Whats the prey base for lake trout in Colorado reservoirs?
Lake trout diet studies in Colorado show that lake trout consume mainly kokanee and rainbow trout (Diet figure). Work in Colorado and in other states show that despite apparently high numbers of suckers, lake trout typically do not feed heavily on these shallow water, nearshore fishes in the presence of preferred open-water prey species. It is also evident that when lake trout do not have a highly abundant, energy-rich prey fish (e.g., kokanee and rainbow trout) they cannot acheive or maintain high body condition despite consuming some suckers.