01-23-2013, 03:00 PM
[quote The_Red_Leaker]Correct me if I am wrong but I beleive that the SMB that were stocked into Jordanelle were for lack of a better term, a coldwater "strain". Would putting this strain into Strawberry be a crazy thought? [/quote]
there is not "coldwater strain" of SMB. Jordanelle close to the "max" on where SMB can survive.
It all comes down to the summer growth. SMB need water temperatures to reach the mid 50's before spawning occurs. Obviously, at higher elevations this water temperature increase takes longer, and thus ends with a shorter summer. So, the spawn is delayed (Strawberry reservoir is the perfect example), thus delaying the time when fry hatch. If fry hatch later in the summer, they have a shorter "window" to grow to a size that would allow them to survive the winter. Fall / winter arrive sooner at higher elevations (Strawberry) and thus further shorten that "window" of growth.
The issue at Strawberry isn't that adult SMB can't survive, it's that young of the year cannot make it through their first winter.
(see, this thread isn't all ego!)
As for stocking LMB at Jordanelle -- that's a question for the Central Region managers. But, my opinion is two-fold:
1. Just like SMB at Strawberry, I don't think LMB would do well at Jordanelle due to season lenghts.
2. If SMB are "stunted" and over-populated, doesn't that mean that the "bucket" is already full? But, habitat is the key -- Utah just plain doesn't have good LMB habitat (flooded vegetation). Again, my opinion.
(bumped back to the top!)
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there is not "coldwater strain" of SMB. Jordanelle close to the "max" on where SMB can survive.
It all comes down to the summer growth. SMB need water temperatures to reach the mid 50's before spawning occurs. Obviously, at higher elevations this water temperature increase takes longer, and thus ends with a shorter summer. So, the spawn is delayed (Strawberry reservoir is the perfect example), thus delaying the time when fry hatch. If fry hatch later in the summer, they have a shorter "window" to grow to a size that would allow them to survive the winter. Fall / winter arrive sooner at higher elevations (Strawberry) and thus further shorten that "window" of growth.
The issue at Strawberry isn't that adult SMB can't survive, it's that young of the year cannot make it through their first winter.
(see, this thread isn't all ego!)
As for stocking LMB at Jordanelle -- that's a question for the Central Region managers. But, my opinion is two-fold:
1. Just like SMB at Strawberry, I don't think LMB would do well at Jordanelle due to season lenghts.
2. If SMB are "stunted" and over-populated, doesn't that mean that the "bucket" is already full? But, habitat is the key -- Utah just plain doesn't have good LMB habitat (flooded vegetation). Again, my opinion.
(bumped back to the top!)
[signature]