Rainbow trout were introduced into Lake Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia) in 1942. The larger trout feed on the endemic Orestias species, and grow to large size. This 10 kg (22 lb) rainbow was caught in a gill net. The commercial fishery that developed over fished the stocks, and the populations declined so that large individuals are rare. The fish was captured as part of a study of interactions between native and introduced fishes (see Hanek, G., R. Alfaro, E. Bustamante, J. Torres, H. Treviño, and W. Wurtsbaugh. 1982. La pesquería en el Lago Titicaca (Peru), Presente y futuro. Documento de Campo FI:DP/PER/76/002. FAO, Rome. 59 pp.)


Self-portrait in 1974 by W. Wurtsbaugh, near the community of Piata (mouth of Rio Ramis).