Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County 11/12/2012
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ezpickins
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Maurice - just curious what your thoughts are on wild bows in the Little J. In PA we don't have many, but out west there are plenty of good rivers with both rainbows and browns. I certainly wouldn't want rainbows displacing native brookies - but if they displace some browns and share the river with them would that be bad? Maybe it would - I don't have any idea.
Just curious if there's a reason to think that wild rainbows would negatively impact the overall quality of the fishery.
Just curious if there's a reason to think that wild rainbows would negatively impact the overall quality of the fishery.
Maurice
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EZ, Thats a good question and I am not sure I have an opinion on it. I like the idea of diversity in species. Rainbows fight differently and seem to be more aerobatic than browns. But Browns rise more consistantly than Bows. And if a carrying capacity is achieved (or perhaps it already has) with the browns then adding bows to the equation will reduce the brown population and thus the numbers of rising fish. IMO
But as I said above, its a far cry from happening at this stage. The question is, What does the F&BC want a a management strategy for the river . And will they allow it to proliferate if recognized at the early stages...should it begin to occur.
But as I said above, its a far cry from happening at this stage. The question is, What does the F&BC want a a management strategy for the river . And will they allow it to proliferate if recognized at the early stages...should it begin to occur.
Agreed that having some diversity of species is a good thing. On larger waters with a wide range of physical characteristics such as the LJ it seems to me that some expansion of rainbows may not be a zero sum game with respect to browns and may produce more fishing opportunities in faster water and riffle areas etc(?).
With respect to the PFBC and management strategy, I'd guess that they would be inclined to let nature run its course. If bows become established in the LJ....what else could reasonably be done anyway? They could try removing them by electrofishing but this would probably be impossible for such a large water way that has bows coming in from tribs like Spruce. Selective harvest? Perhaps. Considering the headache the PFBC is experiencing over proposed efforts to remove rainbows from Big Spring.....I'd think the last thing they would want to deal with is something similar on the LJ. I really think they'll just let the issue go and whatever happens, happens.
Agree with both Maurice and Fishidiot above.
I've fished the Upper Delaware River for a long time and the bows and browns seem to thrive side-by-side. Interesting fact is the bows lived there first.
On the D River, the bows tend to populate the mainstem, lower down in the River than the browns in the warmer water. Also, from the anglers standpoint, the bows usually inhabit the faster water, feed more during the day, and fight and jump like there's no tomorrow.
Anyone that has fished out-west knows first hand that both bows and browns inhabit many of the famous and not-so-famous rivers and streams.
Finally, as Fishidiot wrote above.......whatchagunnadoaboutit anyway?
I've fished the Upper Delaware River for a long time and the bows and browns seem to thrive side-by-side. Interesting fact is the bows lived there first.
On the D River, the bows tend to populate the mainstem, lower down in the River than the browns in the warmer water. Also, from the anglers standpoint, the bows usually inhabit the faster water, feed more during the day, and fight and jump like there's no tomorrow.
Anyone that has fished out-west knows first hand that both bows and browns inhabit many of the famous and not-so-famous rivers and streams.
Finally, as Fishidiot wrote above.......whatchagunnadoaboutit anyway?
ezpickins
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My initial reaction is to think that it's not a bad thing. I've fished rivers out west with rainbows, browns, brookies and cutts - they each seem to find a niche.
Obviously it's not ideal to have invasive species out competing native - but since that's not the case, then I think it could be fun to have some rainbows in the little j.
As you say though whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen
Obviously it's not ideal to have invasive species out competing native - but since that's not the case, then I think it could be fun to have some rainbows in the little j.
As you say though whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen
jabink84
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Wild or not there are already alot of Rainbows in the little J. I think it will be a good thing to have populations of both browns and rainbows. One thing that I have noticed, is that the browns and bows seem to inhabit different types of water in the J. Most of the times I fish it, The bows will be in shallower runs with a little ledge, and there always seem to be more than one when you find some.
PSUFishMenace
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^Bingo...browns and rainbows are adapted to hang out in different types of water. I've heard that rainbows will hold in fast water and move into slower water to grab food, while browns and brookies do the exact opposite. can't say I've paid enough attention to this while fishing to back that up. They are shaped differently.
Unless there are some good native brookie tribs that rainbows could move into, I see no issue with rainbows in the LJ. I like their fighting style better than browns although a big one of either species is gonna be a good fight.
Unless there are some good native brookie tribs that rainbows could move into, I see no issue with rainbows in the LJ. I like their fighting style better than browns although a big one of either species is gonna be a good fight.
Why do people favor browns over rainbows? Some people treat browns like they are a native fish or something. Both rainbows and browns are not native to Pennsylvania. Browns aren't even native to this continent. As long as People aren't finding any rainbows in brookie streams, I am OK with them taken residence in some of our streams. I think we should allow rainbows and browns to fight it out and see which one wins out on the different streams. Why should we prevent one non-native fish from taking up shop in the neighborhood of another?
albud1962
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I don't think having rainbows in the Little J and it s tribs would be a bad thing since the fish commission routinely stocks rainbows in a portion of the J and bald eagle creek. I think nature should run its course, if rainbows become established then so be it. I don't believe an active program to establish rainbows is the way to go however.
