Alpers Trout Head South

Alpers trout are considered by many to be the cream of the crop in hatchery trout. They typically weigh anywhere from 2 to 16 pounds when caught by anglers. And until recently, they've been exclusive to anglers in the Eastern Sierra region.

Anglers have been catching world-class Alpers trout out of San Joaquin river, Hot Creek, Owens river, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, and other waters in the Eastern Sierra region for years.

Alpers trout get their name from the family that raises them. The Alpers family turned the Alpers Owens River Ranch into a private fishing ranch in the 1920's. Several years later (in the '70s and '80s) they started raising trout to stock their own family ponds. In 1984, local communities asked the Alpers family to grow bigger trout for local waters. Alpers trout were stocked in addition to those stocked by the Fish and Game Department.

Alpers trout are raised in pure streams and ponds on Alpers Owens River Ranch. They're hand-fed, are typically 2-3 pounds in size before they are planted into neighboring lakes and rivers. The Alpers family have perfected growing trout famous for their size, fight, wildness, and their tender pink flesh.

However in 2004, the Alpers family business was nearly ruined after bilogist found an invasive mud snail in hatcherys water and trout. But the Aplers family rallied to rid their water and fish of the New Zealand mud snail.

Today, raising trout is the Alpers family primary occupation. Over 60,000 pounds of Alpers trout are stocked in lakes and streams from southern Inyo County to northern Mono County. And now, anglers in Laguna Niguel can experience the excitement of catching Alpers trout!