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Sperry Pond,
as well as the nearby Little Tupper Lake, is the home of a genetically unique
"heritage" strain of brook trout. Along with a variety of native minnows, the
population of the "Little Tupper" strain are the direct descendants of the first
trout to have reached the lake after glaciers receded about 12,000 years ago.
The Whitney family successfully prevented the introduction of predatory and
competing non-native fish species such as smallmouth bass, northern pike and
yellow perch. Consequently, Little Tupper Lake is the largest lake in the
eastern United States with its original strain of trout.
Sperry Pond
is one of a total of 12 waters in the Adirondacks known to harbor the Little
Tupper strain, three are in the William C. Whitney Area: Little Tupper Lake,
Rock Pond and Bum Pond. Lilypad Pond and Little Salmon Lake support brook trout,
but not the Little Tupper Lake strain.
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