive into the decisions around stocking small lakes in B.C. We consider the economic impacts of these fisheries, as well as the assessments required to ensure that they provide sustainable quality angling.
The value of B.C. freshwater recreational fisheries
Freshwater recreational fishing is more than a pastime; it is a critically important driver of many local economies in British Columbia. In 2025 alone, anglers spent approximately $550 million on fishing-related goods and services like travel, accommodation, and fishing equipment. Such expenditures also generate diverse opportunities for employment throughout the entire province.
From a societal perspective, recreational fisheries provide an incredible range of experiences – from spending time with loved ones at a local lake, to finding solace on a remote wilderness river in the backcountry. Freshwater fish may also become increasingly important as a healthy, low-cost source of protein, especially as restrictions to saltwater fishing continue in the face of overfishing, shifting climate, and habitat loss.
The role of the provincial stocking program
British Columbia is blessed with many species of freshwater fish. Wild, native populations of steelhead, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and sturgeon support high-profile fisheries that attract anglers from near and far.
However, these wild populations can only sustain so much fishing pressure. Many are too fragile to sustain any harvest, and are either closed to fishing or have extremely conservative regulations in place to protect them. In addition, access to these wild fisheries often requires a significant investment in equipment and know-how, making it challenging for many families and individuals to participate.
Prudent use of hatchery-reared fish can contribute significantly to the options and access available for anglers. In place for decades, the provincial stocking program is intended (with the exception of a couple of species-recovery initiatives) purely to provide and enhance recreational angling for British Columbians. Underscoring the value of hatchery programs in freshwater fisheries, recent national survey results show that almost 50% of freshwater fishing effort targets rainbow trout – a good portion of which come from stocking activities in small lakes.
Why is stocking limited mainly to small lakes?
For over 20 years, stocking for recreational fishing has been restricted almost entirely to small lakes (those generally less than 1,000 hectares in area). Why?
The challenges of stocking large lakes, rivers, and streams
Large lakes are complex, and may have major inlets and outlets through which fish can migrate. They usually support numerous species of wild fish, some of which may already sustain quality angling. Historically, stocking large lakes proved difficult and ineffective. It also put some wild populations at risk.
Rivers and streams are similarly complex, and usually populated by wild fish. Like large lakes, they are also connected to other flowing systems, making effective stocking very difficult and potentially risky to wild populations (via interbreeding, competition for food and space, and predation). Stocking rivers and streams with freshwater species is now restricted to a very small number of steelhead programs in the Lower Mainland. Since wild steelhead cannot be retained in B.C., these programs support opportunities for anglers to harvest stocked steelhead.
Why small lakes are ideal for stocking
From an overall fisheries management perspective, stocking small lakes is relatively straightforward in comparison. Many small lakes are the unique outcome of the province’s glacial and geological history, which resulted in numerous isolated, fishless basins with limited or no connections to streams.
These small lakes are often accessible to small watercraft (such as float tubes, car-toppers, and canoes). Adding even a modest number of hatchery fish in such systems can provide densities high enough to support reliable angling.
As a fisheries manager, if you know what fish you stocked into a small lake, and you understand the conditions there, you should be able to predict what will be available for anglers. Where other wild species of fish do occur, it is important for biologists to consider interactions between wild and hatchery fish, and if hatchery fish pose conservation risks.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC stocks just over 800 small lakes across the province, the majority of which are stocked with rainbow trout (although some lakes may be stocked with other species, where suitable). Determining the most suitable species, strain, number, and size is an involved process that requires an understanding of the lake involved and the desired fishery. Stocking is definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach!
Why rainbow trout?
Because of their popularity with recreational anglers and ease in culturing the species, rainbow trout have been introduced into lakes and streams around the world. This is far beyond the rainbow’s native range, which is limited to North America west of the Rocky Mountains. In B.C., the species originally attracted anglers to the Interior in search of the famous “Kamloops” rainbow trout.
