CA Dept. of Fish & Game forgot a Native Trout for the CHTC!!!!!!!!!!!
I contacted Dr. Robert Behnke via email this week and he responded to me confirming my suspicions that Upper Klammath Lake Redbands do in fact exist in CA and he has actually documented the waters they inhabit in his prior writings in AFS series. Looks like there is one more Native Trout to catch in CA guys! Brings the total of Native Trout to 13 now if you include Steelhead but who knows if they will ever recognize the UKL Redband on future CHTC certificates. I feel somewhat vindicated with all my inquiries to CA DFG that all went unanswered.
Ned
Nice work!
I've caught UKL redbands before, but in southern Oregon, not CA. I didn't even think to look for them here. I wonder whether or not DFG will acknowledge their oversight, or perhaps there is some reason or rationale for leaving them off the list of heritage trout. I dunno. Either way, we all have another sub specie to research and pursue in our state. Again, nice work, Columbo (or Sherlock, Poirot, et. al. whatever you like best).
--Fly Guy Dave
Yep!
I caught some UKL with my Dad back when I was a kid on the Williamson R. Oregon. Never though in CA although I now have purpose again to go to another remote portion of our state. Not going to thumb my nose at DFG saying "Told ya so!" either. I think Roger and Jeff do great work with the Heritage Trout Program and we are real lucky to have the program and their hard work . Just kind of disappointed I never got a response on this subject. If Dr. Behnke confirmed and recognizes this sub. species existence in CA then the argument is tough to disprove. Just hope DFG will add this Redband sub. species to the group for future CHTC certificates. Not to sound too corny but moral to this story is never give up and stand up for what you believe is true.
Ned
What about the Sheephaven
What about the Sheephaven sub-species? Why is it not listed on the CHTC?
Chris
Well that is also a controversial topic
The trout found in Sheepsheaven Creek are referred to as the most genetically pure McCloud Redband trout found and can almost be classified as a separate sub. species of redband, apart from the other populations found in the McCloud Basin. But for now, Trout found in Sheepsheaven Creek are recognized as McCloud Redband Trout by DFG and are totally off limits to angling.
Ned
Sheephaven
Can you imagine what would happen to that fragile little creek if even a handful of fishermen tried to catch a trout out of it?
I would love to do it, just to say I had, but I don't think I ever would, just because I shouldn't...
CB
Sheephaven trout
There are two populations of Sheephaven trout moved outside of the native creek which can be fished for in California. Dr. Behnke considers them, unofficially, to be a seperate subspecies but as of now they are lumped in with o.m.stonei. The process for getting subspecies named seems to be somewhat laborious and silly, to us uneducated masses anyway.
Brian
You are correct however....
Those two populations that have established populations descended from transplanted fish from Sheepsheaven also were introduced in waters that were historically planted by DFG and recent DNA analysis has show these fish aren't 100% pure when compared to the sample of Sheepsheaven population. I have caught fish in one of these two populations you reference and they are large specimens (up to 10") when compared to another McCloud Redband stream I have caught fish in that has never received tranplants from Sheepsheaven (about 6") which resembles life history of the fish found in Sheepsheaven. This stream is considered by DFG biologists to contain the "2nd" most pure population of McCLoud Redband next to the Sheepsheaven population which is and should be protected forever. This 2nd place population is also the most difficult stream to find of all the McCLoud Reband streams. It can easily be identified, but locating the "water" can take weeks of footwork.
Sheepheaven....
Edward....could you send me a reference for the study you are referring to about introgression into the introduced Sheepheaven populations? I can't find it and collect this type of information. Behnke says these 2 streams did have populations of hatchery rainbows which were eradicated by chemical treatment before the trout from Sheepheaven Creek were introduced. You are so totally right about protecting Sheepheaven Creek forever as it would be overrun and destroyed instantly if it were ever opened to fishing of any kind.
From my reading of "pure" redbands of the o.m.stonei, it becomes a somewhat murky point from what RB expresses in his writings. He considers the Sheepheaven as a relict population of the original invasion of trout up the McCloud River and their isolation has kept them virtually untouched. Their descendants in the McCloud River were subjected to later invasions (according to Behnke at least two and probably three) of coastal rainbows introgressing the original stock of McCloud Redbands....so there are varying degrees of purity (or fish more resembling the Sheepheaven trout) as you say, depending on how isolated particular headwaters would be.....would love to find you stream ;-) ,
Brian
Hey Ned
I've tried to email you twice through this site - did you get the messages? If not, can you send my your email address?