Wild Trout Trifecta

[Mike]

I've caught a decent number of wild rainbows like this. They're in a trib to a stocked stream that doesn't get fingerling stocking of rainbows.

But did it ever get federal hatchery stocked, spring spawning RT back in the 1940’s or so?

 

[wildtrout2]

But did it ever get federal hatchery stocked, spring spawning RT back in the 1940’s or so?

I have no idea if that's the case. If it did, wouldn't they still be considered wild after that much time?

 

[bigjohn358]

What are ways you'd determine between a fingerling stocked rainbow, especially one caught in streams that don't have known fingerling stocking programs, and a truly wild small 'bow?

I don't think you can tell because all those photos of so called "wild" rainbows I've caught fingerlings IDENTICAL to them before. All I know is that a class A I fish a lot that gets rainbow fingerling stockings every year and I'll catch a few MILES from where they were stocked in that stream.

 

[TroutLife]

I don't think you can tell because all those photos of so called "wild" rainbows I've caught fingerlings IDENTICAL to them before. All I know is that a class A I fish a lot that gets rainbow fingerling stockings every year and I'll catch a few MILES from where they were stocked in that stream.

Here’s another wild bow from that day. In my 50+ years of trout fishing it’s arguably the smallest trout I ever landed 😂 - what a gem!

 

[The_Sasquatch]

I don't think you can tell because all those photos of so called "wild" rainbows I've caught fingerlings IDENTICAL to them before. All I know is that a class A I fish a lot that gets rainbow fingerling stockings every year and I'll catch a few MILES from where they were stocked in that stream.

Yeah, I agree with this actually. So-to this point, I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for erring on the side of "I caught the wild trifecta", mistaking a stocked fingerling for a wild bow. The reality is, as you pointed out, the difference between a stocked fingerling and a wild one are NOT entirely obvious, unless the hatchery clipped a fin.

 

[Mikey2006]

Here’s another wild bow from that day. In my 50+ years of trout fishing it’s arguably the smallest trout I ever landed 😂 - what a gem!

this one was pretty small, although I think yours might still be the smallest. I don’t even know how fish that small manage to get hooked

 

[wildtrout2]

View attachment 1641243216
this one was pretty small, although I think yours might still be the smallest. I don’t even know how fish that small manage to get hooked

I once caught a wild brown about that size. It was the smallest trout I've ever caught.

 

[Prospector]

But did it ever get federal hatchery stocked, spring spawning RT back in the 1940’s or so?

Mike,
I’m glad you jumped into this thread. As I think you know, I kept your quote from 2014 about the tight water temperature upper & lower limits for rainbow eggs to produce wild rainbow fish.

Here it is:
Primary limits on reproduction: Water temps that are too warm (higher than 56 deg F) or too cold (42 deg F or lower) limit or prevent reproductive success, despite the fact that RT adults survive quite well at higher temps. These temps that affect reproductive success fall well within the range of typical Pa freestone temps, but not limestoner temps near their source. Eggs will not develop normally in the fish if constant water temps of 56 deg F or higher are encountered. Temps not exceeding 54 deg F are preferable for a period of at least 6 months prior to spawning. How many streams in Pa do not exceed 54 deg F during the summer? Likewise, excessive losses of eggs occur during incubation in the redds if temps fall below 42 deg F.

Is this still accurate?