During the surgery, the fish were anesthetized. As a result, the fish should not be consumed. The fish are part of a research project to track which aquatic habitats the trout use in winter months and how they use them.
Biologists use radio tracking equipment to monitor the locations of the trout throughout the winter.
By releasing the radio-tagged fish, anglers will help increase the success of the study. Westslope cutthroat trout are found in Washington, Idaho and Montana, but in Oregon they are only found in the John Day Basin. Anglers are also reminded that some bull trout have been radio-tagged for research purposes. Bull trout are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and may not be retained in the John Day Basin.