Fishing Forum

Over 30,000 cutthroats were stocking in Mantua on 11/30 according to the new fish stocking report. All around 4 inches in length. So prep for some future cutthroat catches in Mantua.
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[black][size 2]Ah, food for the Largemouth. [/size][/black]
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Now there is a brilliant idea! Plant cutthroat TROUT in a shallow warm water pond where Camloops rainbow TROUT couldn't live. Money well spent. Strong work DWR.
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I wonder where these cutthroat came from. My guess is Bear Lake. But I hope I am wrong.
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Was it Kamloop rainbows that they stocked in Mantua or Lahontan cutthroat?
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It was the bows. I do recall reading somewhere about the cutts, but they didn't plant that particular breed in there...unless it's the bass bait they just put in there.
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CBR, future catches? Try summer kill off.

Basically 30,000 fish were just given one crappy lot in life.

Next summer when the water temps reach 80 degrees plus, and the lake depth is not sufficient enough to provide cooling depths required by trout for survival, those trout will expirience extreme stress, and not all, but a large number of them will be found floating dead on the surface again, as they have been found in the last several years since the DWR started planting the trout.

But get used to it. Someone is committed to turning mantua into a trout pond. This is not the first time its been tried and failed. It wont be the last.

Like TKB said, its obvious someone doesnt have too much concern to see that your funds are spent wisely.

But, you see, you have to understand, the kamloops program has been abandoned. The DWR understands that trout wont thrive in the lake.
So why keep stocking it?
Its a put and take deal. Theres no restrictions anymore, basically its like them putting trout in the kaysville ponds. The plan on you taking them out of there, or they plan on them dead.
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Theres no restrictions anymore, basically its like them putting trout in the kaysville ponds. The plan on you taking them out of there, or they plan on them dead. [/reply]

What's wrong with that? Arent the Kaysville ponds managed as a put-and-take fishery? I don't see anything wrong with this. The fish are raised and planted for people to take home. If people don't take them home, we aren't out anything when they die.

Also, nothing wrong with putting cutts in Mantua. What does that hurt? Your pocket book? No. It does, however, give people another sport fish to catch while fishing Mantua. Cutthroat are a much better fit in Mantua than rainbows. Cutts are more predatory, and will utilize the perch somewhat for forage. They also can withstand higher temps than rainbows. They will also provide additional food for the bass. I don't understand why anyone would complain about this.

Why is it that some of you "warm-water" guys always complain about the state stocking trout? There is more water dedicated to warm water species in Utah than there is water dedicated to trout. What gives? Shouldn't it be me complaining about the guy putting perch into Mantua?

You see this as a waste of money. If you want to complain about wasted money, I would challenge you to find out how much money was spent to stock the cutts in Mantua. I'll help you out a bit:

There were approx. 35,051 cutthroat (3-4") stocked into Mantua in November. Total weight would be about 400 lbs (that's being generous).

You need to find out how much it costs the state to raise trout (per pound). This information is accessible, but I want you to get it. I think you will all be surprised at what is found!
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OK. I decided to find out the information for all of you, and spare you all the trouble. This is what I found out:

100 3 inch fish weigh about 1 pound.
35,000 fish weigh about 350 pounds.
It costs the state approximately $4 (actually less) to produce 1 pound of trout.

so, it cost the state about $1400 to stock Mantua with 35,000 cutthroat.

If you are really concerned about wasted funds, I would bet that you could get the state to save more money by switching brands of toilet paper, than by not stocking Mantua with cutts...
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[black]Thats all good about the trouts costs. Has there ever been consideration of putting cutthroats into Jordanelle? It seems to me that the cutts might help a little with the perchies. This might make Lake X a very nice put/take fishery....just thinking out loud.[/black]
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I would have to say that planting trout in Mantua is a waste. Before you jump to conclusions and say you warm water fishermen, I fish for trout 80% of the time. Mantua has a history of severe trout die offs from heat related stress in the summer. Planting 30000 3" trout that by the time they are catchable size will mostly die off from heat stress is a waste. These fish would be much better of in Jordanelle. At least there what wasn't snacked on by bass would have a chance to grow not only to catchable size, but much larger. If they wanted these fish planted farther north than even Pineview would be a better option than Mantua. As far as comparing this stocking with community pond stocking, were talking apples and oranges. Yes trout are stocked in both places. The difference is that the community ponds get already catchable size trout 10 to 20 inchers are common. Also the numbers are alot less, a few hundred at a time. Therefore the dwr will only plant the amount of fish that can resonably be caught before the summer die off.

John
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I whole-heartedly agree that putting 3" Cutts in Mantua is a waste. There are others waters in the state that could use the cutts. Porcupine is another good choice. It had a fair base of native cutts in it but do you think the F&G would ever consider planting cutts there! Not once in its 40 year history have they ever planted cutts in it. If they want to put trout in Mantua for people to catch then put 12" albinos not hard to raise cutts.
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Ummm...I think there are some misconceptions about Mantua that I can help address. I worked on Mantua as a technician for a creel survey, the bass transplant, the kill, and the subsequent restocking.

1. Mantua has historically been stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout. For decades, Mantua has received stocks of trout in both fingerling and catchable size.

2. Fingerling trout in Mantua stocked in the fall reach catchable size (>= 8") by late spring of the next season. Mantua has phenominal growth. For various reasons (including temperature), trout in Mantua historically only live three years. However, in that three year period they can grow to over two feet in length - not bad.

3. Mantua has always been managed as a put-GROW-and-take fishery for trout. It is cheaper to stock a bunch of fish knowing some will end up being bait than stock fewer larger fish.

4. The kamloops in Mantua were to serve two purposes. First, to provide a brood stock. Second, to see if they could not get a trout to live beyond three years in that pond.

5. Finally, Paul Thompson (native fisheries biologist for the Northern Region) and Sorno (fisheries manager at the time) were pushing to get lahontans in there. Some politics became involved and the issue of disease certification eliminated the lahontans from the mix.
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I think Drew has clarified quite a bit. Also, the Mantua hatchery has been raising Bonneville CTT for the past few years and it's likely that they just planted a few to see how they would do (30,000 is not that many when you consider that your favorite popular reservoirs often receive hundreds of thousands per year). Not a big deal.
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I say keep planting the three inch trout! Good food for the bass. And an opportunity to catch something else, when the water temps are lower. Some of the best Bass waters in California are heavily planted with trout. just my two cents!
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