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.