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LIFE HISTORY OF THE LAKE TROUT IN FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR <br />Job F-VIII <br />Background <br />Although never stocked into Flaming Gorge Reservoir, lake trout <br />have entered the reservoir from the drainage and have become an <br />important part of the fishery. In 1977 a two-fish limit was initiated <br />to protect the expanding population from potential over exploitation. <br />Fishing pressure for lake trout has been increasing and anglers have <br />taken fish weighing more than 13.6 kg (30 lb). <br />Faced with increasing interest in lake trout, sound biological <br />data is needed to provide information for making management decisions. <br />This segment of the Flaming Gorge Fishery Investigations was initiated <br />to begin gathering basic life history and population information for <br />lake trout. <br />Methods <br />The first thrust of this segment was to delineate spawning areas <br />and spawning duration. During November, 1977, four diving gill nets <br />were used in the canyon and lower open hills areas of the reservoir. <br />Two nets were standard 125 ft experimental nets and two were 150 ft <br />double panel nets with 1 3/4 in and 2 in mesh. All sets were made <br />overnight beginning Nov. 1 and ending Nov. 18. Length, weight, sex, <br />and maturity were recorded for each fish. Scales, otoliths, and <br />branchiostegal rays were collected for ageing and stomachs were <br />removed for food habit analysis. A few of the larger fish were <br />quickly weighed and measured immediately after capture and then <br />released.