05-04-2012, 05:56 PM
[quote Tangled_not]I 've heard that predation was a big problem in the past while stocking the 3" fingerlings. now that they are back to planting 8" bows, maybe we're starting to see positive results?? i dont know for sure, it's just an observation. [url "http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/news/42-utah-wildlife-news/678-wd-at-strawberry.html[/quote]"][/quote][/url]
remember that predation can be more than just fish. Cormorants and pelicans can have a huge impact on fisheries and populations of fish. This is another place where strain can come into play. Consider whether or not the strain spawns in the spring, or fall. Now consider how large those fish will be when the cormorants and pelicans pass through. Those birds can wipe out an entire year-class of fish.
If you stocked Kamloops in a place like Minersville, it would be disasterous. Due to spawning timing, those young fish would "eatable" size in the spring when cormorants show up. You'd lose all those fish before anglers ever had a chance to catch them. So, you use a different strain (Sand Creek?) that spawns at a different time of year (spring vs. fall) so that the fish are large enough in the spring that the birds cannot eat them.
Attached is a nice article concerning bird predation (cormorants) on trout populations in southern Utah waters. Interesting stuff.
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remember that predation can be more than just fish. Cormorants and pelicans can have a huge impact on fisheries and populations of fish. This is another place where strain can come into play. Consider whether or not the strain spawns in the spring, or fall. Now consider how large those fish will be when the cormorants and pelicans pass through. Those birds can wipe out an entire year-class of fish.
If you stocked Kamloops in a place like Minersville, it would be disasterous. Due to spawning timing, those young fish would "eatable" size in the spring when cormorants show up. You'd lose all those fish before anglers ever had a chance to catch them. So, you use a different strain (Sand Creek?) that spawns at a different time of year (spring vs. fall) so that the fish are large enough in the spring that the birds cannot eat them.
Attached is a nice article concerning bird predation (cormorants) on trout populations in southern Utah waters. Interesting stuff.
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