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-24- <br />Bay and in Horseshoe Canyon. In addition, three nights of electro- <br />fishing were completed in the open area near Jug Hollow in Spring <br />Creek Bay and along the Boars Tusk near Antelope boat ramp. No large- <br />mouth bass were found in the nets or the electrofishing. Species com- <br />position of fish taken during these operations were similar to those <br />obtained during the regular gill-netting periods. <br />Discussion <br />Increases in rainbow trout numbers taken during gill-netting <br />operations in the fall of 1977 were due mainly to the greater number <br />of 1977 planted fingerlings being caught. Barging of the fingerling <br />rainbow in 1977 may have contributed to this increase, although a larger <br />number of fingerlings were planted in 1977 (121/ac) than in 1976 (81/ac). <br />The effect of barging fingerlings to increase survival and distribution <br />may be better evaluated after the 1978 angling season and netting survey. <br />Decreasing lake levels in 1977 could also have masked the results of <br />barging. <br />It now appears that the white sucker is becoming the most numerous <br />rough-fish in the reservoir if it is not already. This species has a <br />very high reproductive rate and seems to be less vulnerable to predation <br />than other species in the lake. The apparent decrease in Utah chub this <br />year may be just a temporary depression caused by unfavorable spawning <br />conditions or it may be related to interspecific competition and/or <br />predation. <br />Recent declines in the rainbow trout population has coincided with <br />increases in the white sucker and chub populations. Large predatory <br />fish, brown trout and especially lake trout, have also increased during