10-07-2007, 11:54 PM
Here's what I've concluded from all the theories over the years. It comes down to the age of the lake, chubs, sagebrush (yes, chubs used it for spawning), and competition from other fish (bass and those damn, vicious lakers).
When a lake is newly flooded, as the Gorge was in the late 60's and 70's, the food chain kinda goes nuts for a decade or so. Browns grew at a highly unusual rate because the chubs thrived, food was plentiful, and predators were few. There used to be huge schools of chubs when I first came here, and browns would actually "boil" in them, like wipers or stripers on shad, though not quite that spectacular. Even rainbows thrived and grew at alarming rates. There's still guys who tell some amazing stories. I only scratched the surface of it in the late 70's and early 80's, and still caught some browns over 20 pounds. (26 was tops-released 'em all!)
As the lake aged, chubs were both consumed by larger fish, and also lost their ability to reproduce effectively because flooded sage brush began to decay in their spawning areas. (Some say that is the biggest factor in the eventual chub crash.) So growth rates slowed on browns, they began to die out because they don't live long to begin with, and the other predators (lakers, then bass) also emerged to begin competing with browns.
About 15 years ago, a bunch of local businesses and residents proposed a Christmas tree stocking program to try and reestablish spawning areas for the chub. Despite all private funding and labor, spear headed by the Collett family at Flaming Gorge Lodge, the DWR said "NO". (surprise!)
So here we are today, with a fantastic Mack and Kokanee fishery, but only because kokes and rainbows are stocked into the lake to keep the vicious predators fed. If that ever stops, we got nothin'.
Oh yeah, it's loaded with little bass and big carp too
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I personally don't think the bass in the Gorge are worth having, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys flying all around the lake in their bass rockets every weekend that would disagree. They also make for a good kids fishery because they're numerous and easy to catch. And they're here to stay, so I don't worry about them either way. What impact they have on the overall fishery I'm not sure about either. They do eat a lot of crayfish, but maybe that's what crayfish are for. On the selfish side for me, they keep more people away from the lake trout! And I have first-hand proof that macks will eat a bass now and then, though they're not a significant part of their diet. I digress.
Browns? No chubs + too much competition from other fish + normal growth rates + short life span = 5 pounder is a big one now. What a time it was though! Trolling all night at mach-2, freezing to death, nearly crashing into the bank, waiting for a bite.
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When a lake is newly flooded, as the Gorge was in the late 60's and 70's, the food chain kinda goes nuts for a decade or so. Browns grew at a highly unusual rate because the chubs thrived, food was plentiful, and predators were few. There used to be huge schools of chubs when I first came here, and browns would actually "boil" in them, like wipers or stripers on shad, though not quite that spectacular. Even rainbows thrived and grew at alarming rates. There's still guys who tell some amazing stories. I only scratched the surface of it in the late 70's and early 80's, and still caught some browns over 20 pounds. (26 was tops-released 'em all!)
As the lake aged, chubs were both consumed by larger fish, and also lost their ability to reproduce effectively because flooded sage brush began to decay in their spawning areas. (Some say that is the biggest factor in the eventual chub crash.) So growth rates slowed on browns, they began to die out because they don't live long to begin with, and the other predators (lakers, then bass) also emerged to begin competing with browns.
About 15 years ago, a bunch of local businesses and residents proposed a Christmas tree stocking program to try and reestablish spawning areas for the chub. Despite all private funding and labor, spear headed by the Collett family at Flaming Gorge Lodge, the DWR said "NO". (surprise!)
So here we are today, with a fantastic Mack and Kokanee fishery, but only because kokes and rainbows are stocked into the lake to keep the vicious predators fed. If that ever stops, we got nothin'.
Oh yeah, it's loaded with little bass and big carp too![
] I personally don't think the bass in the Gorge are worth having, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys flying all around the lake in their bass rockets every weekend that would disagree. They also make for a good kids fishery because they're numerous and easy to catch. And they're here to stay, so I don't worry about them either way. What impact they have on the overall fishery I'm not sure about either. They do eat a lot of crayfish, but maybe that's what crayfish are for. On the selfish side for me, they keep more people away from the lake trout! And I have first-hand proof that macks will eat a bass now and then, though they're not a significant part of their diet. I digress.
Browns? No chubs + too much competition from other fish + normal growth rates + short life span = 5 pounder is a big one now. What a time it was though! Trolling all night at mach-2, freezing to death, nearly crashing into the bank, waiting for a bite.
[signature]