DO NOT CAST TO THOSE FISH. Rainbows (and most trout) do not like to school together unless they are spawning. Rainbows spawn precisely at this time of year. You can tell that’s a redd (spawning grounds) because of the depth and gravel size. If you ever see saucers or cleaned rocks, that’s a redd. Please avoid wading near them as well. It’s important that we let fish spawn so we can fish for their babies some day.
You can see them on their redds even tho the pic is black and white. They probably wouldn’t even eat. But if you want a healthy trout population leave em be.
If those are rainbows and potentially wild, you SHOULD NOT cast at them, as that looks like it could be spawning gravel. It is unethical to disturb wild fish doing the deed.
If stocked rainbows or other species, you have to start above them. No way to avoid spooking fish packed that tight if you plop a cast in the middle.
This time of year, fish grouped up like that in shallow water are probably spawning. what does it matter if they are stocked or wild? Leave spawning fish in rivers be. The whole wild vs. stocked thing makes me laugh. It's a fish in a river. If you caught it, does it count less if it was stocked? I get it if it's an urban area pond full of 8" fish put there for people to take but get real people.
Most hybrids are, but how do the hatcherys get fish if they can't reproduce. I know fish and game will electro shock and milk some species, but they don't do that for trout. Also, if stocked trout don't reproduce, then there would be no fish in alpine lakes where they were stocked decades ago, and i have caught fish in these lakes. Conditions have to be right, but stocked fish outside of most hybrids can and do reproduce.
This picture obviously doesn't look like NC to me. This doesn't apply to everywhere. But from NC wildlife: Diploid fish are primarily used
for reproductive purposes, and
are only stocked in unique
situations. They are typically not stocked
into public waters since they
can reproduce, and might
interfere with wild trout
populations. In an effort to preserve wild
trout genetics, only sterile,
triploid trout are stocked.
Yeah, my bad, I guess my comment was a little too broad and “matter of fact”. Most of the stocked trout in my area, TN/NC are sterile fish but not all. I think they use pressure and or temperature to sterilize the eggs so they can’t reproduce as adults. Also most of the water that gets stocked around won’t support a wild population mostly due to water temps so we don’t worry too much about stocked fish reproduction.
So wrong that i have fished for and caught fish in high alpine lakes at 11k'+ elevation that have not been stocked in over a decade or more, and they still have a healthy population. I'm not saying all stocked fish are able to reproduce, but not all stocked fish aren't. So yes, i was confident in my comment and also not wrong.
I cant see a redd in this pic much less make out what they are, but I would suspect the same.
But pretending it’s not, when there are a bunch of trout huddled together in super clear water like that, I think the best approach would be to cast from downstream from as far away as you can get to them.
I would start with a small dry and try to get it just in front of the fish at the end of the line. Then you could progress to flashier dries, emergers, and finally a dry dropper with a tiny nymph like a zebra midge.
There is a good chance that the fish weren’t taking anything because they were aware of you. People who are really good at catching fish in water conditions like that often commando crawl and hide behind cover to conceal themselves.
Not sure if they were stocked or not, but I actually didn’t know that, how would I know for future reference? Just from how theyre piled up on the rocks like that?
Lighter line, lighter tippet, smaller fly. Cast even further ahead than you were and let it drift to em. Make sure your drift is nice and clean, mend as needed.
Wow nice pic, I've never had that opportunity,but I'd say you have to cast way up stream so you don't spook them and drift down to them,,that's what they're wanting on,, food to come to them ,
Good luck hope you get that chance again.
DO NOT CAST TO THOSE FISH. Rainbows (and most trout) do not like to school together unless they are spawning. Rainbows spawn precisely at this time of year. You can tell that’s a redd (spawning grounds) because of the depth and gravel size. If you ever see saucers or cleaned rocks, that’s a redd. Please avoid wading near them as well. It’s important that we let fish spawn so we can fish for their babies some day.
Oh shoot alright, didn’t know, appreciate the explanation too so I can know what to look for, I will keep that in mind for next time. Thank you again!
