It's a cutthroat business

A new genetic strain is helping a Nevada native flourish at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery in Gardnerville.

The hatchery is at full production, raising 600,000 cutthroats from the Pilot Peak strain imported from the Truckee River Basin.

"Genetic studies have confirmed that this is the original fish," Hatchery Supervisor Jay Bigelow said.

The strain was discovered in the Pilot Mountains north of Wendover and reintroduced into Nevada in 1996. The trout was the largest in North America, reaching up to 60 pounds. They were planted in Utah prior to their extinction in Nevada in 1944. The fish are listed as threatened by the federal government.

The hatchery will hold its annual open house on Saturday, which will feature displays and tours.

"A tour takes 30-45 minutes," Bigelow said. "We have some displays set up and all the life stages will be on display. Cutthroat are spawning this time of year."

Tours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are guided by local Boy Scouts.

The hatchery contains about 3,000 brood fish, which serve as the progenitors for each generation.

Lahontan is one of three hatcheries in the world using moist-air incubation, where roe are misted instead of being placed in water.

"The water's recirculated so we don't use nearly as much," Bigelow said.

Another benefit of the system is that hatchery personnel can mass mark a generation of cutthroats by varying the temperature.

"They are all marked by the time they hatch," he said. "By looking at the pattern on a section of the ear bone, we can tell hatchery fish from wild fish and where fish we plant as eggs are successful."

Excess brood stock are donated by the hatchery to the Kids Fishing Derby. Those fish are about 18 inches in length.

"We give about 1,000 1-2 pounders to the fishing derby," Bigelow said. "We keep the fish to a certain age and after they span for the first time, when they are 3 or 4 years old, we donate them. A couple of years from now, we'll start keeping them to an older age."

The hatchery stocks area waters, including the Truckee, Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake and Fallen Leaf Lake with fish ranging is size from fingerlings to 10 inches in length. It also provides eggs to the Mason State Hatchery, steam side incubation programs and school programs.

The High Sierra Fly Casters will offer fly casting demonstrations and training to anglers and future anglers. While visiting the hatchery, residents may also register for the Kids' Fishing Derby June 2 and 3.

What: 2007 Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Open House

When 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: The fish hatchery is located south of Gardnerville on Highway 395 opposite Ruhenstroth.

Information: 265-2425