Comparative Recoveries of Planted Yearling and Fall-Fingerling Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from Ontario Lakes

Yearling and fall-fingerling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were planted in two lakes with few or no resident fish species and in three lakes with resident populations. The comparative recoveries of the two size-groups of trout planted were assessed by creel census and/or intensive gillnetting. Recoveries of planted yearling brook trout were greater from lakes supporting few or no resident fish species (15.9–35.9%) and less in lakes supporting suckers, minnows, and sticklebacks (5.9–14.8%). Experience was similar with fall fingerlings planted in the same set of lakes though comparative recoveries were less. Lakes with few fish competitors yielded 3.5–4.8 kg of trout for each kilogram of fall fingerlings planted compared with 2.9–3.0 kg for each kilogram of yearlings planted. The returns of trout from lakes also supporting resident species were only 0.3–0.8 kg for each kilogram of yearlings or fall fingerlings planted. Key words: Salvelinus fontinalis, planting, survival, growth, yield