The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just announced that it is considering placing the coaster brook trout on the Endangered Species List.  The coaster is a unique life-history form of brook trout that spawns in the tributaries of Lake Superior and moves out into the lake to grow to an exceptionally large size.

I wrote a blog entry on coaster brook trout a while back, with links to more information on coasters.  In addition, you can learn more about coaster research from Northern Michigan University’s Fish Biology Lab.

One complication that may arise with the potential listing of coasters is the fact that they are essentially genetically identical to their smaller brook trout counterparts, which exist at healthy population levels.  However, unique subpopulations and life-history forms can be listed separately under the ESA, and have been in the past.

Stay tuned for more info on the status of coaster brook trout.

A new Utah law that would allow sporting and environmental groups to purchase instream flows from irrigators in order to protect fish habitat has again seen the light of day.  The Instream Flow to Protect Trout Habitat bill passed in the state Senate last year but failed in the House.  New provisions which address concerns about hydropower generation and Endangered Species Act restrictions have garnered more support for the bill, and it’s expected to pass this year.  The bill is modeled after a successful existing program in Montana. 

With the passing of this law, fishing organizations could purchase water rights from irrigators, meaning that water would be left in the stream instead of being used to water crops, providing more and better habitat for trout during critical low-flow periods.  The bill is being praised by a wide audience and has the support of many conservationists, recreationists and farmers. 

Read the Salt Lake Tribune article here

A local fishing guide recently discovered trout spawning in south London’s River Wandle, a stream plagued with urban water quality issues where trout were not believed to reproduce. 

Trout have been stocked in this once famous fishing river in recent years, but this is the first time they’ve been documented spawning in a long time.  These results, combined with the newfound dedication from Thames Water to help restore the fishery, are generating optimism from anglers around the area.

Read the full story here

Title: Squaretails, Biology and Management of Maine’s Brook Trout

Author: Forrest Bonney

Copyright Date: 2007

Price: $10 at http://www10.informe.org/webshop_ifw/index.php?p=1859&c=12&storeID=2

ISBN-13: 978-0-9794363-0-7

Maine anglers and those who travel to the Pine Tree State in pursuit of trout have long been aware of the value of the brook trout fishery it provides.  Not until recently, however, has the unique worth of Maine’s wild and native brook trout populations been widely exposed.

Forrest Bonney’s new book, Squaretails, Biology and Management of Maine’s Brook Trout, comes at the heels of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a collaborative project evaluating brook trout populations throughout their native range in the United States.  Preliminary results from the Joint Venture are showing that Maine represents the last stronghold for native brook trout, containing more brookies in their historic range than any other state.  A heightened focus on brook trout in Maine sets a perfect stage for Squaretails, where Bonney attempts to provide a compilation of brook trout history, biology, and current status in the state from the perspective of both angler and fisheries manager.  

The history of fisheries management is rooted in the attempt to reverse declines in popular fisheries and maintain fishing quality over time.  While most people can easily relate to this concept, further understanding of the practice of fish management is often lacking.  Bonney attempts to bridge this gap in understanding between biologists and the public by describing in detail the research and data collection practices undergone in the fisheries field and why biologists do certain things.

In the book, Bonney, who has been a fisheries biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for 34 years, illustrates perhaps the best case yet for responsible stewardship of Maine’s brook trout resources.  He describes the long history and current status of brook trout fishing in Maine, including historical accounts of trophy squaretails caught in the state, and changes in the fishery over time resulting from the decline of brook trout populations in many waters. 

Forrest Bonney not only thoroughly describes the biology of brook trout in Squaretails; he also documents a fairly complete history of research and management practices that relate to brook trout in the state of Maine.  He explains the current threats to brook trout populations, as well as the future research needs to allow for proper stewardship of this valuable resource well into the future. 

Mark McCollough provides captivating cover art and other illustrations, and Ethan Nadeau and others provide excellent photography and illustrations, adding a valuable artistic element to the book.    

Squaretails is the most complete resource on Maine brook trout currently available and is a must read for Maine anglers and brook trout enthusiasts everywhere.  This book, as well as a more technical version of the same content are published by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and can be purchased at http://www10.informe.org/webshop_ifw/index.php?p=1859&c=12&storeID=2 . 

According to Peter Rolfe of the Australian Herald Sun, some in the Australian government are pushing to eradicate trout from some of the continent’s waters in hopes of restoring native species.  But such an idea doesn’t sit well at all with Aussie anglers.

Commission chief Wendy Craik conceded the removal of trout was a sensitive issue.

“I can understand that fishing people might be upset about this but we need to look at what is best for our rivers and native fish,” she said.

