For the answer to the Kamloops questions I offer this. The Kamkoops
Rainbow is a Columbia River Basin Redband native to the Kamloops region
of BC. Back when the Rainbows were being labeled Salmo by the science
crowd, it's tag inluded Salmo Mykiss kamloopsii or Salmo kamloopsii.
Later it was found to be scientifically identical to the others who by
then had the moniker Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri, a Columbia River
Basin Redband. The Gerrard strain of the Kamloops was identified and
seperated from the old ghost town of Gerrard, BC.
Here ya go for a partial text but for additional reading: see
Kamloops Trout by Ron Newman
at www.fishbc.com
"Is there really a "Kamloops Trout"? A trout that is distinct and
different from other Rainbow Trout? Surprisingly the answer is both yes
and no. Since this seems a contradictory answer, it will require a quick
look into the history of the Kamloops Trout to discover why.
Fort Kamloops was established in 1812. Soon, the early residents had
time to try some angling in the local lakes. Virtually all the smaller
upland lakes were barren and only the larger mainstream lakes had
resident fish.
Over the next 80 years, stories began to be whispered about the trout
being caught in the southern interior of British Columbia. These stories
grew and told about a trout that had more stamina and strength than
other Rainbow Trout and grew to a very large size. It also looked
somewhat different than the familiar Rainbows."
>
Note: the smaller lakes were planted with trout from the bigger lakes
such as Kootenay.
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" Finally in 1892, samples of this fish were sent to a Dr. Jordan at
Stanford University. This was before the days of refrigeration and rapid
transit so I expect the fish arrived somewhat ripe. However, Dr. Jordan
went about the smelly task of identifying the fish and found that indeed
the fish were physically different from the Rainbow Trout scientifically
named Salmo gairdneri at that time (they are now named Oncorhynchus
mykiss).
>
These western Canadian fish averaged 150 to 154 rows of scales. That was
significantly higher than the scale rows of Salmo gairdneri. It also had
fewer gill rakers (those finger-like projections on the inside of the
gills which filter out debris), fewer rays or bones in the dorsal and
anal fins, and fewer branchiostegal rays (those indented lines under
each of the jaws).
Proportionally, the head of these trout was wider and longer than Salmo
gairdneri. The maxillary process and the length of the fins were also
longer. The underside fins were a brighter orange, more like a Brook
Trout, and the camouflage spots were more distinct than on other Rainbow
Trout.
Armed with these physical differences and the stories of their stamina,
strength, and size, Dr. Jordan believed he had a new species of trout.
He gave it the scientific name Salmo kamloops or Kamloops Trout. With an
official name, the legend of the Kamloops Trout had begun.
Over the next 30 years, a couple of small fish hatcheries were
established, some of the smaller lakes were stocked with Kamloops Trout
and a commercial fishery was even started on the larger lakes in the
area. Lakes such as Kamloops, Kootenay and Shuswap Lakes were producing
fish that averaged about ten pounds. And there were stories of fish from
30 to 55 pounds, such as the big one from Jewel Lake."
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Note: Jewel Lake's fish were stocked Gerrard Kamloops Trout.
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" Trout Fly fishers started to fish the newly stocked but smaller lakes.
Kamloops Trout of 15 to 18 pounds were being caught from lakes after the
third year of stocking. Salmo kamloops was becoming known to wealthy
anglers around the world."
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Note: After the first few years the size of the fish dropped dsteadily
as the invertebrte food base was decimated.
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"Then in 1931 a Dr. Mottley began to study the Kamloops Trout. He
discovered that the differences in Salmo Gairdneri and Salmo Kamloops
were due to environmental conditions rather than genetic differences."
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I'll leave that article whcih goes on with fascinating facts about how
the differences in the fish were discoverd to be environmental instead
of genetic, etc (go check it out--great reading)
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Next go to www.beachcombersmarina.com and read "Gaints of Gerrard"
another excellent article telling of the discovery of the strain, the
susequent stocking and hatchery problems, etc
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Then check out www.aquahabitat.com and read the Fish Myths section for
a bit of additional info on these fish.
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Lastly read: Redband Rainbow Trout
Address:http://www.fisheries.org/AFSmontana/SSCpages/redban%20status2.htm
For info on the Columbia Basin Redband and down into the article is a
section on the CBR, Kamloops, Gerrard Rainbow Trout! An adfuvial
population of the sub-strain known as Kamloops, of the strain known as
Columbia Basin Redband or Oncorhynchus Mykiss Gairdneri.
>
Good Fishing
Chuck S
Hope this clears up any misunderstanding
Fishing East Central Florida - Flyfishing
