Strange Brook Trout - Page 2

EagleCrag · 05-31-2014, 06:32 PM

So who can do genetic testing to get to the bottom of this?

MarqueKugs · 05-31-2014, 10:09 PM

I found out what it is! Dr. John Foster at SUNY Cobleskill Aquaculture viewed the photo and told me it is a mutant brook trout called a "Blue Morph." The odds of its occurrence are 1 in a billion! This same mutation occurs more prevalently in crustaceans such as the freshwater blue lobster.

I am very blessed...

Gman · 06-01-2014, 03:07 AM

That wraps it up in a nice neat bow but ..not convinced.

MarqueKugs · 06-02-2014, 12:01 PM

To quote Dr. John Foster:

"Hi Mark, the fish is a blue morph (mutant) brook trout. Blue morphs are relatively common with most trout/salmon species, lobsters, crayfish etc. Your fish is probably one in a billion! In some species like rainbow trout and Arctic char this morph occurs more frequently. I have tried to grow the brook trout blue morph in the past but it does not grow or survive as well as it's normally colored brothers and sisters. However we do have a strain of blue lobsters that are doing reasonably well in our hatchery.
I hope this helps."

I'm convinced.

RichieC · 06-04-2014, 05:46 PM

Were you near any heritage trout places… i realize you are being careful in not revealing it. But this was my first thought.

i.e.; Tamarac pond off of Big Deer/Lows Lake once held a heritage strain- though I don't know if they looked any different or it was just in their genetics. Back in early 90's, we watched them attempt to lime it, much to the loss of our wilderness experience, a large helicopter drag a huge crucible underneath it, the lime powder looking like it was on fire from the "smoke" leaking out of it. Trip after trip after trip! LOL. We also had an A-10 fly level to us when we climbed Grass Pond lookout… was a cool trip now that I think about it. WE had the entire lake to ourselves- never saw another soul, and this was late in June. Anyways, back to Tamarac… I heard later it was lost, the heritage trout, stuck there since the last ice age, or whenever- 1000's of years in any case… gone forever. …. bummer.

But a few others do still remain- I know of at least one.

MarqueKugs · 06-06-2014, 06:47 AM

The stream is said to contain a native population of brook trout, although myself and Gmorin can attest to them being few and far between.

I have shared the story with TU as it turns out an old friend of mine caught and photographed the same fish (having never seen anything like it)! Proof that catch and release works!

If it is in fact a "Blue Morph," then two people at different times (same plunge pool) caught a one in a billion fish and had the wherewithal to photograph it!

TU is currently working with DEC Fisheries Biologists to investigate further.

More to come,

Mark-

MarqueKugs · 06-06-2014, 06:50 AM

Saratoga County is really all the information one would require to figure out the stream.

geogymn · 06-06-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarqueKugs

The stream is said to contain a native population of brook trout, although myself and Gmorin can attest to them being few and far between.

I have shared the story with TU as it turns out an old friend of mine caught and photographed the same fish (having never seen anything like it)! Proof that catch and release works!

If it is in fact a "Blue Morph," then two people at different times (same plunge pool) caught a one in a billion fish and had the wherewithal to photograph it!

TU is currently working with DEC Fisheries Biologists to investigate further.

More to come,

Mark-

That's fairly fantastic! The drama thickens! I'll stay tuned!

vtflyfish · 06-06-2014, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarqueKugs

The stream is said to contain a native population of brook trout, although myself and Gmorin can attest to them being few and far between.

I have shared the story with TU as it turns out an old friend of mine caught and photographed the same fish (having never seen anything like it)! Proof that catch and release works!

If it is in fact a "Blue Morph," then two people at different times (same plunge pool) caught a one in a billion fish and had the wherewithal to photograph it!

TU is currently working with DEC Fisheries Biologists to investigate further.

More to come,

Mark-

Any blue lobsters in that pool? I'm hungry!

