Winter Trout Splash: New Spots, Big Fish, 75,000 Rainbows Incoming

Tennessee WildCast

Carbon Score: 8

Join us on Tennessee WildCast as we tour Flintville Hatchery – the state’s oldest operating trout hatchery – just days before the 2025-26 winter stocking season begins. Hatchery Manager Steven Day walks us through the raceways filled with rainbow trout (including some 16-20” trophies and golden palomino rainbows) that will soon be headed to lakes and streams across Tennessee. We see newly hatched fry, learn about the year-round work of raising 120,000–130,000 adult trout, and discover the technology and teamwork that keep the fish healthy 365 days a year. Region 3 Streams Biologist Connor Ballard explains the winter trout program: 42 stocking locations, roughly 75,000 rainbow trout released from late November through February, and three new waters added this year. He shares why most stockings happen in Middle and West Tennessee, how to read the schedule at tnwildlife.org, and tips for families wanting to fish close to home. From the hatchery building to the stocking trucks, this episode shows exactly how Tennessee delivers catchable trout to neighborhood ponds, city parks, and small streams every winter. Whether you’re chasing a quick limit of seven fish or just looking for a fun outing with kids, the winter trout season is one of Tennessee’s best outdoor traditions.

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