Bambooflyguy
Legend
It’s been quite a few years for the slightly longer walk in….guess I can’t catch tigers or browns there if I don’t go!?
Catching a unicorn & DFL late report
- Thread starter Peach
- Start date
Even though brown and Tiger trout fry have been planted in that first lake in good numbers, I think the reason we don't catch as many as are planted is that there aren't many good shoals on that lake, so there isn't much insect food available for the fish. I theorize that the rainbow fry out-compete the brown and Tiger fry for the available food, so most of the browns and Tigers die from starvation. The smaller browns and Tigers that are occasionally caught are almost always quite thin, thinner than similarly-sized rainbows. The ones that do survive to become larger are then able to feed on the dace minnows and crayfish, so then they finally are able to put on some weight (like that nice brown you landed). That's why your best chances of catching a larger brown or Tiger is by casting to the edges of the reeds where the dace are or along the rocky scree where the crayfish hide.
The second lake you fished is similar to the first one in that both are planted with browns and Tigers. The second lake has more shoal areas that provide the fish with more insect food, so the fish are generally in better condition than the first lake. Still, brown and Tigers are not caught very often, maybe a bit more. The small ones are still thinner than similarly-size rainbows, so I think the same theory applies, that the rainbow fry are out-competing the brown and Tiger fry for food. I'm no fisheries biologist, so take what I write with a grain of salt.
I have long thought that an interesting experiment would be to make that first lake a totally brown and Tiger trout fishery so the brown and Tiger fry wouldn't have to compete with the rainbow fry for survival. The Antilon Lakes are the only lakes in WA that I know of that are totally brown trout fisheries, but it is hard to judge the success of a brown trout fishery by those lakes, as they are infested heavily with bluegills and crappie that out-compete most of the brown trout for insect food. The few browns that do survive get big by eating the bluegill and crappie fry. However, a totally brown and Tiger trout fishery would likely be a more difficult fishery than it is currently, and what fisheries biologist would want to risk the ire of fly fishers who are happy with the way the lake fishes now? So I don't see that experiment happening in the remainder of my lifetime.
In the past I did suggest to the fisheries biologist in charge of that first lake that we reduce the fry numbers to more realistically match the number of fish to the available insect food. In 2017, the rainbow fry numbers were reduced from 5,500 to 6,000 fry to 3,000, and I think subsequently, the quality of the fish in that lake has improved. Similarly, a suggested reduction in the planting rate of rainbow fry in that second lake from 7,500 to 4,500 in 2016 has helped improve the quality of that fishery. Anyone who has caught fish in that second lake since 2016 can confirm that the fish are chunkier and stronger. However, the trade-off is that the fishery is more difficult, but isn't that what one expects in a quality fishery?
Anyways, that's a long answer to your question of whether browns and Tigers are planted in that first lake, but maybe the background information will be helpful. I'm still advocating for a greater reduction in the number of rainbow fry in that first lake to help that lake be a better quality rainbow fishery, but in the process also help the brown and Tiger trout survival. That second lake is one of the few lakes where it does seem that the browns and Tigers are helping to keep the dace population under control.
The second lake you fished is similar to the first one in that both are planted with browns and Tigers. The second lake has more shoal areas that provide the fish with more insect food, so the fish are generally in better condition than the first lake. Still, brown and Tigers are not caught very often, maybe a bit more. The small ones are still thinner than similarly-size rainbows, so I think the same theory applies, that the rainbow fry are out-competing the brown and Tiger fry for food. I'm no fisheries biologist, so take what I write with a grain of salt.
I have long thought that an interesting experiment would be to make that first lake a totally brown and Tiger trout fishery so the brown and Tiger fry wouldn't have to compete with the rainbow fry for survival. The Antilon Lakes are the only lakes in WA that I know of that are totally brown trout fisheries, but it is hard to judge the success of a brown trout fishery by those lakes, as they are infested heavily with bluegills and crappie that out-compete most of the brown trout for insect food. The few browns that do survive get big by eating the bluegill and crappie fry. However, a totally brown and Tiger trout fishery would likely be a more difficult fishery than it is currently, and what fisheries biologist would want to risk the ire of fly fishers who are happy with the way the lake fishes now? So I don't see that experiment happening in the remainder of my lifetime.
In the past I did suggest to the fisheries biologist in charge of that first lake that we reduce the fry numbers to more realistically match the number of fish to the available insect food. In 2017, the rainbow fry numbers were reduced from 5,500 to 6,000 fry to 3,000, and I think subsequently, the quality of the fish in that lake has improved. Similarly, a suggested reduction in the planting rate of rainbow fry in that second lake from 7,500 to 4,500 in 2016 has helped improve the quality of that fishery. Anyone who has caught fish in that second lake since 2016 can confirm that the fish are chunkier and stronger. However, the trade-off is that the fishery is more difficult, but isn't that what one expects in a quality fishery?
Anyways, that's a long answer to your question of whether browns and Tigers are planted in that first lake, but maybe the background information will be helpful. I'm still advocating for a greater reduction in the number of rainbow fry in that first lake to help that lake be a better quality rainbow fishery, but in the process also help the brown and Tiger trout survival. That second lake is one of the few lakes where it does seem that the browns and Tigers are helping to keep the dace population under control.
BlakeHerrington
Steelhead
At the first lake, I have multiple days were an otherwise-calm lakes comes alive with lots of rises in the final 60 minutes before sunset. And I've never seen many rises any times before that. Curious if others have noticed that too. I've alos fished ALL over the lake with raft and kayak, and never done as well against the rocky/cliffy side (or the middle) as against the more weedy side.
I'm curious if others have noticed the same or different patterns.
I'm curious if others have noticed the same or different patterns.