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Field Evaluation of Two Rainbow Trout Strains Introduced into Three British Columbia Lakes
Author(s) -
Hume Jeremy M. B.,
Tsumura Kanji
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1992)012<0465:feotrt>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - stocking , fishery , rainbow trout , fishing , trout , recreational fishing , biology , fish <actinopterygii>
Stocking of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss is one of the major tools used in the management of recreational fishing in small British Columbia lakes. These fish originate mainly from eggs of native trout in Pennask Lake and partly domesticated trout in Premier Lake, Using samples of the two strains collected with gill nets, we examined growth, survival, and early maturation characteristics of fish stocked as yearlings in three lakes of different productivity. We also compared the proportion of fish that had attained catchable size (>255 mm) and large catchable size (>305 mm) in the first and second year after stocking. There was no difference in growth between the two strains in Headwater #3 Lake, the least productive lake, but the Premier strain weighed at least 22% more than the Pennask strain in Yellow and Madden lakes. At the end of 2 years neither strain had reached a catchable size in Headwater #3 Lake, but in the other two lakes the Premier strain had produced at least 8% more catchable fish and at least 32% more large catchable fish than the Pennask strain. Males and females of the Premier strain matured earlier and at a higher rate than did those of the Pennask strain, which reduced their desirability. We conclude that the Premier stock is better suited to a high‐intensity fishery in which most fish are caught by age 2, whereas the Pennask strain is better suited to a lower‐harvest fishery whose catch includes a large proportion of age‐3 or older fish. Neither strain is suitable for stocking as yearlings into a low‐productivity lake.