New trout have once again been released this spring into the Logan Green Fish Pond in Yorkton.
Derek Little of Yorkton who sits on the Fisheries Executive of SWF explained that the Yorkton branch of the SWF worked with the hatchery in Fort Qu’Appelle acquiring trout eggs which were distributed to Sacred Heart and Yorkton Regional High Schools to raise to fingerling size through the Fish in Schools (FinS).
“Fish in Schools (FinS) program provides Saskatchewan students with a firsthand look at fish and aquatic habitats in their very own classroom. The program involves raising trout from eggs to fry before releasing them in a provincially stocked waterbody,” details www.swf.sk.ca
“In January/February, eyed trout eggs are placed into special classroom incubators. Over the following three to four months, students care for their fish by monitoring and maintaining the conditions required for their trout to thrive. In May/June, the trout are ready to be released by the students.”
This year the cycle was shortened because of school closures, said Little, but the fish from the two Yorkton schools, as well as one in Ituna and one in Melville when into the Logan Green Pond. He added unfortunately, students were not on hand because of the pandemic to help with the release.
So if a school was interested, how does a classroom get involved?
Enrollment of a school in a FinS program should be endorsed by a local SWF branch, who will act as a liaison between the school and the provincial FinS coordinator at SWF Central Office.
Branches are responsible for helping with equipment setup and maintenance, delivering eggs to the school, and assisting with the release of the fish.
For example, Little noted the Yorkton branch funded the aquariums for the Yorkton schools at a cost of $1300 each.
As for the local pond it was originally dug in 2012, but the first stocking of fish did not happen until 2014. Fish have been added annually since 2014.
The pond is available for anyone to use for catch and release fishing, and does not require a fishing licence although there are specific rules posted at the site.
