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C species in Flaming Gorge and is utilized by the wild rainbow strains which are scheduled for introduction, it may be that introductions of the spottail and emerald shiner introductions will not be necessary. Until the success or failure of the Bonneville cisco and Bear Lake sculpin plants can be determined and the utilization of the kokanee salmon by rainbow, brown, and lake trout can be evaluated, no further forage introductions should be made. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Continue barge distribution of fish, when possible, especially in the Inflow and Upper Open Hills Areas. Research literature for any studies which may have been done to evaluate barge distribution of fish. Decide the method which will be used to plant fish before the rainbow strain evaluation begins. 2. Continue with plans to evaluate the McConaughy rainbow, Eagle Lake rainbow and Gerrard strain of Kamloops trout. The following stocking schedule has been proposed for Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Year Species (Strain) Number size 1984 - 1985 McConaughy RBT 400,000 4.3/lb. Eagle Lake RBT 400,000 4.3/lb. 1986 - 1988 McConaughy RBT 267,000 4.3/lb. Eagle Lake RBT 267,000 4.3/lb. Gerrard (Kamloops) RBT 267,000 4.3/lb. 3. Although advanced fingerling plants of Snake River cutthroat and Strawberry cutthroat trout show little potential in Flaming Gorge, plants of sub- catchable Snake River cutthroat in the fall did show some promise. If the three strains of rainbow scheduled for introduction in the reservoir fail, a spring planted catchable cutthroat (Snake River cutthroat, Lahonton cutthroat, and the Bear Lake cutthroat trout) could be evaluated. 4. Spring plants of catchable brown trout should be continued on an every other year basis starting in 1985. A thorough evaluation of creel returns by number and weight should be done after the 1987 full intensity creel survey to determine the future of brown trout in Flaming Gorge. 5. Develop a Flaming Gorge strain of brown trout. Gill nets or trap nets should be used to capture spawning brown trout in the reservoir. At least 200,000 eggs should be taken per year. All fish raised from these eggs will be planted back into the reservoir and Green River on an every other year basis. Disease certification will be needed before eggs can be taken into the hatchery system. Until certification is assured, all eggs should be incubated at the Flume Creek hatching facility. 6. Continue smallmouth bass fry transplants from the Open Hills to the Inflow Area until all available habitat has been stocked or a naturally reproducing population is established. -20- 17 P 1: 11 M r