02-22-2013, 06:09 PM
I think you are kind of missing the boat though.
It comes down to whether you want a lake with lot's of smaller fish that grow fast and get to 3-4lbs quickly but never reach massive sizes....
Or a lake that has the food supply to support and grow massive specimens, up to 20lbs.
There is a big difference between the two scenarios in terms of predator / prey ratios and species present... but what I keep going back to is, how many other lakes in Utah produce 20lb trout? Only lakes that have an abundant food source (particularly for apex predators) will you see these massive specimens.
The thing that is being forgotten here, is that while a massive chub infestation is bad for rainbow trout and cutts, it is not nearly has harmful to browns and tigers... (it is my opinion and obviously a few others on here, that it is very beneficial to those species --> for growing trophy specimens)
You can have one or the other but usually you can't have both.
[signature]
It comes down to whether you want a lake with lot's of smaller fish that grow fast and get to 3-4lbs quickly but never reach massive sizes....
Or a lake that has the food supply to support and grow massive specimens, up to 20lbs.
There is a big difference between the two scenarios in terms of predator / prey ratios and species present... but what I keep going back to is, how many other lakes in Utah produce 20lb trout? Only lakes that have an abundant food source (particularly for apex predators) will you see these massive specimens.
The thing that is being forgotten here, is that while a massive chub infestation is bad for rainbow trout and cutts, it is not nearly has harmful to browns and tigers... (it is my opinion and obviously a few others on here, that it is very beneficial to those species --> for growing trophy specimens)
You can have one or the other but usually you can't have both.
[signature]