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6.' The ability of healthy trout to survive long periods of 

 starvation, especially in cold water, relegates winter 

 food conditions to a secondary role in determining 

 winter survival. 



7. The commonly held opinion that trout in mountain 

 streams winter in a torpid or inactive state is 

 disputed in the literature. 



8. It is unlikely that the resident trout populations of 

 the vast majority of mountain streams in Montana 

 undergo significant movements or migrations in winter. 



9. Habitat usage by trout in winter can be different from 

 that in warmer periods. However, there is no general 

 concensus concerning the makeup of the preferred winter 

 habitats. . ' - < '- 



10. Subsurface ice plays an important role in determining 

 winter habitat usage by periodically obliterating some 

 local habitats and alternately flooding and dewatering 

 others, forcing fish to utilize whatever habitat 

 remains regardless of its suitability. 



11. In Montana's mountain streams, the period of lowest 

 flow occurs in winter from November through March, 

 During each of these five months, from 1.4 to 2.1 



