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After hooking my first pilot peak strain cutthroat at Pyramid lake in April of 2013, I was left feeling that these fish belong to the lake in a way that Lahontan cutthroat don't. Whether you agree or not, there is no denying that the pilot peak fish are a success story in the midst of many disheartening fish stories.
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ginkthefly replied on Permalink
I don't know the story of
I don't know the story of these fish. Fill me in? Great photo, BTW.
TheHaddisCatch replied on Permalink
Well I'd recommend trying a
Well I'd recommend trying a google search to truly do the story justice but the history of pyramid lake is that commercial harvesting, irrigation, and the creation of derby dam caused the extinction of cutthroat trout in the lake. The fishery has since been rejuvenated by the introduction of Lahontan strain cutthroat trout and the creation of spawning grounds to replace river spawning grounds blocked by derby dam. A few years ago a new strain was discovered in a high mountain stream (near pilot peak, I think?) and supposedly these are more true to the original pyramid lake strain. They have since been introduced and, as of this season, specimens in the range of 20lbs have been caught. They are truly a success story and I can vouch they are healthier and have more gumption in their fight than the Lahontans.
Thanks for your interest
Chad Shmukler replied on Permalink
It's my understanding that
It's my understanding that there's still no natural reproduction due to the lack of stream spawning habitat. Is this correct? The populations are wholly dependent on hatcheries?
Doesn't take away from the impressive recovery, whatever the case.
TheHaddisCatch replied on Permalink
Sorry for the delay:
Sorry for the delay:
You are correct-- historically the fish would swim up into the truckee river for spawning purposes. Derby dam put a stop to this and currently prevents any hope of tributary spawning behavior.
But, yeah, it's still an amazing place with some increasingly amazing fish!
cheers,
flyfishtruckee replied on Permalink
The pilot peak strain is
The pilot peak strain is still a Lahontan cutthroat, it's just a strain within the subspecies that supposedly more closely matches microsatellite data from LCT in the Smithsonian than other extant strains of LCT. Also, it's the two dams on the reservation that block upstream passage more so than Derby. They've made weak attempts to mitigate these dams, but that's another story. Derby will be an issue when the other two dams can provide passage because the diversion lacks screening to prevent Cui ui from becoming entrained in the Truckee Canal. Only after the diversion is screened will the functional passage be opened up and allow upstream passage beyond Derby dam. Sorry to get into the weeds with this, but the Pilot Peak PR machine has done a lot to misinform otherwise conservation-minded anglers and I had to put in my two-cents.
Oh, and I really do like this picture and all the others that you take. Keep up the good work.
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