Your best wild trout in 2024

[HopBack]

Thanks for the discussion fellas. Learned a lot from it. It was on the Clarion. I figured it was probably stocked at some point (especially where I found it), but I couldn't tell any clear indicators when I was looking at it to tell one way or the other. Swattie, I think you have pointed out some real good clues that point to it being a stocker. I think I learned a thing or two as well. I didn't see a clipped fin, but I know that's not always prevalent in all stockers. I didn't hang on to it long after I got the hook out because we were both exhausted. Haha.

I'm not sure how beat up the fins are is always an indicator tho. I've caught some older wild fish over the years that have been through some things.

I'd be curious to know which major rivers do have known populations of rainbows that successfully reproduce regularly.

Just an FYI, PAFBC does not clip fins on stocked rainbows like they do in the steelhead fisheries on the west coast.

Also, the only river where you will consistently find large rainbows wild rainbows is the Delaware river. When we talk about wild rainbows existing in PA, they are very small transient populations often on tiny mountain streams. Larger streams produce wild rainbows from time to time.

Other than then the Delaware river, the Cumberland valley spring creeks are your best chance to catch wild rainbows on the larger side.

 

[Andrwhite610]

While the ‘is it wild” game is being played, what do y’all think of these? I was told the stream had wild bows and I fished it twice last winter with success. They all looked pretty unique in comparison to the stocked bows im used to. The one was certainly in the 20” range and is still my PB fish on the fly and the fight was incredible. I think the creek or “run” is considered a spring creek and perhaps a slightly controversial creek. In the SE region of the state.

 

[Swattie87]

While the ‘is it wild” game is being played, what do y’all think of these? I was told the stream had wild bows and I fished it twice last winter with success. They all looked pretty unique in comparison to the stocked bows im used to. The one was certainly in the 20” range and is still my PB fish on the fly and the fight was incredible. I think the creek or “run” is considered a spring creek and perhaps a slightly controversial creek. In the SE region of the state. View attachment 1641239740View attachment 1641239741View attachment 1641239742View attachment 1641239743
View attachment 1641239744

Those look like wild fish.

 

[Swattie87]

Thanks for the discussion fellas. Learned a lot from it. It was on the Clarion. I figured it was probably stocked at some point (especially where I found it), but I couldn't tell any clear indicators when I was looking at it to tell one way or the other. Swattie, I think you have pointed out some real good clues that point to it being a stocker. I think I learned a thing or two as well. I didn't see a clipped fin, but I know that's not always prevalent in all stockers. I didn't hang on to it long after I got the hook out because we were both exhausted. Haha.

I'm not sure how beat up the fins are is always an indicator tho. I've caught some older wild fish over the years that have been through some things.

I'd be curious to know which major rivers do have known populations of rainbows that successfully reproduce regularly.

As far as “major rivers”, yeah, pretty much just the Upper Delaware system for wild Bows in PA. There’s probably some in the LJR and Spring Creek, but those are mostly wild Brown Trout fisheries.

There’s some pockets of them in smaller streams in certain areas, but for obvious reasons, you’re probably not going to get many people to openly name those streams.

Here’s a pretty good thread with some wild Bow discussion. It’s in the context of streams that contain all three species (Brook/Brown/Bow), but given how common Brookies and Browns are in PA, most of the discussion is on Bows. It’s an interesting read, and some good info on some general areas to start to look for them.

Wild Trout Trifecta

 

[wildtrout2]

While the ‘is it wild” game is being played, what do y’all think of these? I was told the stream had wild bows and I fished it twice last winter with success. They all looked pretty unique in comparison to the stocked bows im used to. The one was certainly in the 20” range and is still my PB fish on the fly and the fight was incredible. I think the creek or “run” is considered a spring creek and perhaps a slightly controversial creek. In the SE region of the state. View attachment 1641239740View attachment 1641239741View attachment 1641239742View attachment 1641239743
View attachment 1641239744

Those all look wild, but the third one down is the best example. It shows sparse spot pattern, clean/translucent fins with the white edge, and pronounced parr marks. To me, parr marks are a strong indicator of a wild fish.

 

[Andrwhite610]

Those all look wild, but the third one down is the best example. It shows sparse spot pattern, clean/translucent fins with the white edge, and pronounced parr marks. To me, parr marks are a strong indicator of a wild fish.

To me the first photo I was the most convinced. Such a unique look to it. Super silver with almost no spots, pristine fins with a pink hue and the spotting on the tail just looks “wild” I have no experience determining with bows really just kind of guessing.

 

[wildtrout2]

I'd like to see wbranch post some pics of his wild rainbows that he's gotten on the upper Delaware. He's caught some big ones there, and quite a few of them.

 

[wildtrout2]

To me the first photo I was the most convinced. Such a unique look to it. Super silver with almost no spots, pristine fins with a pink hue and the spotting on the tail just looks “wild” I have no experience determining with bows really just kind of guessing.

They're all nice fish. Seems you had a real good day on the stream. Most of the wild bows I've caught were pretty small, but not so much silvery though.