Seneca Lake trout sac fry out for their first swim. Photo by: Jaime Materson

Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery welcomed their newest arrivals around January 12^th, as our Seneca Lake trout eggs started to hatch. On January 14^th the enthusiastic sac fry were moved into indoor tanks, where they will remain until June before being moved to the facilities newly constructed outdoor raceways.

This year the production fish, held over from spawning at Sullivan Creek NFH, are being raised a little differently from past years. Eggs were divided up between Fish Biologist Robert Deems and Jaime Masterson to take sole care of. Also, instead of using creek water to raise the sac fry, well water is being used. Well water at the facility is significantly warmer than the creek water, running at a constant 43°, whereas the creek fluctuates in the 30° range throughout January and February. We are hoping this warmer and cleaner water supply will help boost the growth of the sac fry and get them on a healthy track for becoming next years production fish.