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-2- <br />rate. In spite of an increase in harvest in 1972, the fishery became <br />less of a family oriented summer fishery and more of a specialized <br />fall-winter trophy fishery. Decreasing net and angler catches of small <br />rainbow trout, the mainstay of the fishery, and increasing catches of <br />large, trophy trout seemed to indicate decreased survival of stocked <br />fingerlings, but good growth of those trout that did manage to survive <br />the first several years in the reservoir. Competition with the rough <br />fish for food and space was theorized as the root problem, although <br />trout growth and condition remained good. Predation from an increasing <br />number of large, predaceous trout may have had an impact on the survival <br />of stocked fingerlings. Predation may be an increasing problem since <br />lake trout are increasing their numbers in the reservoir. <br />Past work on Flaming Gorge Reservoir has centered around monitoring <br />the trends in the fishery and the fish population through creel surveys <br />and gill netting. In addition, studies of Utah chub life history, white <br />sucker life history, game fish food habits, and suitability of various <br />species for introduction have been conducted. Smallmouth bass and large- <br />mouth bass (M. salmoides) have been introduced as warm water predators <br />which might prey on and reduce the chub population while providing a <br />summer fishery, and threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) have been intro- <br />duced to compete with the chubs and to provide forage for trout. <br />Current ongoing projects are the creel survey, age/growth studies, <br />stocking to overcome inadequate natural reproduction, investigation into <br />lake trout life history, and a literature review to evaluate predator <br />` and forage fishes for possible introduction. <br />Impoundment of the Green River by Flaming Gorge Dam also created an <br />excellent tailwater fishery. The thirty miles of river between the dam