Carolinas On The Fly - Hatchery fish?

CedarBranchFisher

On The Fly Member

Posts: 122

Hatchery fish?
05/16/11 at 7:24pm

Will hatchery fish survive and reproduce "wild trout" or will they die out "without issue"? I haven't caught all that many trout but have always released everything I've caught. I have no problem with anyone keeping trout, i love the taste of trout the times I've eaten it in a restaurant. Someday I may keep a trout, if I'm lucky enough to catch another. How do you people stand on "catch-and-release"? Always. Most of the time. Part of the time. I don't really think anyone on this forum keeps "everything" they catch as long as it's legal. What about hatchery versus wild trout? How does that affect your "keep or release"? Not being nosy or judgmental, just wondering about the "ethics"(?) of trout fishing and how you feel.

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There are, in fact, believe it or not, a very few trout dumb enough to be caught by me.

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Skatir9

On The Fly Local

Wild Flyfisherman

Posts: 2331

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #1 - 05/16/11 at 8:06pm

This is my opinion..
It takes two generations of offspring of hatchery fish to produce a legit wild trout. If that makes sense to you.

As for keeping fish, I am a "sometimes" guy. When i go for the day, I have never once brought one home, but on a camping or backpacking trip, I will occasionally keep a few for dinner. When I do play for keeps, usually the last few fish of the day come back to camp. Its part of the reward of working so hard to get them. I believe that I cant condemn anyone as long as they are following the limit and size rules.

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psychopole

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Posts: 1205

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #2 - 05/17/11 at 2:12am

I'm pretty much with Skatir on this 1. Althought I rarely keep fish, unless I'm really hankerin' for trout on a camping trip. The reason being is that there is the chance (altthough slim) that that fish may be there next time for me to catch again, but a little bit bigger and smarter. That and the fact that I'm the only 1 at home that will eat trout. The rest of the family hates dealing with the bones.

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Jeff

"There is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot."

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michael28752

On The Fly Member

Posts: 122

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #3 - 05/17/11 at 10:01am

A very good friend of mine works for one of the hatcheries here in McDowell County and has been a biologist for the Wildlife for a long time. He says stockers now are missing a chromosome and are sterile. In other words, they cannont reproduce. However, some years back, the stockers did have the ability to reproduce, and thus the wild rainbow population we see in wild streams. I believe the only native trout is the brook and the experts became concerned that the stockers were having an affect on the native population. I too, practice catch and release except for once or twice a year when trout on the grill is in the offering and I think most fly fishermen tend to release the fish to fight another day, even stockers. Cool

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Quailman

On The Fly Admin

Posts: 1277

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #4 - 05/17/11 at 4:46pm

Good question and I mostly practice catch and release. Mainly because I'm the only one in the house that will eat a trout. Like many, I will keep a few if camping and I stay within the legal limits. Of course the April trip we where a little illegal, not by number, but by having them all in one bag between two of us versus separate bags.

Michael is correct in that the current stockers are sterile. Makes sense in same ways on a lot of DH streams since many can't support trout properly year round, hence they are DH. However, many of the HS streams can and it would be nice to stock non-sterile trout because they do hold year round and the trout can reproduce. Heck I have caught more wilds in HS streams then stockers. Of course I usually don't fish HS streams in April Wink

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« Last Edit: 05/18/11 at 8:46am by Quailman »

"Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration."

Dail Thomas

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Scott Cunningham On The Fly Admin Tie One On!! Posts: 1901	Re: Hatchery fish? Reply #5 - 05/17/11 at 11:43pm I don't keep any fish, in fact haven't kept a fish in many many years. To me fish are too valuable to catch just once. That being said I have no problem with people keeping fish within the legal limits. For what it's worth... I prefer chicken, steak or pork to trout anyday!
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possessed On The Fly Local Trout fishinaholic Posts: 319	Re: Hatchery fish? Reply #6 - 05/18/11 at 7:09pm As long as you are legal, I will not pass judgement. Quite frankly, I think many of our streams would benefit from a little more culling. Many of our streams are so full of small rainbows, if they were thinned out a bit, there would be bigger fish. However, I practice capture and release most of the time, but not all the time...
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CedarBranchFisher On The Fly Member Posts: 122	Re: Hatchery fish? Reply #7 - 05/18/11 at 11:27pm What, no corn bread or hush puppies?
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michael28752

