Fishing for trout, but what about those rough fish? The complex nature of managing a tailwater

摘要

In the 1970s, the Smith River tailwater in Virginia became well known among anglers, prompted by the catch of a state record brown trout, weighing 14 lbs. 6 oz. This trout fishery continues to gain attention from anglers as a choice destination to fish a self-sustaining population of brown trout, or "wild" brown trout. The interest of anglers to catch bigger brown trout and the potential economic value of this resource has spurred Virginia Tech and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to team together to perform research necessary to answer pressing questions about the future productivity of the tailwaten The main question managers wish to answer is how to enhance the fishery to produce bigger brown trout.