10-15-2013, 02:28 PM
Just look at Lee's Ferry back in the mid 1970's. There was no forage fish for those hog rainbow trout to prey on. They were growing to 15lb's by eating invertebrates.
Panguitch Lake is a very good current example of a place that grows large trout without forage fish. Whether anglers want to believe it or not.
History has shown time, and time again, that if you remove the chubs the trout grow FAST which = big fish. The trick is keeping the chubs out. Once the chubs come back, growth rates of trout slow and average fish size goes down. Sure, a select few may thrive and grow big utilizing chubs, but the population average as a whole goes down.
[signature]
Panguitch Lake is a very good current example of a place that grows large trout without forage fish. Whether anglers want to believe it or not.
History has shown time, and time again, that if you remove the chubs the trout grow FAST which = big fish. The trick is keeping the chubs out. Once the chubs come back, growth rates of trout slow and average fish size goes down. Sure, a select few may thrive and grow big utilizing chubs, but the population average as a whole goes down.
[signature]