Photos show trout being netted by DOC staff from the kids ponds for their weekend BBQ.

Each year TRM get asked the same questions by visitors who return from the Trout Centre.

In particular they ask SWMBO about what happens to the trout that are not caught by the kids?

She usually tells them the most outrageous stories imaginable such as they are smoked and vacuum packed for sale or exported to China or fed to the Blue Ducks or manufactured into fish fertiliser garden pellets or fed back to the trout or fed to the pigs. ?

I could never get away with it but no one ever doubts Her stories.

But today She started a new rumour that came back to me in minutes.

She explained to the guests they were emptying the ponds to make way for the new silver carp?

Guests love a good fishy story.

Last Friday we timed it perfectly to take photos of the DOC team netting the remaining trout so that the pool can be cleaned ready for the next Kids Day at Easter.

Traditionally these more mature fish that escaped the kids fishing days were then transported to other regions that have kids ‘fish-out’ ponds but do not have their own hatchery – i.e. Taranaki region.

But now SWMBO tells everyone these left over trout will continue to be pellet fed in the ponds until they reach maturity for their eventual free distribution to local iwi.  But nobody believes Her…  Unbelievable?

So now you know…