08-22-2008, 04:45 AM
That's a great observation. Rainbows are very opportunistic, but in the Gorge they tend to utilize zooplankton or aquatic insects. I have seen crayfish, cicadas, and snails too. I have never seen any fish in their stomachs, from sampled fish or fish I'm cleaning for a meal. It's not impossible though, and as you know rainbows have the potential to get very big and be very efficient predators under the right circumstances.
Lake trout stomach samples have shown burbot. Netting performed in WY last spring showed only about 1% of the total lake trout sampled had consumed burbot. I also wonder when they will take advantage of them. In the Great Lakes, where burbot, lake trout, and smallmouth bass are all native, burbot are "controlled" by the other two. As of now, neither species has taken advantage of burbot, but I'm optimistic like yourself and believe it's possible.
Ryno
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Lake trout stomach samples have shown burbot. Netting performed in WY last spring showed only about 1% of the total lake trout sampled had consumed burbot. I also wonder when they will take advantage of them. In the Great Lakes, where burbot, lake trout, and smallmouth bass are all native, burbot are "controlled" by the other two. As of now, neither species has taken advantage of burbot, but I'm optimistic like yourself and believe it's possible.
Ryno
[signature]