Yellowstone cutthroat trout deserve intense focus. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
An elusive Lamar River Yellowstone cutthroat trout was the target for my only fishing day in Yellowstone National Park, and an early autumn sow-bellied beauty was eyeing my offering. As my eyes intensely focused on the golden prize, and my finger balanced delicately on the line like a needle reading the delicate bumps on a vinyl record, I reached my moment of enlightenment.
The splendor of Yellowstone's Lamar Valley. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
"Thunder beasts" bask along the Lamar River on that unforgettable day. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
The National Park Service was established to:
"...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the
wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in
such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for
the enjoyment of future generations." -Organic Act of 1916
such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for
the enjoyment of future generations." -Organic Act of 1916
Something sinister lurks below the surface of Yellowstone Lake. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
Yellowstone Lake was home to the largest population of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, yet this vast body of water has more recently become home to a sinister invader: lake trout. Lake trout are voracious and long lived predators that reach immense sizes, especially when they have access to fat laden trout as prey. Introductions of lake trout in Lake Tahoe on the border of California and Nevada led to the elimination of native Lahontan cutthroat trout, and there are worries that without an incredible effort, the same fate will be extended to its Yellowstone cousin.
Lake Trout are voracious predators that devour other trout when introduced into systems. (Source) |
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout were eliminated from
Lake Tahoe by non-native Lake Trout. (Source) |
Yellowstone Lake commands much of the landscape in Yellowstone National Park. (Source) |
The warning on the flier I received upon entrance to Yellowstone explained "Many Visitors Have Been Gored by Buffalo". Yet, without a knowledge of historical events, the vivid graphic could have easily lead me to believe that the American buffalo had once nearly driven us to extinction, instead of the other way around. In contrast, there is no confusion as to who is the agressor in the case between cutthroat and lake trout. Fisheries biologists are clear that Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations are declining rapidly, and reversing this trend is critical because of the important roles they serve in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone cutthroat trout are not only valued by anglers, but they are also important ecologically. Besides generating income for the park, cutthroat are an integral part of the natural ecosystem, providing food for bears, birds, and other critters, whereas lake trout do not supply these same services. In comparison to cutthroat, lake trout live deeper in the lake and do not migrate into tributary streams to spawn, and are therefore unavailable to the other native animals as prey.
Yellowstone cutthroat trout not only provide angling opportunities, but are also a major part of the ecosystem. (Source) |
Yellowstone Grizzlies rely on Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout migrations. (Source) |
Yellowstone fisheries biologists have been on the offense for more than a decade, setting gill and trap nets thousands of times in lake trout spawning areas and promoting the harvest of lake trout by anglers. Commercial fisherman have also been hired, and they are all putting a significant dent in the lake trout population, with recent annual catches in the hundreds of thousands.
Biologists surgically implant Lake Trout with tags to help track down spawning sites in Yellowstone Lake. (Source) |
Number of Lake Trout removed from Yellowstone Lake since being discovered in 1994. (Source) |
Complete eradication of lake trout in Yellowstone Lake is not the expectation, especially considering the size of Yellowstone Lake and the projected population size of lake trout in the hundreds of thousands. The rare example of a complete eradication is not without controversy, like that of northern pike removal in Lake Davis, California, where the use of a chemical fish killer created issues. But in the end, these controversies are resolved because of the common goals of conserving native trout populations and removing the invasive predator to restore the ecosystem.
Hopes are this sign is not just what visitors see on their way out, but is also the current status of the Lake Trout population in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
Similarly, people agree that the future of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake depends upon lake trout eradication efforts. While lake trout will most likely persist in the lake indefinitely, it is the duty and purpose of the National Park Service to ensure the long term survival of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Drastically reducing the numbers of lake trout and keeping them low will be a huge success.
The rise of a Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout to a fly is the experience of a lifetime. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
Future plans call for increased netting efforts for lake trout in Yellowstone Lake as well as the removal of lake trout from other rivers and streams in the park. Without these increased efforts, lake trout populations will continue to rise, future generations of anglers may be deprived of a truly unique experience, and the flora and fauna of the ecosystem will continue to suffer.
You can help preserve the legacy of Yellowstone cutthroat trout for generations to come! (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
In this vast wilderness set aside as a pristine place for all to enjoy, these efforts are just the nudge the Yellowstone cutthroat need to continue thriving in the ecosystem and to provide incredible moments of enlightenment for future generations of anglers and park visitors.
-Patrick Cooney
The Teton Range displaying Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout colors. (Photo: Patrick Cooney) |
“This is my submission for the Trout Unlimited, Simms, the Yellowstone Park Foundation and the Outdoor Blogger Network – Blogger Tour 2012 contest.”
Well said Patrick. I didn't get a chance to fish the Lamar when I was there but you couldn't ask for a prettier location in which to tempt a trout.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve!! I live out East in North Carolina, and have only been to Yellowstone this one time a few years back. The Lamar Valley was amazing, and if you make it back, definitely think about fishing the Lamar River. Best of luck in your adventures!
DeleteThat was an excellent post. Honestly. Good luck in the contest :)
ReplyDeleteThanks David, glad you liked it. Feel free to check out some of the other posts...I bet you would like the very first post on this blog where I wrote about the time I stocked trout from an airplane. Cutthroat in Yellowstone is a nice topic to write about because conservation just make sense. Something with such a large impact on the ecosystem is always worth the fight!
DeleteWow! I felt as if I had ventured to Yellowstone through your magnificent describtive words and stunning photographs. Proud I am of your writing of this great concern for Yellowstone cutthroat trout. My dream would be for us to flyfish the Lamar someday together. Congratulations on entering the contest. In my heart you have already won.
ReplyDeleteThank you for always reading and supporting me in my writing!
DeletePatrick, you've had an excellent week in essay world! I really thought you'd take the coleman prize but have to admit I'm glad you didn't (as much as I love my old tent, that easy up will sure improve my camping experience) This is another beautifully written and greatly educational piece. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteDonna, I could not be happier for you and Caden. Congratulations on a wonderfully written piece yourself...I laughed out loud thinking about sliding to the corner of a tent over the course of the night...maybe Coleman should put velcro on the bottom of tents and outside of sleeping bags!
DeleteThanks for reading and the words of encouragement. Keep up the great writing yourself, and I look forward to reading about you and Caden out camping in your new tent.