Cutthroat And Brookies

[ozark trout fisher]

I was just curious if anyone knew why there is no stocking of cutthroat or brook trout anywhere in Missouri. I know that they are stocked with decent success in several rivers in Arkansas, including the tailwaters as well as the Spring River. It seems that several places in Missouri could probably support them, such as the C&R areas of the trout parks, Taneycomo down to Fall Creek, and possibly the coldest sections of the North Fork of the White and the Eleven Point. If I had to guess, I would say it is due to a lack of extra hatchery space, but I could be wrong. I know due to the fact that the bottom substrate isn't suitable, and the water temperature isn't cold enough to spawn, they would likely have to be maintained by stocking. Missouri has done a lot of great things with its trout program already, I was just a little curious why they don't stock these species.

[jdmidwest]

I think it is a Hatchery Problem first and a Federal Problem second.

I don't think any of the Missouri Hatcheries are set up to raise either of the fish. When stocking occurs of the Brown trout, they come in from a hatchery as a fingerling and I think that Shepard of the Hills is the only one that raises them. Don't know for sure anymore, I don't spend alot of time with hatchery personnel like I used to.

Since most trout streams in Mo. are in Federal waters governed by the Forestry Service, they have a say in what can be stocked as to protect native species. That may be the second reason. Carrying capacity of some of the streams may affect it also as well as crossbreeding with Rainbow strains and Cutthroat. I could see it happening in Taneycomo as it has in the Ark portions of the White River system. It probably won't happen in any other streams.

A majority of streams rely on the stocking to sustain the trout with the exceptions of Crane Creek, Mill Spring Creek, and some of the other minor streams. Even some of them are stocked by fish migrating from the stocking points.

[ozark trout fisher]

I think it is a Hatchery Problem first and a Federal Problem second.

I don't think any of the Missouri Hatcheries are set up to raise either of the fish. When stocking occurs of the Brown trout, they come in from a hatchery as a fingerling and I think that Shepard of the Hills is the only one that raises them. Don't know for sure anymore, I don't spend alot of time with hatchery personnel like I used to.

Since most trout streams in Mo. are in Federal waters governed by the Forestry Service, they have a say in what can be stocked as to protect native species. That may be the second reason. Carrying capacity of some of the streams may affect it also as well as crossbreeding with Rainbow strains and Cutthroat. I could see it happening in Taneycomo as it has in the Ark portions of the White River system. It probably won't happen in any other streams.

A majority of streams rely on the stocking to sustain the trout with the exceptions of Crane Creek, Mill Spring Creek, and some of the other minor streams. Even some of them are stocked by fish migrating from the stocking points.

Those reasons probably do account for it. I completely respect the MDC, and believe that they have created the best nonnative trout program of any state I know of, except maybe Arkansas. I was just curious, I don't even know if introducing them would be the right thing to do.

[Terry Beeson]

I can tell you that having Cuts and Brooks on the Norfork, Bull Shoals, and Greers Ferry (Little Red) tail waters adds a demension to the fishing in Arkansas. You can go for a "Arkansas Trout Grand Slam" by catching all four - Bow, Brown, Brook, and Cut along with a CutBow - in one day.

[ozark trout fisher]

I can tell you that having Cuts and Brooks on the Norfork, Bull Shoals, and Greers Ferry (Little Red) tail waters adds a demension to the fishing in Arkansas. You can go for a "Arkansas Trout Grand Slam" by catching all four - Bow, Brown, Brook, and Cut along with a CutBow - in one day.

I definitely like catching the Cutts and Brookies better myself. I'm from Colorado, and that is watch you catch mostly, except for some rainbow or brown in the lowland waters. I wouldn't mind having some in Missouri, if it wouldn't hurt any of the native species such as smallmouth or rock bass. I suppose they have to come first.

[duckydoty]

Some people are claiming to catch cutbows on Taney. Any truth to this????

[Guest]

deleted

[Gavin]

I think its more of a matter of regulatory hurdles, and a bit of a habitat issue.

Most of our trout streams flow though some federal land, and the feds currently have a ban on the introduction of non-native species. Doesnt matter if they are gamefish or not. Thats the reason MDC can't stock brown trout on the 11pt, and the reason that they cant stock trout on the Current between Akers and Pulltite. The habitat is there, but the feds say no...

Brook Trout...I dont think that our trout waters are cold enough for them. Arkansas Tailwaters are a bit cooler than most of our spring fed trout waters, and even there the brookies stay in the coldest water near the dams.

FWIW, I think that some of the Hatchery Rainbows have a bit of Cutthroat in them...Its not uncommon to catch one with an orange slash on the gill plate..They are mostly bow, with a hint of cutt in them...not cutt-bows. Cheers.

[Brian Sloss]

The Brook trout mentioned as state record from spring creek is interesting. I've heard rumors of the occassional brookie on that stream. I can' say for sure, but I think they come from property owned by the Danforth family (as in the senator) on the area above the public water. I had heard that they used to stock brookies themselves years ago. I don't know if it is true.

As for the federal water (Eleven Point, Current and Jacks Fork), Gavin is right on about the Feds not allowing any new stocking. From what they have told me it all comes down to the Hellbender more than any of the fish they would be competing with. Until they decide what is causing their decline, they won't consider any changes to any of the waters they have a say over. I saw something on Animal Planet about disappearing frogs and salamanders with Jeff Corwin. Part of it was focused on the Hellbender and they thought it was a fungus (kiptrid, pardon the spelling) causing all the problems. It is so wide spread now that it is found through much of North America down to Panama. Low sperm counts seemed to play a role as well. I am no biologist though.

[ozark trout fisher]

The Brook trout mentioned as state record from spring creek is interesting. I've heard rumors of the occassional brookie on that stream. I can' say for sure, but I think they come from property owned by the Danforth family (as in the senator) on the area above the public water. I had heard that they used to stock brookies themselves years ago. I don't know if it is true.

As for the federal water (Eleven Point, Current and Jacks Fork), Gavin is right on about the Feds not allowing any new stocking. From what they have told me it all comes down to the Hellbender more than any of the fish they would be competing with. Until they decide what is causing their decline, they won't consider any changes to any of the waters they have a say over. I saw something on Animal Planet about disappearing frogs and salamanders with Jeff Corwin. Part of it was focused on the Hellbender and they thought it was a fungus (kiptrid, pardon the spelling) causing all the problems. It is so wide spread now that it is found through much of North America down to Panama. Low sperm counts seemed to play a role as well. I am no biologist though.

It seems a bit wasteful to have the beautiful stretch of stream from Akers to Pulltite unstocked with trout. From what I hear, there aren't a lot of Smallmouth there, mostly just suckers and bluegill. I would really liked to see that changed, but from what I've read so far, it seems pretty unlikely.