Rainbow trout have been cultured and stocked in the province for over 100 years. With different strains and sizes available depending on the environment and fisheries objectives, these fish continue to be the cornerstone of the provincial stocking program to this day.
How is the stocking program funded and managed?
The provincial government is responsible for managing freshwater fisheries. This includes making decisions to stock small lakes (or not), and regulating the fisheries on them. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC receives 100% of fees associated with the sale of freshwater fishing licences each year. These funds are used to support the Province in delivering key aspects of the freshwater fisheries program, including all stocking of small lakes for recreational fishing, and supporting biological and angler-use assessments to inform stocking decisions.
Provincial fisheries biologists must ensure that all freshwater fisheries (either stream or river, large or small lake, or stocked or wild) meet provincial management objectives. Small, stocked lakes can be found in every provincial fisheries management region in B.C. Regular check-ins are important to determine if stocking decisions on small lakes are meeting those objectives.
The Society works with provincial biologists to ensure that recreational objectives are met while also making the best use of hatchery fish. Each year, the Society funds a range of priority assessment projects on small lakes that include:
- biological appraisals of the released hatchery fish to confirm that their performance in the lake meets targets (e.g. number, size and age, condition, and catchability of fish); and
- effort estimations of angler activity to evaluate the amount of use that occurs on stocked lakes compared with targets.
Such assessments are especially important when fisheries managers are contemplating or have made changes in regulations or stocking choices to determine if the fishery is providing the benefits anticipated.
How stocking decisions are made
When making decisions on how to stock a lake, key considerations are:
- productivity (food availability) and size of the lake;
- other lake features (e.g. possibility of fish winterkill);
- presence of other fish species;
- access to spawning habitats, as well as inlets and outlets;
- conservation concerns with species at risk;
- desired fishery (e.g. family-style versus trophy); and
- access options for anglers (docks, boat ramps, roads, trails, and proximity to urban centres).
These variables will influence a provincial biologist’s selection of:
- the species (rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, or kokanee) and in the case of rainbow trout, the strain to stock;
- size/stage of fish to stock (fry, yearling, or catchable); and
- reproductive versus non-reproductive (sterile) fish.
Objectives are focussed on providing quality fish for the fishery. It is important to prevent or at least minimize hatchery fish from spawning for the following reasons:
- conservation (we don’t want hatchery fish interbreeding with wild fish, or spreading);
- mature fish drop out of the fishery; and
- uncontrolled reproduction will lead to overpopulation and stunting of fish.
Almost all stocking occurs in lakes that have been regularly stocked for many years. It is rare that new lakes are added to the provincial stocking list. There must be strong justification to do so, and the Province undertakes a rigorous review process prior to approval.
Stocking reviews
Occasionally, comprehensive reviews are done of the stocking program to ensure the most effective and efficient use of hatchery fish while not compromising fishing quality. The Province and the Society want to confirm that all stockings are conducted in an environmentally responsible way with the healthiest fish possible, and are not wasteful in terms of stocking fish inappropriately.
What does this mean in terms of changes to stocked lakes? In many cases, it may mean no change. However, there may be instances where stocking should be cancelled because lake access is no longer available or is not used. Stock assessment data and/or angler reports may indicate the presence of feral or naturalized populations that render stocking unnecessary or ineffective. In other instances, it may make sense to reduce numbers – or change the life stage of fish stocked – to improve the quality of the fishery. For example, reducing stocking density can increase fish size while maintaining acceptable catch rates.
In summary, stocking reviews may result in stocking changes at your local lake. However, these changes are always focussed on optimizing the use of available hatchery fish while maintaining a wide variety of accessible recreational fishing for all anglers.
Visit the fish stocking reports on our website for more information on stocked small lakes in your area. For all inquiries regarding management and stocking decisions for small lakes, please call or visit the local Fish and Wildlife Regional Office whose contact information is found in each regional chapter of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
Author: Sue Pollard, Senior Fish Biologist, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.