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First rainbows, now brown trout
reproduce naturally in Oklahoma's Lower Mountain Fork River
November 21, 2007 - In 2006, fisheries biologists
for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation confirmed
the natural reproduction of rainbow trout in the Lower Mountain
Fork River in southeast Oklahoma, and this year, the same can
be said for brown trout.
For the first time ever, fisheries biologists have
documented natural reproduction of brown trout in Oklahoma .
As with rainbow trout, the discovery was made in the Lower Mountain
Fork River trout fishery below Broken Bow Lake .
"Anglers on the Lower Mountain Fork River
have been catching young brown trout that were not stocked,"
said Jeff Boxrucker, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife
Department. "We can tell because of the age and size of
the fish being caught. The brown trout that we stock are bigger
than some of the young fish being caught."
The Wildlife Department first stocked the Lower
Mountain Fork River with trout almost 20 years ago. Since that
time the 12-mile designated trout stream has seen many habitat
improvements, among them the renovation of the Evening Hole and
Lost Creek areas that are now providing fishing opportunities
to anglers. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Oklahoma 's
congressional delegation, the U.S. Congress passed the Water
Resources Development Act in 1996 to ensure that cool water from
Broken Bow Lake is released throughout the year to sustain the
trout fishery.
"The natural reproduction of both rainbow
trout in 2006 and now brown trout in the Lower Mountain Fork
River are prime examples of what happens when people come together
for cooperative habitat initiatives," Boxrucker said. "We
could have never completed these efforts nor seen these milestones
in trout management without generous donations, support and effort
from several trout clubs in Oklahoma and Texas . This is exciting
news, but just like when the naturally reproduced rainbow trout
were documented, we don't know if this is a one-time thing or
if reproduction will occur each year. Hopefully, natural reproduction
will continue."
Wildlife Department fisheries biologists will
monitor possible future trout reproduction and track the survival
of these young trout.
In the meantime, fisheries biologists will continue
improving habitat in the area through projects like the national
award-winning Evening Hole Restoration Project - the most ambitious
stream restoration project undertaken by the Department - and
other projects such as the bubble plume diffuser installation
in Broken Bow Lake, designed to provide colder water to the Lower
Mountain Fork River.
Because brown trout feed a great deal on the surface,
they have become very popular with fly fishermen. The stocky
brown is a bulldog fighter when hooked, occasionally leaping
out of the water. Fishing for browns is best on overcast days,
in early morning before the sun is up and at night. On bright
days, fish are more often found in the shade of undercut banks
or overhanging vegetation.
Browns commonly feed on mayfly and caddisfly nymphs,
grasshoppers, worms, crayfish and minnows. The brown's varied
diet enables anglers to employ some of the same methods used
to catch rainbows. However, at the Lower Mountain Fork River
designated trout area, fishing in some areas is restricted to
artificial flies and lures with barbless hooks only.
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