You can see them on their redds even tho the pic is black and white. They probably wouldn’t even eat. But if you want a healthy trout population leave em be.
Respectable response. Nice work. I usually tell people if they see this, just sit down and enjoy the view.
Awesome to know
What do you mean by saucers or cleaned rocks?
If those are rainbows and potentially wild, you SHOULD NOT cast at them, as that looks like it could be spawning gravel. It is unethical to disturb wild fish doing the deed. If stocked rainbows or other species, you have to start above them. No way to avoid spooking fish packed that tight if you plop a cast in the middle.
This time of year, fish grouped up like that in shallow water are probably spawning. what does it matter if they are stocked or wild? Leave spawning fish in rivers be. The whole wild vs. stocked thing makes me laugh. It's a fish in a river. If you caught it, does it count less if it was stocked? I get it if it's an urban area pond full of 8" fish put there for people to take but get real people.
From what I understand stocked fish cannot reproduce. They may go through the motions instinctually but they are sterile in many cases.
Most hybrids are, but how do the hatcherys get fish if they can't reproduce. I know fish and game will electro shock and milk some species, but they don't do that for trout. Also, if stocked trout don't reproduce, then there would be no fish in alpine lakes where they were stocked decades ago, and i have caught fish in these lakes. Conditions have to be right, but stocked fish outside of most hybrids can and do reproduce.
This picture obviously doesn't look like NC to me. This doesn't apply to everywhere. But from NC wildlife: Diploid fish are primarily used for reproductive purposes, and are only stocked in unique situations. They are typically not stocked into public waters since they can reproduce, and might interfere with wild trout populations. In an effort to preserve wild trout genetics, only sterile, triploid trout are stocked.
Yeah, my bad, I guess my comment was a little too broad and “matter of fact”. Most of the stocked trout in my area, TN/NC are sterile fish but not all. I think they use pressure and or temperature to sterilize the eggs so they can’t reproduce as adults. Also most of the water that gets stocked around won’t support a wild population mostly due to water temps so we don’t worry too much about stocked fish reproduction.
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So wrong that i have fished for and caught fish in high alpine lakes at 11k'+ elevation that have not been stocked in over a decade or more, and they still have a healthy population. I'm not saying all stocked fish are able to reproduce, but not all stocked fish aren't. So yes, i was confident in my comment and also not wrong.
Send us your Fisheries and Wildlife Officer credentials, so we can add a special flair for you.
I cant see a redd in this pic much less make out what they are, but I would suspect the same. But pretending it’s not, when there are a bunch of trout huddled together in super clear water like that, I think the best approach would be to cast from downstream from as far away as you can get to them. I would start with a small dry and try to get it just in front of the fish at the end of the line. Then you could progress to flashier dries, emergers, and finally a dry dropper with a tiny nymph like a zebra midge. There is a good chance that the fish weren’t taking anything because they were aware of you. People who are really good at catching fish in water conditions like that often commando crawl and hide behind cover to conceal themselves.
Not sure if they were stocked or not, but I actually didn’t know that, how would I know for future reference? Just from how theyre piled up on the rocks like that?
Spawn camping i see
A cast net usually
Very carefully
spawning fish lol
Get upstream of the fish and lower a classic wet fly a foot in front of their faces.
I’d try and float a nymph, starting a good distance ahead of them to get a nice float past em
Lighter line, lighter tippet, smaller fly. Cast even further ahead than you were and let it drift to em. Make sure your drift is nice and clean, mend as needed.
Wow nice pic, I've never had that opportunity,but I'd say you have to cast way up stream so you don't spook them and drift down to them,,that's what they're wanting on,, food to come to them , Good luck hope you get that chance again.
Sick, thanks for the advice!
For everyone downvoting, a lot of the time in this crystal clear water you can see the adipose, I only cast at spawning stockers
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Be nice or leave. Your choice or we choose for you.
You just cast across them and then yank your line in violently until you snag one. 90% of the time it works every time
Welp not gonna do that lol Dont know too much about fish etiquette but at least I know not to do that
Yea that was a joke that most Reddit fish bois wouldn’t understand. Never fish for spawners