ROSEBURG – Diamond Lake will be stocked in time for the high lakes trout opener on Saturday, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

”We’re excited that anglers have the opportunity to take a historic fishing trip to Diamond Lake this weekend,” said Umpqua Fish District Biologist Jim Muck in a press release. ”The ice is breaking up, and the water quality has improved to the point we can stock 6,000 healthy rainbow trout.”

The legal-sized Cape Cod rainbow trout from Klamath Falls Hatchery will be released into Diamond Lake today. This is the first load of 80,000 catchable and trophy-sized trout ODFW will stock in the lake this spring.

The catchable-sized trout range from eight to 12 inches and include a mix of 2,000 predacious trout. Later this spring, ODFW also will stock 100,000 Klamath Falls fingerlings and 2,000 trophy-sized trout being raised at Rock Creek Hatchery.

This historic trout stocking marks a new beginning for Diamond Lake’s fishery.

Last September, ODFW successfully treated Diamond Lake with rotenone, a naturally-derived pesticide, to rid the lake of an estimated 98 million tui chub. The chub destroyed the lake’s water quality and recreational fishery.

Fishing is expected to improve and stocking will gradually increase as the lake heals. Water quality also should improve each year, although algae blooms may occur this summer and in 2008. ODFW, Forest Service and ODEQ will continue to monitor Diamond Lake’s water quality and fishery.

For more information, log on to www.dfw.state.or.us.