Pilot project to sample fish starts next week at Diamond Lake, May 14

Next week, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are conducting a pilot study at Diamond Lake using gill nets to collect rainbow trout. Information from those fish will be used to estimate population trends over time in the lake. Starting on Monday, biologists will use two gill nets set for several hours each of three nights. A maximum of 250 trout will be collected and sampled this year as part of the pilot study. Gill netting is typically lethal so trout will be donated to local food banks. Electrofishing has been used since 2007 to sample trout and will continue this year in addition to the gill netting. Electrofishing hasn’t produced the sample size biologists need to help create an accurate picture of the lake’s trout population dynamics. Gill nets traditionally are an effective way to sample fish for research purposes and are used around the state. “I’m optimistic the gill nets will be effective, and we’re capping the take at 250 trout for this year. This should get us what we need to better manage the lake and have a successful trout fishery,” said Greg Huchko, Acting Umpqua District Fish Biologist. All work will be conducted at night to avoid boats and anglers. Nets will be marked with buoys. ODFW will stock 300,000 trout fingerlings the week of May 25. An additional 5,000 legal-sized trout may be stocked in early June.