Brook Trout an Invasive Species

[treehooker]

From the Online newsletter of a Fly Fishing Shop in Welches, Oregon:



"Brook Trout were artificially propagated and

stocked in most cold water watersheds in Oregon by 1900. Between 1915 and 1990 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had a large stocking program with this specie, primarily in high altitude lakes. Recently it has been determined that Brook Trout can cross breed with endangered Bull Trout. They also can out-compete endemic cutthroats. These two traits have put them in the category as vermin to be eradicated in many watersheds. There is no angling limit in many places."

[Farmy Joe]

Funny how they thrive out west where they were introduced to watersheds as a non native species, but they are slowly disappearing in the east where they're the only indigenous salmonoid left.

[nympher]

After not catching a single brook trout in 2005 I thought the populations in the Farmington were dropping. This weekend I caught 6 after switching to a classic pattern I generally do not use. It was nice to see a fat 14" Brookie!