03-31-2010, 06:53 PM
When the early tourists and explorers entered Yellowstone there were very few places with viable fish populations because of the canyon nature of the land. Waterfalls impeded upstream spawning. The parks experimented with several different kinds of fish to fill the lakes and streams including bass. The park managers recognized the tourist value of providing fishing opportunities and food for the local lodges.
I guess with that in mind, I would like to point out that there are very few places that had "native" fish. Fish hatcheries were taken out of Yellowstone in 1955 and all fish that grow in Yellowstone since then are "wild."
I think it just depends on the drainage and lake how I feel about it. The lake trout in Yellowstone Lake obviously have to go. However if you remove the lake trout and browns from Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake on the other side of the divide there would be no "native" fish in the area.
Windriver
[signature]
I guess with that in mind, I would like to point out that there are very few places that had "native" fish. Fish hatcheries were taken out of Yellowstone in 1955 and all fish that grow in Yellowstone since then are "wild."
I think it just depends on the drainage and lake how I feel about it. The lake trout in Yellowstone Lake obviously have to go. However if you remove the lake trout and browns from Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake on the other side of the divide there would be no "native" fish in the area.
Windriver
[signature]