trout reproduction in Cumberland River?

[trent colvin]

Were they biting?

[birdstrike]

I've always heard that the water level changing so drastically reeks havoc on their spawning ability. The have a tendency to spawn when the water is high and then the poor eggs are high and dry when the water goes back down. The brown trout are the Fall spawners, rainbows in the spring. One fish may fan out 4 or 5 nest. This year with the low, steady flow of water just might lead to an extraordinary year class of trout! Let's hope so!

[Tim_T]

It has happened before, around 1999 they documented some reproduction. Water level is the key. They even had trout unlimited volunteers down at Cumberland to mark fish that were going to be stocked, so that they could keep an eye out for wild fish. Not sure what ever came of it because the biologist who was in charge of the program ended up taking a job with the USFWS not long after that.