02-25-2015, 01:53 PM
Doc, I get it, and I appreciate your perspective. I am not sure the fish population in Henry's is maxing out consumption of the food sources, but I have not read any studies on that.
The fish strains the IDF&G have been stocking for years across the state are mostly either from California ("White Cloud") or hybridized Kamloops. Both do well in hatcheries up to the stocking size, so they are cost efficient. Hardly "genetically pure" Idaho natives. The F&G is stocking mostly female Triploids, which I have been told were sterile. I am sure a few males slip through the cracks. Still a lot better than watering down the native genetics with 100K fish that are a completely different genetic soup IMO.
In reality, not everyone is EVER going to be satisfied with the IDF&G. There are those that want walleye and catfish in every lake in the state. Others want 100% pure, native strain fish. The best they can do is the "happy medium". Maxing the size of the fish people are catching makes most people happy. Preserving the genetics of what is left of the native species, while providing a good fishing opportunity is probably about the best they can do I guess.
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The fish strains the IDF&G have been stocking for years across the state are mostly either from California ("White Cloud") or hybridized Kamloops. Both do well in hatcheries up to the stocking size, so they are cost efficient. Hardly "genetically pure" Idaho natives. The F&G is stocking mostly female Triploids, which I have been told were sterile. I am sure a few males slip through the cracks. Still a lot better than watering down the native genetics with 100K fish that are a completely different genetic soup IMO.
In reality, not everyone is EVER going to be satisfied with the IDF&G. There are those that want walleye and catfish in every lake in the state. Others want 100% pure, native strain fish. The best they can do is the "happy medium". Maxing the size of the fish people are catching makes most people happy. Preserving the genetics of what is left of the native species, while providing a good fishing opportunity is probably about the best they can do I guess.
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