Hi Folks,
When planning a trout pond made by damming up a stream, allowing the fish to reproduce, I have gotten to wondering why, exactly, the Rainbow Trout is absolutely everywhere and is a hegemon on six continents, and the Cutthroat Trout is almost unheard-of anywhere but its original range, despite its great qualities as a sport fish. We may be just feeling a bit contrarian, and there is a good bit more literature and support for the Rainbow and more premium breeds like the Kamloops, Donaldson, and Alpers. However, we want to at least explore and research the idea of stocking cutthroats in a pond like that.
It seems to me, from what I have read, that the Cutthroat might even be better-suited to the omnipresent stocking all over the world, particularly on the east coast and in lakes, due in particular to its ability to thrive in warmer waters than the Rainbow; its better performance vs. Rainbows in lentic systems (recent studies show they outcompete Rainbows in lakes); its great taste qualities; and the fact that it is supposedly a bit easier to catch than the Rainbow.
Is there some important point that make the Cutthroat less able to become firmly established all over the world that I am missing, or is it just a matter of luck and the Rainbow Trout happening to be discovered and capturing the public imagination early, and having a better PR department?
Thanks, and I look forward to hearing what y'all think!