On The Fly Member

Posts: 122

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #8 - 05/19/11 at 9:01am

Looks good. Here is my favorite method of grilling trout learned from my good friends Bill and Beth Ross, owners of Buck Creek Trout Farm. First, chop up equal amounts of celery and white onion and place inside the body cavity. Next, rub a generous amount of mayo on both sides of the trout. (a more recent healthier version is to replace the mayo with olive oil). Place the trout in a wire fish holder and place on the grill at medium heat for about 4-5 minutes each side. When the skin starts to turn golden brown they are done. You can also wrap in foil with a lemon slice on each side. I would think this would work well on a camp fire. Enjoy.
Wink

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troutmaster

On The Fly Local

Posts: 937

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #9 - 05/30/11 at 6:17pm

i also usually catch and release. the are definately some pisgah streams that need some fish kept though so the size can get better. some of our better sized wild trout are in streams with not heavy populations, i think they have more to eat. i have heard that the stocker trout now are sterile, which i think is disappointing, because there used to be some really good spawning runs from stockers around if you knew where to look. but i do keep a lot of stockers because my grandparents love trout. he eats trout twice a week and i am his sole provider. as far as the stocked streams and trying to release all them to make the fishing better, some of our best HS waters have LOTS of people who keep fish, helps keep the natives a little smarter. I wish NC would take the hint from virginia and create some trophy waters out of some of the HS streams that stay cold, then we could have year round DH type experieces possible.

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CedarBranchFisher On The Fly Member Posts: 122	Re: Hatchery fish? Reply #10 - 05/31/11 at 2:04pm Perfect timing. Got the June issue of "Wildlife", and it covered trout stocking as well as mentioned what happens when a flood hit. You guys had it right to start with, the magazine just goes into it a little more in depth. Trout are sterilized by submitting their eggs to 10,000 PSI (!!) Must squeeze their little "nads" off.
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Skatir9

On The Fly Local

Wild Flyfisherman

Posts: 2331

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #11 - 06/09/11 at 2:07am

Quote from troutmaster on 05/30/11 at 6:17pm:

i also usually catch and release. the are definately some pisgah streams that need some fish kept though so the size can get better. some of our better sized wild trout are in streams with not heavy populations, i think they have more to eat. i have heard that the stocker trout now are sterile, which i think is disappointing, because there used to be some really good spawning runs from stockers around if you knew where to look. but i do keep a lot of stockers because my grandparents love trout. he eats trout twice a week and i am his sole provider. as far as the stocked streams and trying to release all them to make the fishing better, some of our best HS waters have LOTS of people who keep fish, helps keep the natives a little smarter. I wish NC would take the hint from virginia and create some trophy waters out of some of the HS streams that stay cold, then we could have year round DH type experieces possible.

Well put. I agree about the bigger ones needing more food. I have never kept a big one, most of the ones I et are 7-10". I feel that it is healthy to take some every so often, just to help the others grow.

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Bug On The Fly Guide Posts: 517	Re: Hatchery fish? Reply #12 - 06/09/11 at 11:34am Any of you guys noticed the white tips on the fins on the "wild"bows in hs water? Chad and I have been seeing this more frequently. And Mike, that sounds awesome!! I just might have to head to Armstrong this afternoon and see if I can't snag a few to grill this evening..yum yum
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Skatir9

On The Fly Local

Wild Flyfisherman

Posts: 2331

Re: Hatchery fish?
Reply #13 - 06/15/11 at 10:59pm

Quote from Bug on 06/09/11 at 11:34am:

Any of you guys noticed the white tips on the fins on the "wild"bows in hs water? Chad and I have been seeing this more frequently.
And Mike, that sounds awesome!! I just might have to head to Armstrong this afternoon and see if I can't snag a few to grill this evening..yum yum

I have and I think it makes them look a little more appealing

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If there's a road I should walk, Lord help me find it...

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