Led By
Dr. George J. Schisler
Study Area
Parvin Lake, Red Feather Lakes, CO
Project Status
Ongoing
Research Objectives
- To evaluate the survival of different varieties of whirling disease resistant rainbow trout in the wild.
Project Description
To combat rainbow trout population declines caused by whirling disease, fishery managers started stocking Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs with various strains of rainbow trout shown to be resistant to the disease. However, some trout strains often exhibit characteristics of domestic fish, limiting their ability to survive in the wild, especially when stocked as fingerlings.
Therefore, CPW initiated a research project to compare and test the survival of different strains of whirling disease resistant rainbow trout stocked as fingerlings. Over a span of several years, researchers have stocked Parvin Lake near Fort Collins, CO with more than ten different strains of rainbow trout. Each strain differs slightly in its ability to survive in the wild and its level of resistance to whirling disease.
Researchers selected Parvin Lake because the reservoir is home to a variety of top predator species, such as brown trout, tiger muskellunge and splake. Thus, yearly monitoring results would identify the whirling disease resistant strains that could survive under high predation pressure and exhibit good growth rates.Researchers also tested each strain for its level of resistance to whirling disease after exposure to the parasite in the reservoir.
Overall, the results of this study will help researchers identify a strain of rainbow trout that is highly resistant to whirling disease and maximize survival and return to anglers when stocked as fingerlings. By stocking these strains, fishery managers can ensure a high proportion of catchable fish for Colorado’s anglers while also reducing the spread and severity of whirling disease in the state’s lakes and reservoirs.
Associated Publications
Fetherman, E. R., and
G. J. Schisler. 2015. Sport Fish Research Studies. Federal Aid Project F-394-R14. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Job Progress Report. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, CO.
Fetherman, E. R., and G. J. Schisler. 2014. Sport Fish Research Studies. Federal Aid Project F-394-R13. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Job Progress Report. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, CO.
Fetherman, E. R., and G. J. Schisler. 2013. Sport Fish Research Studies. Federal Aid Project F-394-R12. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Job Progress Report. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, CO.
