DIAMOND LAKE ANGLERS CAN HELP IMPROVE FISHERY

April 20, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Diamond Lake anglers who harvest rainbow trout can help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife maintain the lake’s quality fishery by providing scale samples from their catch.

Meghan Dugan of ODFW said anglers who donate scale samples have a chance to win a $50 prize.

Dugan said scale samples will determine the age of the fish and paint a more complete picture of the size-at-age of these large rainbow trout. Combined with fish health condition, water quality factors and benthic macroinvertebrate trends, this data will help biologists maintain a quality, high-yield fishery.

Dugan said Diamond Lake anglers can take their harvested rainbow trout, 20 inches or longer, to the Diamond Lake Marina where staff will remove the scale samples and note fish length. Anglers should fill out their name, harvest date and contact information on the collection envelope for a chance to win the $50 prize. Drawings are held monthly May through September.

Dugan said the Umpqua Fish District received a $650 grant from the Umpqua Fisheries Enhancement Derby to provide the prizes.