At the NSWCFA OGM today the meeting discussed a report in relation to stocking of Tiger Trout into various waters. DPI have been conducting a trial of stocking Tiger Trout into waters where trout are being predated upon by redfin. The Tiger Trout are envisaged to be less susceptible to predation by redfin, but also to contribute to control of redfin by their own predation of the redfin pest.
NSWCFA are seeking advice from DPI on their observations, however seek your assistance in a piece of ‘citizen science’. Would seek observations by you on any evidence of Tiger Trout predating on redfin from any Tiger Trout you might take home.
The Tiger Trout experiment has been on for a while now. Lake Lyell, Thompson Creek Dam and Lake Wallace (Lithgow version) have received them already
The Tiger Trout experiment has been on for a while now. Lake Lyell, Thompson Creek Dam and Lake Wallace (Lithgow version) have received them already
Also
https://www.facebook.com/NSWDPIFisheries/posts/121780536797848/
I received an email from Terry George of Australian Trout Foundation, they had championed stocking some tiger trout 3-4 years ago into a couple of crater lakes in Victoria; one being Purrumbete where there was a huge redfin population.
Australian Trout Foundation work closely with the VFA (Vic Fisheries Authority) and they agreed and have carried out annual stockings since then. Terry asked Dr Taylor Hunt, Manager, Inland Fisheries, if he had any research info at this time.
Thr response was:
Regarding Tiger trout – we haven’t noticed any clear effect from their stocking on redfin abundance or size.
However, we have noticed Tiger trout are incredibly aggressive and catchable – hitting lures and flies up to 8-9 times before hooking up! So, they possibly exert greater predatory pressure on redfin populations.
There is some evidence that they can dominate salmonid catches in Lake Purrumbete at certain times. For example, a Fly Fish Australia competition in September last year had the following results from 23 anglers fishing a weekend:
Total fish caught: 467
Comprising
Tiger trout : 402 (87%)
Chinook salmon: 46 (10%)
Rainbow trout: 18 (4%)
Brown trout: 1 (0.2%)
Keep in mind that last year we typically stock Purrumbete with:
Tiger trout: 6,000 yearlings
Chinook salmon: 50,000 (fingerlings and yearlings)
Rainbow trout: 10,000 yearlings
Brown trout: 10,000 yearlings
So, the numbers of tiger trout being caught are quite exceptional.
They are regularly 6-9lb too.