Posted by – Shawn Keenan, Assistant City Planner

Back on April 21, 1980, the DNR Fisheries Division began stocking the Clinton River in Downtown Auburn Hills.  They delivered 2,110 smallmouth bass to the stretch of the Clinton River that flows through Riverside Park that first year.

We’re pleased to announce that the 37-year tradition continues.  Yesterday the DNR released 2,400 brown trout into the river – making it a total of 512,113 fish released over the life of this program.  The species stocked the first year included pike and smallmouth bass before switching to the more familiar rainbow trout and brown trout in the years that followed.

The purpose of the DNR’s annual stocking program, which is funded through fishing license fees, is to help support your local urban fishery. This is similar to the program the City created in partnership with DNR Fisheries, the Clinton River Watershed Council and the four chapters of Trout Unlimited (Challenge, Clinton Valley, Paul H. Young, and Vanguard).

The increase in angling hours on the Clinton River in Downtown Auburn Hills is one factor the DNR uses in determining the release site, something the City is proud to see grow in popularity over the years. We look forward to seeing the many anglers in the area explore and enjoy one of our region’s greatest natural resources – the Clinton River.