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JackM
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- Sep 9, 2006
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E're body knows brookies and even gemmies are push-overs. Quit exaggerating.
jifigz wrote:
When evaluating the number and types of trout stocked throughout the Commonwealth, it is astounding the number of Rainbow Trout that are stocked in comparison to Brook and Brown Trout. Why is this? The state stocks as many Rainbows as it does Brooks and Browns combined. Are Rainbow trout easier to raise in a hatchery setting than the other two? I can understand why Brook Trout are stocked the least as their habitat requirements are a little more picky and less common in the state than those that are suitable habitats for Browns and Rainbows,
but why not stock more Browns and less Rainbows? Given that by the large number of Class A Brown Trout streams in the state and the very few streams recognized as Class A Rainbow Trout waters, it seems that Browns are much more likely to colonize and create a self-sustaining and reproducing fishery. So why not stock Browns instead with the hopes to create a reproducing population of fish? I know that Rainbows do colonize and reproduce in a higher number of streams than they are given credit for, but Browns are still more likely to do so. Do they stock Rainbows to keep the wild Brown Trout genes separate and uncontaminated with hatchery brood? I doubt this as Browns and Rainbows are often stocked in the same waters...so I'm stumped. What is the reason?
jifigz wrote:
A couple of degrees can make a huge difference, but I believe that the 3 species' temperature preferences are within a couple of degrees, not what they can tolerate. Brookies can't tolerate water much warmer than the mid sixties while Brown Trout can tolerate water approaching the 80° mark. That is a staggering difference and can make all the difference in the world. Rainbows can tolerate water just a few degrees cooler than the maximum for Brown Trout.
JackM wrote:
pabrookie94 wrote:
They grow faster=less food=cheaper..
Whenever I painted for my Dad for extra money, he would always remind me that "paint is cheaper than labor." Rainbows grow quicker, but they only do this by consuming and processing food. The cost of food is the same, to grow to the same size, or closely similar, but it is spent quicker. Meanwhile, the other fixed and variable cost of raising a certain sized fish decreases.