02-01-2008, 07:23 PM
Here are a few articles regarding the kamloops rainbow trout:
[url "http://www.rmgameandfish.com/fishing/trout-fishing/rm_aa064504a/"]http://www.rmgameandfish.com/...ishing/rm_aa064504a/[/url]
[url "http://www.gofishbc.com/tips_articles/kamloops.htm"]http://www.gofishbc.com/...rticles/kamloops.htm[/url]
Basically, there is alot of speculation about the fish. Is it just a regular rainbow trout, or is it a subspecies? One thing is certain-
Many of the records around North America for rainbow trout indeed come from populations of so the called Kamloops rainbows. There seems to be something in them that triggers physical differences to develop when placed in certain environments.
The native Kamloops have developed a close relationship with Kokanee salmon. They get big mainly because they eat all the small kokes. They also are better able to attain their greater size and fish-eating habits when placed in deep, clean, cool bodies of water(but what trout isn't?). Hence the decision to place them in the Gorge. I don't understand how they'd compete with the Lakers. Right now the DWR is encouraging people to keep all the small Lake Trout they catch in the Gorge because they are worried that eventually they'll cause the Kokanee population to bust. Why add another fish that will need to prey on the Kokes to get the desired affect?
It was once found to be a separate species. Native Kamloops bows had scale, gill, and head size differences when compared to other rainbow trout, not to mention were larger in size. But, when placed in streams or smaller bodies of water the Kamloops bows and regular rainbows were identical. At any rate, the development of the Kamloops bows seems dependant on specific environmental factors. If those factors are not present, they are just normal bows that mainly eat bugs. But when put in the proper conditions, they will outgrow and vary slightly from normal bows.
One thing I have read which may explain the differences, is that your average run-of-the mill hatchery rainbow is genetically not as pure as the Kamloops. A study done in Lake Superior points to this. Perhaps the only reason the Kamloops does better is that it is a rainbow trout that is simply a more pure and unadulterated version that hasn't been bastardized.
[signature]
[url "http://www.rmgameandfish.com/fishing/trout-fishing/rm_aa064504a/"]http://www.rmgameandfish.com/...ishing/rm_aa064504a/[/url]
[url "http://www.gofishbc.com/tips_articles/kamloops.htm"]http://www.gofishbc.com/...rticles/kamloops.htm[/url]
Basically, there is alot of speculation about the fish. Is it just a regular rainbow trout, or is it a subspecies? One thing is certain-
Many of the records around North America for rainbow trout indeed come from populations of so the called Kamloops rainbows. There seems to be something in them that triggers physical differences to develop when placed in certain environments.
The native Kamloops have developed a close relationship with Kokanee salmon. They get big mainly because they eat all the small kokes. They also are better able to attain their greater size and fish-eating habits when placed in deep, clean, cool bodies of water(but what trout isn't?). Hence the decision to place them in the Gorge. I don't understand how they'd compete with the Lakers. Right now the DWR is encouraging people to keep all the small Lake Trout they catch in the Gorge because they are worried that eventually they'll cause the Kokanee population to bust. Why add another fish that will need to prey on the Kokes to get the desired affect?
It was once found to be a separate species. Native Kamloops bows had scale, gill, and head size differences when compared to other rainbow trout, not to mention were larger in size. But, when placed in streams or smaller bodies of water the Kamloops bows and regular rainbows were identical. At any rate, the development of the Kamloops bows seems dependant on specific environmental factors. If those factors are not present, they are just normal bows that mainly eat bugs. But when put in the proper conditions, they will outgrow and vary slightly from normal bows.
One thing I have read which may explain the differences, is that your average run-of-the mill hatchery rainbow is genetically not as pure as the Kamloops. A study done in Lake Superior points to this. Perhaps the only reason the Kamloops does better is that it is a rainbow trout that is simply a more pure and unadulterated version that hasn't been bastardized.
[signature]