Trout stocking at Barrett

[falafeluver]

Let’s say it was allowed or could happen, a one-time dropping of raised trouts and would this produce larger largemouth bass?

[TaBASSco]

The trout probably wouldn't be around for as many seasons needed to make a difference. Lakes that a annually stocked are the ones that make a difference.

[Gotfish?]

A yearly stocking of tilapia might. They would eat that nasty filamentous algae that infests the lake in the summer too. They would have to be restocked every year as they die off when the water temperature drops below 55F. The Mexican lakes with the big bass have tilapia (year around though). They grow real fast so only fingerlings would need to be stocked.

[falafeluver]

A yearly stocking of tilapia might. They would eat that nasty filamentous algae that infests the lake in the summer too. They would have to be restocked every year as they die off when the water temperature drops below 55F. The Mexican lakes with the big bass have tilapia (year around though). They grow real fast so only fingerlings would need to be stocked.

Now that’s a very interesting idea!

A possible Lake Baccarac in our own backyard!

[Queue]

Let’s say it was allowed or could happen, a one-time dropping of raised trouts and would this produce larger largemouth bass?

A) Won't happen from CDFW's supply. Limited entry/access, only open in the warmer months, trout are not stocked to feed bass. The City could waste money it doesn't have and buy them if it wanted, but again, open in the warmer months, limited entry etc....

B) Without harvest of bass, and a ~10% food conversion (10 lbs of food consumed converts to 1 lb weight gain) you will see no improvement in larger bass. Most lakes in SoCal are stocked with trout yet trophy bass are few and far between. Trout are not the all-mighty panacea toward attaining trophy bass anglers hope they are.

[JWall]

Let’s say it was allowed or could happen, a one-time dropping of raised trouts and would this produce larger largemouth bass?

A) Won't happen from CDFW's supply. Limited entry/access, only open in the warmer months, trout are not stocked to feed bass. The City could waste money it doesn't have and buy them if it wanted, but again, open in the warmer months, limited entry etc....

B) Without harvest of bass, and a ~10% food conversion (10 lbs of food consumed converts to 1 lb weight gain) you will see no improvement in larger bass. Most lakes in SoCal are stocked with trout yet trophy bass are few and far between. Trout are not the all-mighty panacea toward attaining trophy bass anglers hope they are.

Harvesting bass is the solution! After a recent forum with Barrett junkies and DFW biologists, the competition for forage by the high numbers of bass, many caught and released vs harvested to some degree, is preventing the growth of larger bass in most CA lakes now and especially Barrett. While the catch n release ethic had honorable intentions, there are side effects. And as Queue says, stocking trout there is impractical and too costly for the city.

[falafeluver]

Got it, using expensive trout to make LMB get larger is not a good idea.

What about the thought of putting in small sized tilapia?

The thought of allowed taking LMB is another option as long as there’s limits in both catch amount and minimum length.

But I think most of the angler's fishing Barrett would probably still catch and release with the minority actually taking them back home.

I myself have tried LMB at a friend’s house, which was purchased at a market and both fried and steamed, just wasn’t for me but each their own.

[Queue]

The lake has bluegill, crappie, bass, crayfish, threadfin shad, silverside, bullhead, young waterfowl and insects as forage. There are plenty of forage options available and adding one more isn't going to change the fact there are too many mouths to produce bigger bass. Reduce the predation pressure and the remaining fish will grow bigger and faster.

[Gotfish?]

But none of those eat that nasty filamentous algae.

How about we net a bunch of bass and transfer them to Upper Otay Lake? That was a good lake before the big fish die off.

[JWall]

Got it, using expensive trout to make LMB get larger is not a good idea.

What about the thought of putting in small sized tilapia?

The thought of allowed taking LMB is another option as long as there’s limits in both catch amount and minimum length.

But I think most of the angler's fishing Barrett would probably still catch and release with the minority actually taking them back home.

I myself have tried LMB at a friend’s house, which was purchased at a market and both fried and steamed, just wasn’t for me but each their own.

Think you are right that most of us would continue to catch n release. I do think there would be enough of a harvest from those wanting that to make a dent tho. And I also agree bass is one of my least favorite tasting fish. It always seemed to taste muddy or sandy to me.

[Queue]

But none of those eat that nasty filamentous algae.

How about we net a bunch of bass and transfer them to Upper Otay Lake? That was a good lake before the big fish die off.

Water quality readings show that Upper Otay has had little to no oxygen for most of the year over the last several years. Fish need oxygen...

[Gotfish?]

But none of those eat that nasty filamentous algae.

How about we net a bunch of bass and transfer them to Upper Otay Lake? That was a good lake before the big fish die off.

Water quality readings show that Upper Otay has had little to no oxygen for most of the year over the last several years. Fish need oxygen...

Where did you find that information?

I had guessed the big fish kill of a few years ago was due to insecticide run off or something like that.

Might be too much nutrients in the water from runoff of lawns an agriculture, that can cause low oxygen. There is appears to be no outlet to the lake (at its current level) so pollutants can build up.