Trout produced by Kim Tisdale Fisheries Biologist

TROUT

• Produced by Kim Tisdale

• Fisheries Biologist

• Nevada Department of Wildlife

• 2004

Salmon Family

Salmon Species

• Pacific Salmon

• Pink or Humpback

• Chinook or King

• Coho or Silver

• Chum or Dog

• Sockeye or Red

• Atlantic Salmon

• Atlantic Salmon

Salmon

• Anadromous

• Spends its life in the ocean but returns to fresh water to spawn

• Pacific Salmon die shortly after spawning

• Atlantic Salmon may live to spawn two or more times

Trout and Char

Trout Facts

• All salmonids are characterized by the presence of an adipose fin

• All salmonids require clean, cold water in which to live and have a low tolerance to habitat degradation.

• Primarily freshwater fish, however, many species develop seagoing races.

• Can you name the anadromous form of the rainbow trout?

True Trout

• Characteristics:

• Black spots on light background

• Stream obligate spawners

• Nevada’s True Trout:

• Cutthroat

• Rainbow

• Brown

Char

• Characteristics:

• Light spots on dark background

• Prefer colder water than trout

• Spawn in the fall

• Can spawn in a lake environment

• Nevada’s Chars:

• Lake Trout

• Brook Trout

• Bull Trout

Can You Name the Trout Native to Nevada?

• Cutthroat Trout

• Lahontan (Threatened species)
• Bonneville
• Yellowstone

• Bull Trout

• Threatened species

• Redband Trout

• Inland rainbow trout

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat Trout

• Once the predominant native trout in lakes and streams across the Great Basin

• Competition with non-native trout and habitat degradation can be attributed to the decline in the species

• Recovery activities by NDOW and other agencies are ongoing to reestablish these fish in their historic range

• Official State Record Cutthroat Trout:
• 23 pounds 8 ounces (Pyramid Lake, 1977)
• Unofficial Record: 41 pounds (Pyramid Lake, 1925)

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

• The most important trout in North America based on its contribution to sport fisheries

• Comprise over 90% of the hatchery production from Nevada’s four hatcheries

• Rainbow are native to waters along the Pacific coast

• All rainbow trout existing in Nevada are introduced with the exception of the Redband Trout which can be found in 12-mile Creek in the Northwest corner of Nevada

• State Record: 16 pounds 4 ounces (Lake Mohave, 1971)

Brown Trout

Brown Trout

• Imported from Europe in the late 1800s and stocked throughout the United States. They were first introduced into the Truckee River in 1895.

• Often described as the wariest and hardest to catch of all trout

• While they prefer colder water, brown trout can tolerate temperatures as warm as 75°F and can be found in slower moving water that would be unsuitable to other trout

• State Record: 27 pounds 5 ounces (Cave Lake, 1984)

Brook Trout

Brook Trout

• Native to the Eastern U.S.

• Stocked extensively throughout the U.S. approximately 100 years ago.

• Usually found inhabiting high mountain lakes and streams due to their preference for cold water (rarely found where temps exceed 65°F.)

• Popular with anglers – considered the easiest trout to catch and the best tasting

• State Record: 5 pounds 10 ounces (Bull Run Reservoir, 1980)

Lake Trout (Mackinaw)

Lake Trout (Mackinaw)

• Native range is the northern portion of North America from Alaska to Labrador and includes the Great Lakes

• Highly prized as a sport fish due to its large size (World Record – 72 pounds 4 ounces)

• Generally only found in deep, cold lakes

• In Nevada, they’re found in Lake Tahoe where they have been reported at depths as deep as 1,400 feet

• State Record: 37 pounds 6 ounces (Lake Tahoe, 1974)

Bull Trout

Bull Trout

• Native to the Jarbidge River system north of Elko.

• The Jarbidge is a tributary to the Snake River in Idaho, however, the populations are separated by 150 miles of unsuitable trout habitat and several impassable dams.

• Federally listed as Threatened

• State Record: 4 pounds 6 ounces (Jarbidge River WF, 1985)

• World Record: 32 pounds 0 ounces (Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho)

Life Cycle of Salmon and Trout