The Four Corners Chapter supports cutthroat trout stocking as a conservation project in our region. The project began in 2019 when Jamie Aponte of Piedra River Anglers applied for a grant and proposed his plan to restore healthy populations of native cutthroat trout to our waters.

The goal has been to help spread the knowledge of what is going on in our local fisheries when it comes to conserving species in local fisheries. This is especially true for the southwest parts of Colorado. The second objective is to focus and target both adults and youth who are less likely to have the opportunity to learn about conservation while also recreating. We can teach people by creating the opportunity to fish for, catch, and release cutthroats. This stocking program aims to stock enough cutthroat fingerlings in some of our public fisheries so that these fish learn to be wild and grow to breeding size so that they can reproduce at a higher rate.

Since 2019, Piedra River Anglers has stocked over 12,000 fingerling cutthroat trout into the San Juan River.

“By stocking these cutthroats as fingerlings, they can learn to find food on their own,” said Aponte. “They also build the muscular strength they need to fight and use the current to their advantage for survival.” 

Four Corners SCI donates $3,000 – $5,000 to this project each year. These funds go directly to the cost of raising these fish. We would like to thank Rainbow Fish Hatchery for their dedication to this project as well.

Cutthroat trout are one of the slower-growing fish, taking almost two years to grow to 8 inches compared to a rainbow trout, which takes roughly six months to grow to the same size. 

Have you noticed more cutthroat trout at the end of your line? Send us your pictures to be featured at fourcornerssci@gmail.com or DM us on Facebook or Instagram at fourcornerssci.

SCI Sables are committed to furthering the understanding of our outdoor heritage, including the positive role of hunting, through the creation and support of wildlife and conservation educational programs. CLICK TO LEARN MORE