02-02-2008, 05:26 AM
[size 1]A couple of points;[/size]
[size 1][/size]
[size 1]Re: "Lots of oxygen means BIG fish. I use to fish mantua just right before the kamloops were stocked and they had very large rainbows. It was because of all the plant life that produced so much oxygen and cover."[/size]
The presence of heavy vegetation in a body of water typically decreases the amount of oxygen in the water because oxygen is consumed as the vegetation decomposes upon death. The process is called eutrophication. This link explains further.
[url "http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html"]http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html[/url]
As for whether Gerrard strain kamloops will grow to huge size in Flaming Gorge, I entirely agree with TD and PBH. The circumstances that grew giant browns and Del Canty's rainbow in the 70's no longer exist there. No chubs anymore, a heavily predated koke population, and now smallies, burbot, and pup lakers vigorously munching any forage. If I am not mistaken, the DWR or Wyo DWR has already put Gerrards in there for the past couple of years. Are any enormous bows showing up?
Finally Re;
"[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Kamloops are genetically better than regular hatchery rainbows. While they are the same species, they might just be in better shape for growing faster and healthier."[/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
"[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]The Kamloops come from a better line."[/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
The Gerrard strain comes from Lake Kootenay lake where there are three races of "Kamloops" trout. The biologists use a term "life history" Two of the races are not large and fill "typical" trout niches in the lake. However, the fish that spawn in the Lardeau river are typically slower to mature, more piscivorous, and larger. These are the fish that have been made famous in lake Pend Orielle and others. (However, it should be pointed out that Pend Orielle doesn't put out the same size fish that it did in the 40's because of a decline in the Koke population, and hybridization of the Gerrards with other bows.) Having this "life history" studied and preserved allowed for some great fishing. However, there are many other "life histories" or races in our native trout that may be useful to preserve for specific management needs. PBH mentioned what is done in Minersville. To say one strain is "better" is not something I would agree with. I feel efforts to preserve as many races as possible will insure healthy fisheries and more management options for our biologists in the future.
If one is interested in reading more on Gerrards and "Kamloops" trout, I would strongly recommend the following two books.
1. About Trout by Robert Behnke Pg. 91-96.
2. Trout and Salmon of North America by Behnke pg. 81-86.
Both of these books talk a good deal about "life histories" and why they are important to preserve.
[signature]
[size 1][/size]
[size 1]Re: "Lots of oxygen means BIG fish. I use to fish mantua just right before the kamloops were stocked and they had very large rainbows. It was because of all the plant life that produced so much oxygen and cover."[/size]
The presence of heavy vegetation in a body of water typically decreases the amount of oxygen in the water because oxygen is consumed as the vegetation decomposes upon death. The process is called eutrophication. This link explains further.
[url "http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html"]http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/eutrophication.html[/url]
As for whether Gerrard strain kamloops will grow to huge size in Flaming Gorge, I entirely agree with TD and PBH. The circumstances that grew giant browns and Del Canty's rainbow in the 70's no longer exist there. No chubs anymore, a heavily predated koke population, and now smallies, burbot, and pup lakers vigorously munching any forage. If I am not mistaken, the DWR or Wyo DWR has already put Gerrards in there for the past couple of years. Are any enormous bows showing up?
Finally Re;
"[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]Kamloops are genetically better than regular hatchery rainbows. While they are the same species, they might just be in better shape for growing faster and healthier."[/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
"[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]The Kamloops come from a better line."[/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font]
The Gerrard strain comes from Lake Kootenay lake where there are three races of "Kamloops" trout. The biologists use a term "life history" Two of the races are not large and fill "typical" trout niches in the lake. However, the fish that spawn in the Lardeau river are typically slower to mature, more piscivorous, and larger. These are the fish that have been made famous in lake Pend Orielle and others. (However, it should be pointed out that Pend Orielle doesn't put out the same size fish that it did in the 40's because of a decline in the Koke population, and hybridization of the Gerrards with other bows.) Having this "life history" studied and preserved allowed for some great fishing. However, there are many other "life histories" or races in our native trout that may be useful to preserve for specific management needs. PBH mentioned what is done in Minersville. To say one strain is "better" is not something I would agree with. I feel efforts to preserve as many races as possible will insure healthy fisheries and more management options for our biologists in the future.
If one is interested in reading more on Gerrards and "Kamloops" trout, I would strongly recommend the following two books.
1. About Trout by Robert Behnke Pg. 91-96.
2. Trout and Salmon of North America by Behnke pg. 81-86.
Both of these books talk a good deal about "life histories" and why they are important to preserve.
[signature]