Comments on: Bringing Home the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

By: To Those Who’ve Made what we Take for Granted – Into Reality | Alvord Cutthroat Trout — Phenotype Remnant Rescue‎ | ‎Restoration Précis

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:27:14 +0000

[...] 2) http://bloodknot.net/2010/01/bringing-home-the-lahontan-cutthroat-trout [...]

By: Admin

Admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:15:53 +0000

From Mike Caltagirone:

The Nevada Department of Wildlife utilizes Marlette Lake east of Lake Tahoe and Catnip Reservoir in northern Washoe County. Both are open to fishing with special restrictions and seasons:

Marlette Lake: Season is July 15 through September 30, 1 hour before sunrise to 2 hours after sunset. Limit is zero (0) fish, catch and release only. Only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used.

Catnip Reservoir: Season is open the second Saturday in June through November 15, any hour of the day or night. Limit is one (1) trout. Only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used.

According to the biologists at Pyramid Lake, Pilot Peak LCT were not released into Pyramid Lake until 2006 but they were released into the Truckee River in 2004. There is no assurance that the fish released into the Truckee ever made their way to Pyramid Lake, however. There is also no indication so far that the fish being caught this year are larger than previous years. Perhaps the fishermen you know are just getting better? As far as decreased lifespan due to increase alkalinity, according to the biologists it is just too soon to tell how the Pilot Peak fish will fare. We all have high hopes for a triumphant return of 40 lb LCT, but we’ll just have to wait and see at this point. I encourage you to keep keep heading out there though. If we do find a return to the massive fish of the past, we won’t know until someone catches one!

By: ryan edde

ryan edde — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:24:03 +0000

I spend a lot of time researching fisheries in the west and I loved this article, I’m from Reno. Which 2 lakes in rural Northwestern Nevada did you reintroduce the Pilot Peak strain of LCT and are they fishable? I know you released 13,000 of the Pilot Peak strain into Pyramid in 2004, and this year they’ll be turning 6yrs old. I’ve also noticed larger fish than normal being caught this year Vs. years past, many over 14lbs, do you think there is a link between the Pilot Peak strain reintroduction into Pyramid and these large fish? Also, I realize the Pyramid has dropped about 100ft of the last 100years per the lake records making the water more alkali, and that such a drop in water levels in a terminal lake contributes to reduced life expectancy (per Pyramid lake fishery biologists) who now say the fish in the lake usually only live 6-7 years vs 10+ years back before the water was diverted for irrigation. Do you think this shorter life expectancy is due to alkalinity and low lake levels or the fact that the strain of LCT currently in Pyramid came from Summit Lake? Also, do you really think the reintroduction of Pilot Peak strain could result in 10-11yr old fish getting to their gargantuan proportions (60lbs when commercially harvested in the late 1800′s)? I’d love to get your insight!

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:36:06 +0000

Loved your article on the Lohontan Cutthroat Trout. I did not know the history of this elusive fish and found it fascinating. I caught a very small variety of the cutthroat in a mountain stream outside of Marble Colorado. Do you know if they are related?

I hope you write more articles on the history of different native fish.