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Message Subject: Do fish patterns/markings change over time?

Willis

Posted 7/20/2009 9:28 AM (#389515)
Subject: Do fish patterns/markings change over time?

Posts: 227

Location: New Brighton, MN

I just caught a small (20") spotted muskie in a lake that (in my knowledge) has only brownish barred muskies. Will this fish changed to a barred muskie over time, or is it a stocked fish from a different strain?

Willis

firstsixfeet

Posted 7/20/2009 10:48 AM (#389534 - in reply to #389515)
Subject: RE: Do fish patterns/markings change over time?

Posts: 2361

Change over time, both age related and ecosystem related.
Patterns themselves are fixed genetically, but expression can vary quite a lot within those genetic limits.

jasonvkop

Posted 7/22/2009 12:06 AM (#389845 - in reply to #389515)
Subject: RE: Do fish patterns/markings change over time?

Posts: 611

Location: Michigan

Yes markings change. In lakes that I fish the little guys have lots of spots. When the fish get into the mid 30" range it changes to more of bars, and when they get over 42" or so it kind of all fades out. Probably a really good thing from mother nature as the spots/bars are very good camouflage for the little fish when in the weeds. Here are a couple fish from the same lake.

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Willis

Posted 7/22/2009 9:08 AM (#389867 - in reply to #389845)
Subject: RE: Do fish patterns/markings change over time?

Posts: 227

Location: New Brighton, MN

Those fish look alot like the fish I am referring to. They seem to be born with spots, like a leech lake strain, but the adults over 40 barely have any markings at all. Thanks for the pics.

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