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PARK CITY — Wildlife officials added about 38,000 splake — a trout hybrid — to Jordanelle Reservoir for the first time Thursday as the final step in introducing new fish species to the reservoir.
The fish, a sterile mixture of lake trout and brook trout that are between 4 and 5 inches long, were added after several meetings between wildlife officials, angling groups and other members of the public about fishing opportunities at the reservoir, said Scott Root, a conservation outreach manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
It joins wiper, kokanee salmon and tiger muskie as new fish introduced to the water over the past few years. Smallmouth bass, brown trout and rainbow trout were already present in the reservoir.
“(It’s) a very delicious fish, a very beautiful fish,” Root said of the splake. “Anglers are excited about the large, diverse amount of fish species we have up here in Jordanelle now.”
Wildlife officials initially planned to release 60,000 splake Thursday. Root did not know why the number actually released was much lower, but said wildlife officials will continue to stock splake on a “fairly regular basis” moving forward.
Root said anglers who attended public meetings were eagerly anticipating the new trout species. It gives those fishing more variety to choose from and, since anglers have to use different techniques to catch each fish species, those fishing can put a range of methods to use.
The splake are expected to be the last species added to the reservoir for now. But that is enough to generate enthusiasm in the community.
“The anglers are excited to come up and give it a try,” Root added.
Splake can also be found in Causey Reservoir in Weber County; Fish Lake and Koosharem Reservoir in Sevier County; Lost Creek Reservoir in Morgan County; Mill Meadow Reservoir in Wayne County; and Joe’s Valley Reservoir in Emery County, according to Utah Fishing Info.
