The Gerrard rainbow trout are the largest rainbow trout in the world. Each spring this unique fish returns to the Lardeau River to spawn. The FWCP is not organizing a Gerrard Spawning Open House in 2010 but the viewing platform on the Lardeau River, located at the south end (outlet) of Trout Lake, is open to the public.

We will update this webpage often during the 2010 spawning run so you can plan your visit on a day when there will likely be plenty of fish.

This year's spawning run is significantly earlier than last year. It may be best to plan your visit sooner rather than later.

Test Your Fish Facts

Check out rare underwater footage of spawning Gerrards.

To reach the viewing platform from Kaslo, take highway #31 towards Meadow Creek. From Meadow Creek stay on highway #31 (well-maintained gravel road) until you cross the bridge over the Lardeau River near the outlet of Trout Lake (approx. 45 minutes from Meadow Creek). The viewing platform and parking area is to the right of the road after the bridge.


Bring polarized sunglasses and plan your visit for the morning when there is usually less wind.

	Date	2009 Fish Counted @ Viewing Platform on the Lardeau River	2010 Fish Counted @ Viewing Platform on the Lardeau River
	April 10	-	8
	April 11	-	15
	April 12	-	25
	April 13	-	38
	April 14	-	57
	April 15	-	74
	April 16	-	109
	April 17	-	138
	April 18	-	194
	April 19	-	258
	April 20	-	360
	April 21	-	475
	April 22	-	489
	April 23	-	613
	April 24	-	623
	April 25	-	722
	April 26	-	615
	April 27	-	725
	April 28	107	-
	April 29	-	691
	April 30	278	655
	May 1	311	623
	May 2	403	722
	May 3	-	674
	May 4	445	515
	May 5	469	604
	May 6	503	564
	May 7	513	536
	May 8	577	544
	May 9	558	458
	May 10	620	462
	May 11	549	385
	May 12	-	367
	May 13	503	300
	May 14	528	246
	May 15	527	198
	May 16	572	132
	May 17	523	94
	May 18	520	78
	May 19	466	47
	May 20	473	16
	May 21	-	-
	May 22	363	-
	May 23	371	-
	May 24	317	-
	May 25	262	-
	May 26	162	-
	May 27	167	-
	May 28	86	-
	May 29	-	-
	May 30	32	-
	May 31	33	-
	Jun 3	-	-
	Jun 4	-	-

Thanks to the Ministry of Environment and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) for providing regular updates on the number of spawning fish.


The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program works on behalf of its Program Partners - the BC Ministry of Environment, BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams in the Columbia Basin.

TEST YOUR FISH FACTS

1. True or False: The Gerrard rainbow trout is the largest type of rainbow trout on earth?
2. Why are they called Gerrard rainbow trout?
3. Can you fish for Gerrards in the Lardeau River?
4. Where do they spawn?
5. What is the Gerrard run like now? (the number of fish spawning)

Answers:

1. True. The largest sport-caught rainbow from Kootenay Lake was 16 kilograms (35.5 pounds) and was hooked in 1976. Gerrard rainbow trout consistently reach sizes in excess of 10 kg (22 pounds).
2. The fish are named after the post office and settlement of Gerrard which was the end of the CPR railway line. George Bentley Gerrard was a bank manager in Kaslo in the 1900s.
3. No. The wild, pristine Lardeau River and its tributaries provide important habitat for adults and young fish. It has been closed to fishing since the 1940s and remains closed, except for a short springtime whitefish fishery. Over fishing was a factor in their decline in the 1950s.
4. The majority of the unique Gerrard rainbow trout spawn at the Gerrard site on the Lardeau River.
5. In the mid-1950s the Gerrard run was down to less than 150 fish. Today, thanks to fishing regulations and the addition of nutrients to the north arm of Kootenay Lake by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program and the Ministry of Environment, the Gerrard run is approximately 1,000 fish / year. Please place and drag one or more markers on the map to indicate where the sighting(s) occurred. Use the zoom and pan controls to place the markers precisely.