Predicting Year-class Abundance of Yellowstone Lake Cutthroat Trout

Download or read book Predicting Year-class Abundance of Yellowstone Lake Cutthroat Trout written by Ross V. Bulkley and published by . This book was released on 1962 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fluctuations in strength of year classes from 1945 to 1956 of Yellowstone Lake cutthroat from Pelican and Chipmunk Creeks are compared with the parental stock and several climatically influenced factors of the environment. Variations in year-class strength in the two tributaries were highly correlated with fluctuations in lake water levels. Strong year classes occurred in yeas of low water. Female spawner escapement, timing of the runs, and summer air temperatures were not significant factors. A formula based on water levels is presented for predicting year-class strength in Pelican Creek and in the Fishing Bridge area fishery. Stocking of fry in years of high water is suggested as a means of supplementing natural production. A method of forecasting lake water levels several months in advance of their occurrence is discussed.