On a (more) serious note, kudos to you for putting the little fellow back and investigating his lineage. I hope he makes it past the hordes of catch and keep everything anglers.

bigspencer · 06-07-2014, 05:14 PM

...Will add another spin into it, how about a splake/tiger mix..?(I tried;-))
You all know getting someone at a hatchery to admit to a Frankenstein is like getting Congressional people to admit taking Saudi_$$$ under the table.
SteveD

Epic · 06-13-2014, 12:50 PM

Hi All- new to the forum. Interesting thread; and while I cannot help with the identification, I can confirm more of these are about. I love a good walkabout for trout and we got a few like this in the Siamese Pond Outlet brook last year- just outside the pond 200-300 ft.

05-31-2014, 10:09 PM	#22
MarqueKugs Catch, Release, Repeat Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 21	I found out what it is! Dr. John Foster at SUNY Cobleskill Aquaculture viewed the photo and told me it is a mutant brook trout called a "Blue Morph." The odds of its occurrence are 1 in a billion! This same mutation occurs more prevalently in crustaceans such as the freshwater blue lobster. I am very blessed... Last edited by MarqueKugs; 05-31-2014 at 10:10 PM.. Reason: punctuation

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-31-2014, 06:32 PM	#21
EagleCrag Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tupper Lake, NY Posts: 1,278	So who can do genetic testing to get to the bottom of this?

06-01-2014, 03:07 AM	#23
Gman Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Standing in a stream waving a stick Posts: 1,009	That wraps it up in a nice neat bow but ..not convinced.

06-02-2014, 12:01 PM	#24
MarqueKugs Catch, Release, Repeat Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 21	To quote Dr. John Foster: "Hi Mark, the fish is a blue morph (mutant) brook trout. Blue morphs are relatively common with most trout/salmon species, lobsters, crayfish etc. Your fish is probably one in a billion! In some species like rainbow trout and Arctic char this morph occurs more frequently. I have tried to grow the brook trout blue morph in the past but it does not grow or survive as well as it's normally colored brothers and sisters. However we do have a strain of blue lobsters that are doing reasonably well in our hatchery. I hope this helps." I'm convinced.

06-04-2014, 05:46 PM	#25
RichieC Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 351	Were you near any heritage trout places… i realize you are being careful in not revealing it. But this was my first thought. i.e.; Tamarac pond off of Big Deer/Lows Lake once held a heritage strain- though I don't know if they looked any different or it was just in their genetics. Back in early 90's, we watched them attempt to lime it, much to the loss of our wilderness experience, a large helicopter drag a huge crucible underneath it, the lime powder looking like it was on fire from the "smoke" leaking out of it. Trip after trip after trip! LOL. We also had an A-10 fly level to us when we climbed Grass Pond lookout… was a cool trip now that I think about it. WE had the entire lake to ourselves- never saw another soul, and this was late in June. Anyways, back to Tamarac… I heard later it was lost, the heritage trout, stuck there since the last ice age, or whenever- 1000's of years in any case… gone forever. …. bummer. But a few others do still remain- I know of at least one.

06-06-2014, 06:47 AM	#26
MarqueKugs Catch, Release, Repeat Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 21	The stream is said to contain a native population of brook trout, although myself and Gmorin can attest to them being few and far between. I have shared the story with TU as it turns out an old friend of mine caught and photographed the same fish (having never seen anything like it)! Proof that catch and release works! If it is in fact a "Blue Morph," then two people at different times (same plunge pool) caught a one in a billion fish and had the wherewithal to photograph it! TU is currently working with DEC Fisheries Biologists to investigate further. More to come, Mark-

06-06-2014, 06:50 AM	#27
MarqueKugs Catch, Release, Repeat Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Glenville, NY Posts: 21	Saratoga County is really all the information one would require to figure out the stream.

06-07-2014, 05:14 PM	#30
bigspencer Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4	...Will add another spin into it, how about a splake/tiger mix..?(I tried;-)) You all know getting someone at a hatchery to admit to a Frankenstein is like getting Congressional people to admit taking Saudi_$$$ under the table. SteveD

06-13-2014, 12:50 PM	#31
Epic Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 1	Hi All- new to the forum. Interesting thread; and while I cannot help with the identification, I can confirm more of these are about. I love a good walkabout for trout and we got a few like this in the Siamese Pond Outlet brook last year- just outside the pond 200-300 ft.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)