Hey ! Im a trout fisherman too !
- Don't forget me...I make my own flies and lures
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@Sean G, @audiokid Sean G, post: 437605, member: 49362 wrote:
@Sean G, audiokid
Sean G, post: 437605, member: 49362 wrote: Are they stocking the lakes where you are yet?...
Some, yeah... ice-out was early this year, ( late February) as our weather here in Ohio has been traditionally and unseasonably warm in regard to what most winters here are like... we had it very easy this year.
Crappies should be hitting soon, if they aren't already. I live close to a reservoir ( within mile) that boasts some beautiful white (and black crappie) - up to 14", ( as well as some really big LM Bass) and they are a gas on a 3 wt. fly rod.
I usually get them with Clouser minnows or Mickey Finns.
Northern Ohio is also part of what is known as "Steelhead Alley" - those little trout that spawn in the local rivers up by Lake Erie, head out into open water for a few years, and then get really big - they turn into monsters, and then head back to the streams where they were born to spawn. The average size is 25" and weigh 6-7 lbs, but 10 pounders are not at all uncommon... and believe me, you don't show up to catch Steelies with just a 3 or 4 wt... even a 5 wt is asking for a broken rod.
Ohio also has the Mad River, and I've caught some very nice Browns out of there, too. It's not an easy river to wade, though; I'd never take a newer stream walker there; the bottom is really uneven, with a lot of holes and ankle-turner rocks.
Word has it that Eric Clapton fly fishes that river from time to time - he married a woman from Columbus a few years back, and the river isn't very far from there.
However, one of my favorite streams, about 3 hours away from me in Pennsylvania, is a natural limestone stream, and it hasn't been stocked with trout in over 70 years - because they haven't had to. The stream is spring-fed from the Allegheny Mountains, is fairly small, probably only 30 feet across at the widest part, has a beautiful collection of deep holes and riffles, and is catch and release only - which helps a great deal with not having to stock it - but also, the conditions of the stream are so perfect for trout, that the fish reproduce so easily on their own. I've pulled some gorgeous brown and brook ( also known as speckled) trout out of that stream on both wets and dries, although I've had the best luck with dry sulfurs, which match the hatch of the indigenous bugs that come out in the early morning and evening from June to August. Outside of those times I have the best luck using bead head nymphs of various colors:
There are also a few hidden streams I know of that I just stumbled upon while exploring ( and they are not easy to get to, LOL) that hold native wild brookies ( see pic below); they aren't very big, but they are quite possibly the most beautiful fish I've ever seen and on a short 3 wt, they are a blast to catch. Those streams aren't C&R, you can keep up to 4 - if they are above 12", but in those tiny little streams up in the mountains, they rarely get that big... sometimes, but not very often.
We have a few trout species here in OZ too... We have Rainbow t
We have a few trout species here in OZ too...
We have Rainbow trout, which while not native here in Australia there are plenty of wild Rainbow colonies that are supplemented annually with fish raised in hatcheries.
Here you see a typical Rainbow trout.
We also have a species of Brown trout, this is a little more common than the Rainbow, and again not native to Australia but were originally were imported from England the brown trout is possibly the most important sport fish to be introduced in Australia. It is commonly found in cool waters, mostly above 600m, with moderate to swift flow and also in cool, clear lakes and reservoirs, they are known to reach at least 90cm and can weigh up to 14kg, but the most commonly caught fish are below 3kg.
Here below is a typical brown trout.
You know how Australia is the land of weird and wonderful animals, right?...
An example is the Platypus, which some of you may know about...it looks like its put together by all the left-over parts of other animals.
Heres' a typical Australian Platypus
So, you may ask...why the picture of the Platypus???.....
Well, it just highlights how weird and wonderful our native fauna is here in Australia.
And on that note, a recent discovery of our very own native trout species....the Crocka Trout...
Up in far North Queensland, which we refer to as our "Top End", where it is infested with Salt Water Crocodiles that grow to up to 18 feet long, it was discovered that a Hybrid Crocodile cross Trout had evolved.
Do you believe it ???A crocodile bred with a trout....
Only in Australia...
This is one of the first pictures of the Crocka Trout since its documented discovery...
You saw it first here on RO ;)
Sean G, post: 437560, member: 49362 wrote: Hey ! Im a trout fish
C'mon!!!! No Way!!!!
I tie my own flies too! :)