Rainbow Spawn Alert!

[ness]

I think the current stockers are more mutt than 'McCloud'. They have introduced McCloud blood into some that they've stocked in 11 Point WILD trout area, but there's all kinda stuff mixed in with the current Missouri and Missouri Arlee strains. Here's a good article if you want the particulars:

Missouri Trout

[Brian Wise]

I think it is time to bring Triploids to Missouri. That 28 lb brown on Taney could very well be eaten by a Triploid rainbow.

Brian

[laker67]

I think it is time to bring Triploids to Missouri. That 28 lb brown on Taney could very well be eaten by a Triploid rainbow.

Brian

Agreed!!! Alot of other states are jumping on the bandwagon. California, Michigan, New york just to name a few, and of course north of the border. Put some of those in the rivers, and they will be towing the drift boats upstream. I hope I see it in my lifetime.

[Justin Spencer]

If we stocked Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) instead of trout they would grow to 10# in less than 2 years. I think we could engineer them to live in our freshwater streams, if you have ever caught one of those on fly that would be fun in a river setting. Doubt we could ever have wild ones however.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well Justin, I am sorry you lost that nice bow. My ex used to tell me patience my little jackass, patience. Yeah, that irritated me too. Maybe next time, huh?

I have come to the consclusion that no one is going to be swayed one way or the other. But it has certainly been a MUCH more entertaining topic than usual. So, wild or not good fishing to all.

How about your thoughts on MDC changing the strain of rainbows they currently stock? This would interest me a lot more than money spent on "habitat", accesses, and more rules.

I would like to see some 10# plus fish in less than 5 years of growth. My suggestion would be Shastas instead of the current McClouds. Any thoughts??

On the stocked areas, Missouri mainly stocks Arlee strain, and Missouri Arlee strain rainbows. I don't know what strain is present in the North Fork.

I would like to see some form (or at least a hybrid) of kamploops rainbows stocked. They tend to act wild sooner after being released from the hatchery than Arlee rainbows. I know Westover Farms has good success with them, it might be a worthwhile project. It would require A LOT of work to do this, so it's probably no more than a pipe dream. But I do think it would make our stockers a little tougher to catch, which is ultimately a good thing. Triploids just seem too fake to me.

[kdan]

I like the way you all think!!!!!

[ness]

I like the way you all think!!!!!

Who all?

[kdan]

Who all?

Who all??? You all. You all that took the time to give thought to Bigger, badder, meaner, faster, and in a shorter time rainbows.

[Justin Spencer]

In graduate school my primary focus was aquaculture, and while hybrids are great for growing fish faster they are definately not the answer if you want natural reproduction. I am unfamiliar with hybrid trout, but to get a hybrid you would have to take 2 different species and put them together, so a hybrid would be a new kind of fish all together. Selective breeding would give us a pure species taking the faster growing fish and mating them to hopefully produce stronger, faster growing offspring. The state of Texas does this with their huge largemouth bass, and they rely on the public to bring in fish of a certain size so they can use them as broodstock. Triploids (if I remember correctly) are a "frankenfish" that are genetically engineered so that they are unable to reproduce and therefore grow faster. Unfortunately with fish such as the grass carp they can revert back to Diploids over time, and eventually reproduce, which was not wanted as their vegetation control got out of hand as they successfully reproduced. The fly fishermen I know seem to be more environmentally conscientious than the majority of the population so I hope you will agree that selective breeding is a great way to improve strains in a more natural way as opposed to going into a lab and messing with genes and such. If the only thing you are concerned with is going out and catching a huge fish then I think you are missing out on the best parts of fly fishing for trout. If you haven't read it, check out the bookZen In the Art of Fly Fishing, good fishing adventure book with a little spiritual junk added in.

[kdan]

In graduate school my primary focus was aquaculture, and while hybrids are great for growing fish faster they are definately not the answer if you want natural reproduction. I am unfamiliar with hybrid trout, but to get a hybrid you would have to take 2 different species and put them together, so a hybrid would be a new kind of fish all together. Selective breeding would give us a pure species taking the faster growing fish and mating them to hopefully produce stronger, faster growing offspring. The state of Texas does this with their huge largemouth bass, and they rely on the public to bring in fish of a certain size so they can use them as broodstock. Triploids (if I remember correctly) are a "frankenfish" that are genetically engineered so that they are unable to reproduce and therefore grow faster. Unfortunately with fish such as the grass carp they can revert back to Diploids over time, and eventually reproduce, which was not wanted as their vegetation control got out of hand as they successfully reproduced. The fly fishermen I know seem to be more environmentally conscientious than the majority of the population so I hope you will agree that selective breeding is a great way to improve strains in a more natural way as opposed to going into a lab and messing with genes and such. If the only thing you are concerned with is going out and catching a huge fish then I think you are missing out on the best parts of fly fishing for trout. If you haven't read it, check out the bookZen In the Art of Fly Fishing, good fishing adventure book with a little spiritual junk added in.

One doesn't have to mess with the genes or create frankenfish. The Shasta strain will produce a 10# in 4 years. This would be great for Taney and most of the "blue" waters. Don't you think this Arlee strain hasn't been messed with?

Wanting to catch large fish over the 10-18 inch fish does not mean I am not connected or missing out on the best part of fly fishing. What the crap does that mean any way? I stand in awe of Gods creation each and every time I hit the out doors. I admire the beauty of a brown, rainbow, cutthroat, or brookie with each one I catch.

Wouldn't you agree that a scared up, nose peeled 10 lb bow on the end of your line is more beautiful than a 12 incher? Maybe you wouldn't, but I for sure am not gonna yeeee yawww over a 12 inch fish but with a big ol 10 pounder my heart will be racing all day.

Again, this is a difference in perspective and what YOU want. It does not make either of us wrong. It just means we are human, and we are unique, no two of us being alike. I am not attacking you, merely stating my opinion, which as you know every one has one.

It won't make any differece any way, MDC will keep stocking the same ol thing.