Trout were introduced to Australia beginning in the 1870’s, and the popularity of trout fishing has grown over time to the point where it provides an annual industry worth about $1.3 billion, much of that money brought in via fishing-related tourism.

Anglers and local residents are outraged, and argue that removing trout will be devastating to local economies.  In addition to removing trout, other fish species such as carp are expected to be targets for removal.  Many anglers do not oppose the removal of less desirable fish, but draw the line at trout.

In the Western United States native fish are plagued by nonnative trout introductions as well, but removing nonnative trout often opens the door for better opportunities to catch native trout species, which can be equally enjoyable to pursue.  Australians aren’t so lucky.  Removing trout from their waters would likely cause much more devastating impacts to recreational fishing because Australia lacks native trout. 

So will it be ’out with the trout’ in Australian waters?  Time and politics will tell.

Results from a recent genetic study in the state of New Jersey appear to indicate that some populations of brook trout in the state still contain the genes of the native strains that existed long before humans occupied the area.  The results come from research conducted by fisheries biologist Pat Hamilton, in conjunction with East Stroudsburg University. 

For many anglers, this is great news.  The idea of catching a native strain of trout holds great value for some.  Others, on the other hand, just want to catch fish, and may be dismayed by the idea that having native strains of trout may cause more restrictive fishing regulations.

The release of these findings come on the heels of a proposal to change the minimum length limit for trout in New Jersey from 7″ to 9″, among other proposed changes.

Read more about the genetic study here

A while back, I had the opportunity to see some cool pictures of tiger trout caught in Vermont by Maine resident Sean McAuley.  McAuley did what very few fishermen have the opportunity to do: he caught multiple tiger trout that occurred naturally in the wild.  He also took some great pictures of the fish and gave me the opportunity to post them here.

The tiger trout (Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis) is a sterile hybrid cross between brown trout and brook trout, and is very rarely seen in the wild.  Instead of looking like a typical hybrid with some coloration characteristics from each of its parents, the tiger trout looks completely unique.  It doesn’t just have the distinguishing spots and parr marks that other trout have.  True to its name, the tiger trout has extensive vermiculations along its sides that somewhat resemble the stripes of a tiger.   

It is believed that the cross between the two trout species results when a male brook trout fertilizes the eggs of a female brown trout.  While they spawn around the same time, brook trout and brown trout usually segregate during spawning, and do not share the same type of microhabitat for laying their eggs.  It is believed that brook trout typically tend to seek groundwater inputs for spawning while brown trout simply target suitable gravel.  Research has shown that brown trout and brook trout spawning redds seldom overlap, but in some cases they do spawn together, and tiger trout are documented in the wild from time to time. 

One of the reasons that the tiger trout is so rare is that the two species forming this hybrid are each in a separete genus, and have different numbers of chromosomes.  In other words, they aren’t as closely related as many other species that hybridize.  Brook trout have 84 chromosomes, while brown trout have 80. 

Tiger trout have become a popular tool for fisheries managers in a number of states, where they are bred and raised in hatcheries and stocked in lakes or reservoirs to provide a unique sportfishing opportunity.  Fish culturists have been successful in breeding tiger trout by heat shocking brown trout eggs, which adds an extra set of chromosomes and greatly increases survival rates.  Survival rates from fertilization in the wild are very low.

Because it is so rare in the wild, hybridization between native brook trout and introduced brown trout has not often been discussed as a threat to brook trout populations, while competition and predation by brown trout are believed to pose a more significant threat to native fish.  The tiger trout is truly a unique fish, only found in rare instances where brown trout and brook trout coexist, and I envy anyone fortunate enough to have the opportunity to land one!  

As part of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s effort to involve the public in management of the state’s fisheries, Bob Frye of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review sought input from six local anglers.  Participants come from a variety of backgrounds and offered some unique and interesting viewpoints and suggestions regarding trout management.

Opinions varied, and included the following:

1) Stop stocking hatchery fish on top of populations of wild trout

2) Stock the best fish in waters where they will provide the most benefit

3) Spend more time on habitat restoration

4) Work on fishing access issues

5) Add an extended, catch and release season prior to the general trout opener

6)  Recruit more fishermen, who will fish later into the season

For a more detailed account of these viewpoints, read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article here.

This huge 16 lb, 4 oz. brown trout was caught by John Chester in southern England.  The fish was caught incidentally after the season had closed, and was released back into the water.  The trout was reported as being the biggest brown caught in the area in over 100 years.

Weston Mercury article

The taimen (Hucho taimen) is the largest trout in the world, growing to over 6 feet long and up to 200 pounds!  While it has suffered declines from overfishing in parts of Russia and China, northern Mongolia boasts a healthy population of taimen.

Read more about taimen here and here