Ohrid Trout

[rgarbar]

Does anyone know if Ohrid Trout are still being caught out West? I heard there was a reproducing population in a place called Pathfinder Reservoir. We had a deep local lake in nearby Tennesee that was stocked years ago but apparently the Ohrid never reproduced. The TN state record is 14+ lbs.

 

[SuperD]

Out west, all the monster trout being planted are triploids. That is a fish that has been genetically created to be sterile, thus all the fish's energy goes into growth rather than producing sexual organs and the ability to reproduce. These fish are known to grow to over 20 lbs. It is a put and take fishery.

 

[rgarbar]

Some Ohrid Trout Info

The Ohrid trout was stocked in Parvin Lake, Big Creek Reservoir, and Turquoise Lake in Colorado, in 1969 , seven lakes in northern Minnesota, including Strawberry Lake, Chester Lake, and Big Trout Lake. An unspecified locality in Montana, Watauga Reservoir and South Holston Reservoir Tennessee; and a few reservoirs in Wyoming, including Viva Naughton Reservoir on the Green River, lakes near Casper, and the North Platte River.

The Ohrid trout was brought into the United States by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and shipped to a federal hatchery in Iowa and a state hatchery in Minnesota as it faced extinction in it's native waters. In 1965, eggs from Yugoslavia were hatched in the United States; young fish were released into several small lakes in northern Minnesota in 1968 and 1969 (Stroud 1969). Ohrid trout have been stocked in Tennessee in 1971. The species was first stocked in Colorado in 1969 (Wiltzius 1985).

Status: Introductions into most of these states failed. Repeatedly stocked in Tennessee with no evidence of reproduction yet (Etnier and Starnes 1993). Reports that even though there has been no reproduction, spawning has been observed in Tennessee.

Impact of Introduction: Unknown.

Remarks: A state record-sized fish was taken from the North Platte River in Wyoming in 1986 (Wyoming Game and Fish, Fish Division 1997).

 

[trollmonkey]

Hey Ron, I was over at Watauga a few summers back on a very slow day. i was reeling gear in about 830 getting ready to head home.I had a 4" Evil-Eye spoon on the lightest rod out.As I cranked it up a huge dark shape was chasing and this time it wasn't my mind playing tricks. The fish hit ran 20' rolled and the hook pulled. My first thought was it was a brown of 7-8 lbs that was football shaped like the big ones in Jocassee. I know browns are everywhere but had not been stocked in the lake that I knew of. Later I wondered if that fish was an Ohrid and thought I might have missed a chance at very unique trout.crymeariver

 

[rgarbar]

Mark

I would like to think the Ohrid still swims in Watauga. Similar to the brown trout it could easily be mistaken by most anglers. Watauga is a large very deep lake so who knows? Don't forget the lake trout in there as well. Did you ever get one in Watauga? Thanks for the reply.

Ron

 

[trollmonkey]

Hey Ron,Yeah we've been after the lakers for a while ,one or two trips a year.Had spotty success,our best laker was a shade under 5 lbs and have lost a couple of much bigger ones.If it weren't for my Kokanee obsession I would have put a lot more time in over there.The 85 buck non res license has been a problem ,so I've hit the June free fishing day a few times.Now TN has a 16 dollar non res one day all-fish license,so may try 2 trips this year.I was at Watauga a few days before the current laker record was caught(22 lbs). I caught an 8.5 lbs freshwater drum,it fought like a ten lbs cinder block.Also almost got hit two times by idiots unable to see a 16' white boat.