Fishin' & Rockin' pt.1

That's a pretty sunrise and nice lookig fish

***Supposed to hit 90 today****

You poor thing you!

Curt

Yes, they are all Browns except for the 2nd, which is a Rainbow. The top one is more colored as it is a breeding age male, and his colors are beginning to brighten up for spawning season which for Browns is in October in this area. Rainbows spawn in the spring, as do Cutthroats. 'Bows and Cuts can cross.

Ironic, this area is blue-ribbon trout fishing but most trout are non-native to Montana. In this part of the state (mountain valleys) the only native trout is the Cutthroat, and the rare Golden trout found in some alpine lakes. There are two main sub-species of cutthroat known as east-slope and west-slope. (Rockies) The brook trout, brown trout and Rainbows were introduced in the 1880's and have pressured and greatly reduced the native trout. All Cutthroats caught in rivers and streams must be released, they may be kept in most lakes with a stable population. The Fish and Game often will poison off an entire creek, then build a fish dam near the bottom end to prevent non-natives from entering. Then they restock with the natives. I try to do my part to thin out the interlopers, though the finest eating trout is a Cut from a high mountain lake. They are all tasty though, cold clear water makes for firm sweet flesh.
Bill

Oh, Brook trout spawn in the fall too but are not genetically close enough to cross with the other trouts, as they are actually a Char. Their closest relative is the Arctic Char.