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Monday, May 13, 2013

THE TIGER TROUT

Special Announcement

The Third Meeting of the RTD Fly Fisherman Group will be on May 17th.  The Group will meet at 11:00 am until 12:30 pm.  Conference- CCP 10th floor (confluence)


The Tiger Trout

                                                                                                       




I'll bet you that if you asked one of your fellow fishers about the Tiger Trout, a blank look may appear on his or her face.  It certainly did on mine!

My wife and I were watching a fishing show called "Fishful Thinking" and it surprised both of us when the host began talking about the Tiger Trout.  He commented that he had never seen one in all of  his fishing experiences.  I was intrigued, so I decided to do a little research.

The Tiger Trout is a cross between the male Brook Trout and the female Brown Trout.  The cross hybridization can occur naturally but it is a very rare occasion.  It is usually completed by the Fish and Wildlife departments in the states that stock the species, using the eggs of the female and the sperm of the male.  There are only fifteen states that boast of a healthy Tiger Trout population.  One reason for the limited distribution- it is not cheap to produce this species.  A strong catch and release program is encouraged.  Fortunately, Colorado falls into this category and gives it fishermen another species to pursue.   

The Tiger Trout has a grayish-brown color that is blended into somewhat of a labyrinth pattern.  It has a square tail fin and a blend of yellow and orange in the belly region, and a spotted head which it gets from the female Brown.  And of course the male is the more striking of the species, as the female tones are a more tan to light brown.  They can get up to three pounds, mainly because all the nutrients they consume is for growth not for reproductive purposes.

Well now you may ask "Why is this fish even around"?  In Colorado, it is used to control the fish populations of certain waters.  They will consume other species of fish on a regular basis.  For instance, in the program we watched, they were used to control the overwhelming Brook Trout population.  The Brook Trout reproduce at a high rate and can put a lot of stress on the lake's environment.  So enters the Tiger Trout.  They will thin the overpopulated species and all will be back to normal.  They also consume larvae, insects, and some invertebrates.

This fish has now found a coveted a spot on my fishing " bucket " list.
 


Try it!   You'll like it!

'til next time



 
www.Fishfulthinking.com

www.eHow.com