<< I would say you're lucky if brown trout have been eliminated. As an exotic
species they rate right up there with largemouth bass for destructive
capabilities! >>
No no no. Not true at all. Brown trout have not done anything
"destructive" to this fishery. If you are to look at the big picture,
everything is exotic. I think its very sad how many salmonids are being
misunderstood and rejected by people who are un-educated about them. In a
system where an exotic animal is introduced and does not replace another
organism in its ecological niche, and does not upset the balance, what
difference does it make?
95% of my efforts to improve our water quality are for trout, the same
goes for many naturalists. Obviously trout are not a nuisance in most
systems. There are countless organizations and people who are dedicated to
improve our water quality because of the direct result of better salmonid
habitat. Granted, in some watersheds in the west, native Eastern brook trout
have been introduced and are replacing other salmonid species. In some cases,
brown trout have replaced brook trout only because our thoughtless pollution
(thermal, chemical, ect) that has made the brook trout's existence
impossible, then we plant brown trout. Brown trout are usually not
destructive. I grew up fishing for brown trout, and am still growing up
fishing for brown trout, they are my favorite all-time favorite fish and I
have built priceless memories fishing and observing them. If something is to
be protected, there must be a motive. In michigan(and plenty of other
states), one of the biggest motives to improve our water quality is the brown
trout. I beleive salmonid species are our most valued fish, with the brown
trout being at the top.
__Dan McConnell Marshall, MI
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