Natural Born Trout

[tjm]

So, if the wild trout spawn in moderately fast flows, most of the young must be redistributed far downstream? and any survival at all is kind of a miracle ... yet by the fingerling stage they survive air drop stocking in alpine lakes, remarkable.

 

[bfishn]

My references were to optimum hatchery conditions, not wild, which I know little about.

[tjm]

Understood that but the fry would be the same size with the same capabilities and same nutritional needs. It's funny that I've seen tiny fish in quiet eddies of streams many times and never thought of "why?".

[Phil Lilley]

It's only recently (2-4 years) we've seen any sign of natural reproduction.  That's a lot of years of little to zero activity.  And it all might just go away.  It's man made. 

[tjm]

22 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

  It's man made. 

expand on that?

[trythisonemv]

5 minutes ago, tjm said:

expand on that?

My guess would be he means we control the water via the dam and all we have to do is adjust the flow or remove the dam and the whole fragile system collpases

[tjm]

lake level is controlling creek flow?

[Phil Lilley]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

lake level is controlling creek flow?

No.  The coldwater fishery in general.

[Phil Lilley]

Sorry - I'm not making much sense...

[navery]

3 hours ago, tjm said:

lake level is controlling creek flow?

No, rain water and run off control that. Rain isn't steady or necessarily cold enough to keep creek flows and temps consistent enough for a healthy, naturally occurring spawn ......