The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
45°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Fish And Game To Study Effect Of Sterile-Trout Project Project’s Goal Was To Boost Genetic Purity Of Native Fish

Associated Press

Fish and Game Department biologists plan to spend the winter studying whether a program of planting sterile brook trout proved successful in keeping the genetic purity of native cutthroats, bull trout and steelhead.

During the summer, the state stocked 18 streams with equal number of sterile and normal hatchery rainbows.

Included in the study were the St. Joe and Coeur d’Alene rivers, Silver Creek, Crooked River, the Middle Fork of the Payette River, Mores Creek, the Boise River below Barber Park in Boise and the Middle Fork of the Boise River.

Many of the sterile trout had a small wire tag on the lower jaw. Anglers landing a tagged fish were asked to return the tag to the Fish and Game Department and could win gift certificates up to $200.

“We’re putting them in streams to provide sport fishing while trying to eliminate the possibility of hatchery fish breeding with wild species,” said Dan Shill, Fish and Game biologist in Boise.

British Columbia is testing the same theory, putting only sterile brook trout in streams.

Although biologists will analyze the data during the winter, it appears so far that sterile and hatchery fish were taken in equal numbers, said David Teuscher, Fish and Game study coordinator.

“These fish aren’t expected to grow to trophy proportions, since surveys show most of the hatchery fish put in streams are caught in the first three weeks. Research tells us that most hatchery fish put into streams died before the first winter if they aren’t caught,” Shill said.

But some do survive and that’s why hatchery rainbows spawn with native cutthroats to make hybrids.

“We don’t want to do that to cutthroats anymore,” Shill said.

Seven other states are taking a similar approach.

xxxx FISH TAGS The Fish and Game Department kept track of the sterile book trout by placing by placing a small wire tag in the lower jaw. Anglers who landed a tagged fish and returned the tag to the department and could win gift certificates up to $200.