03-26-2015, 04:28 AM
[quote PBH][quote wormandbobber]
The reality is this....in a good lake, brook trout can grow to 5 pounds in 2-3 years! Big brook trout were and are not the result of strain or long life but fast growth! [/quote]
People always want to bring up the current brook trout record by Milt Taft. They always refer to strain. But what everyone fails to remember is that the fish was caught shortly after a fish kill in that lake. We still see this today -- either after a winterkill or after a rotenone treatment the trout growth explodes and big fish show up shortly after.
The quote by wormandbobber is exactly correct. It was correct in 1971 when Taft caught the record fish, and it is correct today: Big brook trout are the result of fast growth.[/quote]No arguement intended: The amazing brook trout Milton caught was over 40 years ago. It may or may not have been the result of fast growth. It was indeed feeding in an environment full of redside shiners, and naturally, scuds by the ton. But was it the same short-lived strain on Boulder today? I feel that sometimes too much early growth can shorten the life-span of brook trout to where their peak is 5-6 pounds instead of 6-7 pounds. I am really not complaining at all, as any brook trout over 3 pounds just tickles me pink. But I do think there is perhaps a genetic change in todays Boulder brook trout from the strain caught by Milty. But, I surely cannot expect the DWR to duplicate that genetic pool. I can just emplore them to enhance their efforts on lower stocking numbers and sterile brook trout in their goal to restore the trophy potential of several Boulder Lakes. So far in the last year, they have totally followed the agenda.
Thank you, DWR. Hopefully some major possitive changes will come soon as the result of good management. I am very optimistic, and looking forward to the upcoming seasons.
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The reality is this....in a good lake, brook trout can grow to 5 pounds in 2-3 years! Big brook trout were and are not the result of strain or long life but fast growth! [/quote]
People always want to bring up the current brook trout record by Milt Taft. They always refer to strain. But what everyone fails to remember is that the fish was caught shortly after a fish kill in that lake. We still see this today -- either after a winterkill or after a rotenone treatment the trout growth explodes and big fish show up shortly after.
The quote by wormandbobber is exactly correct. It was correct in 1971 when Taft caught the record fish, and it is correct today: Big brook trout are the result of fast growth.[/quote]No arguement intended: The amazing brook trout Milton caught was over 40 years ago. It may or may not have been the result of fast growth. It was indeed feeding in an environment full of redside shiners, and naturally, scuds by the ton. But was it the same short-lived strain on Boulder today? I feel that sometimes too much early growth can shorten the life-span of brook trout to where their peak is 5-6 pounds instead of 6-7 pounds. I am really not complaining at all, as any brook trout over 3 pounds just tickles me pink. But I do think there is perhaps a genetic change in todays Boulder brook trout from the strain caught by Milty. But, I surely cannot expect the DWR to duplicate that genetic pool. I can just emplore them to enhance their efforts on lower stocking numbers and sterile brook trout in their goal to restore the trophy potential of several Boulder Lakes. So far in the last year, they have totally followed the agenda.
Thank you, DWR. Hopefully some major possitive changes will come soon as the result of good management. I am very optimistic, and looking forward to the upcoming seasons.
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