Central PA small stream trout fishing!
- Thread starter Alwaysonthewateer
- Start date
Alwaysonthewateer
Member
im fairly fairly sure that they’re but im not sure of wild rainbow populations in central. They fought like wilds and this stream is most definitely not stocked although it is connected to a part of fishing creek which is. The fins and coloration was perfect on every single one i caught aswell.
wildtrout2
Well-known member
That's what I was thinking, especially considering those browns are wild. Why would anyone want to stock such a stream with rainbows if those aren't wild?
I am skeptical of them being wild bows.
Last edited:
tjsingle
Well-known member
That last bow has some parr marks on it and the fins look good.
Alwaysonthewateer
Member
this creek hasn’t been stocked in many years from what i have researched but as i said it does connect to fishing creek in a section that is stocked but if these are wild wouldn’t they big considered pretty darn rare considering how rare it is to see reproducing rainbows in pa?
wildtrout2
Well-known member
Yes, especially for how big the were and where they were caught.
Alwaysonthewateer
Member
it is but these were multiple miles upstream from it
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
Stocked bows get around. I am never surprised where they might end up and, after a couple years in the creek, who really cares if they are wild or rogue stockers.
I applaud you being able to subdue a couple for a photo. They don't tend to relax much 😀
I applaud you being able to subdue a couple for a photo. They don't tend to relax much 😀
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 7,470
I was able to confirm the location from a couple of your photos and your context clues in your posts. Definitely nearly pure limestone water which is conducive to wild Rainbow establishment. That coupled with the presence of stocked Rainbows and fingerlings in the receiving stream make any of the above possible. I’d have no problem with anyone calling those Bows wild. Some of the largest and best “wild” looking bows I’ve seen caught on here. Nicely done. That stream always intrigued me, but similarly intimidated me from an access standpoint.
wgmiller
Well-known member
Ain't that the truth. Most uncooperative and camera shy fish ever!
lycoflyfisher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 1,719
Is this the stream with a private hatchery on the main spring in its headwaters? If so, they have trout get out all the time.
The_Sasquatch
Well-known member
Par marks aren't an indication of wild. But they are seriously beautiful fish. If I caught them, I'm not sure I'd even give it a 2nd thought as to their origins.
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 7,470
Yes. One more potential possibility.
I’m kinda ruling out adult stocked fish from the receiving stream heading upstream after thinking about it a little more. For a couple reasons. Adult stocked Rainbows rarely, if ever, recover to look that good. And all three of those fish look really good. And the receiving stream generally stays cold enough to not warrant them migrating up a trib. Spawning could trigger that I guess, but again, adult stocked Bows just don’t look like those.
I think you have a wild population of Bows there, or, fingerlings that are growing up in the stream, from one of the sources mentioned.
wildtrout2
Well-known member
Only if you're a wild trout snob. 😉 It's just their size that has me wondering.
tjsingle
Well-known member
That's true, I guess the size coupled with the parr marks kinda led me to think wild. Plus the overall shape looks more wild than the football shaped stockers PA likes to stock haha
rustbeltwilds
Well-known member
Rainbows do move i got the same male last winter fall ...caught it in two creeks about 2 miles apart within a 30 day period
Alwaysonthewateer
Member
they were feisty i tell ya!
Alwaysonthewateer
Member
they were feusty i tell ya!
i wouldn’t recommend anyone fishing it generally, i had private access due to a friend and walked up the creek on their land but there were only about 3 spots that held fish…
