blue ribbon trout study

[Brian Sloss]

For the past 5 years or so the MDC biologists have been conducting a study in the blue ribbon trout area to see if they could find a strain of rainbow trout that adapts the best to the conditions provided therein. At this point I should state that since I am not the biologist or a biologist at all, what I am stating is from conversations with MDC and my personal observation. I have talked with guide clients about this study over the last few years, pointing out the tagged fish. Here is what I have learned about the study, but remember I am not a biologist. They started the study because the Montauk hatchery fish were not retaining at a high enough level. It seemed to me they were not bouncing back from the stress of spawning very well and they would die out from starvation. It seemed they didn't have the strength to capture food like they did before spawning. This is my opinion, no scientific proof. Regardless, the numbers dropped dramatically after 5-6 months. Thus the study. 4 new strains were tried. North Fork of the White wild rainbows crossed with Montauk fish, McConaughy, Fish Lake and Eagle Lake strains were stocked in equal numbers every year for 5 years. I listed them in order of how I thought they would perform. Eagle lake fish did the worst, but the surprise was Fish Lake did the best. I don't think all the numbers are in, but the observation definitely seems to indicate that. The North Fork fish seemed to do second best, which surprised me. Anyway, next year I think they will be stocking all Fish Lake trout in our blue ribbon area and I am excited about it. Especially since we had our best spawn I ever remember here last year. The MDC went above and beyond to provide the best possible fishing on this river over the last 5 years and it appears to be paying off. Well done, lets hope it continues to pay off.

[mic]

So what is the expected breed and survive percentages for the blue ribbon area?  Do they want that BR area to be self supporting or mix of wild and reared?

[Brian Sloss]

Ask the biologist.  I don't think they have an expected number, rather they will see what the improvement will be.  I am sure they are hoping for a better survival rate, but I don't know what the percentage they are hoping to get.

[fishinwrench]

They've been doing this stuff since the 1930's and they still don't have it down ?   What's left to study ?   What have they been doing for the last 80 years, playing tiddlywinks ?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Actually you'd think they have motors down. 

They've been that even longer.  And they were created totally in house. 

[fishinwrench]

Most engines were perfect a long time ago.  It's the operators, fuel blenders, and emission weirdos that started sucking.

[Al Agnew]

Actually they haven't been doing it that long.  For many years, as long as they could raise trout to 10 inches economically, all they cared about was sticking them in the water and watching anglers catch them, and then sticking more of them in the water.  it wasn't until genetic studies became a big thing that they started trying to purposely stock strains that might actually survive and reproduce.  Reproduction before that was pretty much accidental.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not down with the making of mutts on purpose thing.   I kinda prefer that my favorite fish stay un-genetically modified.  Especially since they are "new to this" and "still learning" maybe it's best not to create any batches of weirdos and start throwing them in the river.  

They might as well start jacking with Smallmouth genetics, maybe they can breed some Smallies that'll hit 20" in 4 years.   No that was a joke, please leave our Smallie genes as they are and don't introduce any of your lab experiments, or other clones, into our rivers.

[mic]

I'm not down with the making of mutts on purpose thing.   I kinda prefer that my favorite fish stay un-genetically modified.  Especially since they are "new to this" and "still learning" maybe it's best not to create any batches of weirdos and start throwing them in the river.  

They might as well start jacking with Smallmouth genetics, maybe they can breed some Smallies that'll hit 20" in 4 years.   No that was a joke, please leave our Smallie genes as they are and don't introduce any of your lab experiments, or other clones, into our rivers.

They aren't making lab fish.  The genetics have allowed them to figure out which strains are different from others.   Knowing this allows them to put different strains in the water to test.  

[trythisonemv]

If you like your trout UN tampered try crane creek... that's what I  do lol also with different strains in there together eventually they will cross. I don't even think crane trout are still pure mcloud. Mdc stocked fish in there too. Sounds good though for fishing the eleven point that they are making big efforts.