rainbows in the 'hooch

[coachman]

Howdy,

I know this question has been asked a million times, and debated on NGTO, but I was wondering about a couple of 'bows I caught very recently at Jones Bridge. About a week & a half ago, I landed two beautiful rainbows in the area that had very vivid coloration, all the fins, etc...normally I assume these are holdovers, if they are larger, but these were 5 to 6" maybe. Any thoughts about these fish? Are they just stockers that have been in the river for a long time but not grown? Thanks for your help.

Coachman

[Lisa Klein]

No, they were likely spawned in the Hooch. Due to drought conditions and low flows, both rainbows and browns have been successfully spawning and recruiting to the adult population for the past 3 or so years. Even in normal years there is likely some natural repro, it's just been more pronounced these last several years.

Count yourself as lucky to have caught one of these little beauties!

[knot trying]

Lisa:

Why are the rainbows more successful spawning during drought years?



------------------
What a long strange trip it's been...

[edwin]

I can't give you a scientific answer, but I believe the answer is that drought conditions do two things that increase spawning: (1) guarantee consistent flows that do not wash eggs away and encourages spawning and (2) less rain means less sediment to cover up the eggs. Again, I am not a scientist, but I have heard that these are the factors involved.

[coachman]

Thanks Lisa,

Wow, that's neat. I have heard repeatedly that Brown reproduction was confirmed in the hooch, but not rainbows. This is very interesting! Most of the postings I have seen on the NGTO site here, have shot down the notion that anyone has caught "stream-bred" rainbows. I appreciate the information!--also, again, the DH program going great, having all the additional big ones in the river is fantastic!

Coachman

[knot trying]

I've been catching small bows (5-7") around JB that have full fins, nice color and are very feisty on the hook.

Nice to think that they could have been streamborne.



------------------
What a long strange trip it's been...

[The Owl]

Attention: I am not a bioligist.


That said, I'm scratching my head wondering how "drought" conditions affect the Hooch. It would be interesting to know how much impact the lack of rain can produce on a river that is "flooded" and "drained" about once every 12-24 hours. We are left to suppose then, that there is significant evidence to suggest that the river's run-off from it's banks(or parking lots or construction sites...etc..etc.) is a substantial factor in the limiting of trout reproduction ??? If true( again, not that I would know), then perhaps with some sort of solution to the siltation and warmwater run-off problem, both rainbows and browns could occur naturally. The next scratch asks in what kind of numbers? The scratch after that wonders if the river might then be good enough for a C&R section?

my two cents, not that anyone asked. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif
Owl


Owl

[THE EG]

I think Edwin has it right.

Less scouring of redds due to smaller releases and less burying of the redds due to less rain induced sediments.

That siltation and warm water runoff problem is the multi-million dollar question, Owl.

[gfra]

I'm starting think that GG is brilliant. He's professed rainbow reproduction for a while (as long as I've been on this board). Now when are we going to hear that brookies are in there too?

Oh yeah, what about a weir? That would be cool, wouldn't it? What sort of money are we talking.

Maybe I can get Ted Turner to donate a little. I will just refer him to "the thread" in support of my begging.

[This message has been edited by gfra (edited 12-20-2001).]

[riverrat]

It's not exactly the drought that's improving the conditions for spawning but the decrease in power generation due to the drought. Power generation as currently practiced plays havoc with the river environment including the fish. Here's a link to a decent article on altered stream flows and the effect on fish and streamside environment. http://www.fisheries.org/resource/page8.htm