Bait run

[TubeDude]

I failed to mention, in the above posts, that we were fishing from the shore.

I'm guessing that would eliminate the need for downriggers.

Probably so.  I made my post because I received a PM from a guy who thought I had taken my boat, up there, for the bait run.  I sure didn't want anyone to think that they needed to have a boat to catch chubs at Lost Creek.  I'm sure the cutthroats and tiger trout are eating some of the chubs, but it is obvious it is still overrun by chubs and the anglers might as well catch some for bait.

I think we have had it proven to us in Utah that trout alone cannot or will not eliminate chubs from the ecosystem.  No matter how many species of trout are dumped in a chub pond they just won't get rid of chubkind.  On the other hand, smallmouth bass in the mix are an excellent chub eradicator.  Starvation and Jordanelle are two examples that come to mind.  Both used to be choked with chubs.  But the smallies wiped them out within a few years.

Personally, I think some chubs and/or redside shiners in a trout habitat are good...in order to help take trout from small to medium size and then to extra grande.  The big downside...especially where there are planter rainbows...is that the chubs usually outcompete the smaller trout for available food resources.  And if they are detrimental to the hatchery pets we simply cain't abide them.

And it's good to have some optional sources of chub meat for those of us who fancy it for bait.