04-08-2010, 02:37 AM
The disease problem has always existed, even in the Hatcheries, however things were not as pronounced 20 years ago as today due to the influx of several very infectious diseases.
As to the Chub biomass then vs now!! 20 years ago the primary stocked fish was the rainbow, which could not compete. The primary mangement tool was to poison a lake, replant, and then do it again 7-10 years down the road. It was easy, cheap, and placated the masses. When it became to expensive and impossible to continue, along with the importation of such diseases like whirling disease, managers were forced to look at other alternatives, hence the Bear Lake Cutt and Tiger Trout solutions. I would venture that had those alternatives been used 20 years ago, the chub problem would not be there and people would not be worried about catching one now and then. Most of the chub biomass would have been converted into Cutt and Tiger biomass. Again, look at the chubs that are taken, they are OLD, OLD, OLD, almost as old as TD and me !!! Once they are gone, there will not be any to replace them. Then what do the Cutt's and Tiger's eat ??????? By the way, what they are doing at Utah Lake with the Carp is what is happening with the Chubs in Scofield and Strawberry, just at Utah Lake we are netting them, at the other two, the Cutts and Tigers are eating them !!!!
As to the Chub biomass then vs now!! 20 years ago the primary stocked fish was the rainbow, which could not compete. The primary mangement tool was to poison a lake, replant, and then do it again 7-10 years down the road. It was easy, cheap, and placated the masses. When it became to expensive and impossible to continue, along with the importation of such diseases like whirling disease, managers were forced to look at other alternatives, hence the Bear Lake Cutt and Tiger Trout solutions. I would venture that had those alternatives been used 20 years ago, the chub problem would not be there and people would not be worried about catching one now and then. Most of the chub biomass would have been converted into Cutt and Tiger biomass. Again, look at the chubs that are taken, they are OLD, OLD, OLD, almost as old as TD and me !!! Once they are gone, there will not be any to replace them. Then what do the Cutt's and Tiger's eat ??????? By the way, what they are doing at Utah Lake with the Carp is what is happening with the Chubs in Scofield and Strawberry, just at Utah Lake we are netting them, at the other two, the Cutts and Tigers are eating them !!!!