Fly Fishing

Marcel_Karssies · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: Brook trout question

I had a brief discussion with the president of my German fishing club about Brook trout.

We have stocked Brook trout in our stream for the first time in maybe 15 years.
I have caught two now and noticed that the fish looked different from each other allthough both came from the same batch.
The first fish was caught in an open stretch and was quite silvery.
Fish nr. 2 was caught in a shaded stretch of the stream and had more coloring.

Can Brooktrout adapt to their surroundings instantly or in a very short time ?

bonefisher · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject:

Im not sure about color changes... but what flies have been catching brookies for you?

Bonefisher
>--^-)*>

Marcel_Karssies · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject:

The black bead head zonker did well on the Brookies.

I am going to a water with big brookies this Sunday, down there a so called Czech mate - sparkle and orange (heavy shrimp/scud) did wonders for the brookies.

AvidDavid · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 4:58 am Post subject:

Marcel:

This is probably trivial and something that you already know (since I know that your are really quite accomplished as a fly fisherman). I just thought that I would add my little piece for my fellow "newbies."

I fish a couple of rivers on Long Island (NY) that are stocked but are quite proud of their historically native populations of brookies. The rivers are really chocked full of brookies. I have noticed huge diversity in coloration. I assume that there is a pretty large difference in coloration between genders (males - I believe are more colorful : females - I believe are less colorful). There is also a major change in coloration during the Autumn spawning season, such that the males (in particular, I believe) become fantastically colorful with bright reddish-orange bellies. I'm sure that you have seen some of Jeremy's pictures of Maine brookies and that hog that Austin (Fisherboy) caught last year. We have similarly colorful fish here on Long Island in October. The beautiful colors are one reason that I am so hooked on fishing for Brookies.

I have fished several weeks in a row in the Autumn and seen very few colorful fish one week and much more colorful fish the next week, so I think that the change can occur relatively rapidly once the "guys" get the idea of what time of year it is! Even during the time when colorful fish are present, there are dull, light-green fish with white bellies in the mix. I always assumed that these were females, but it also could be related to stockies vs holdovers. In addition, considering the small fish that I catch, there could be a relationship to maturity/age. Also, the whole coloration issue could be related to exposure to saltwater as there are reputed to be sea-run brookies in the mix (as the water is only 1-3 miles from Saltwater in Great South Bay or Long Island Sound). I don't know how I would distinguish the searuns from the "inexperienced" fish.

In addition to the colors, I am impressed by Brook Trout's desire to attack my fluorescent strike indicators, sometimes even when the indicator is suspended above the water's surface while I am battling a hooked fish.

(Additional personal note: There are some reports of Stripers in the Sound. I haven't forgotten our little wager!)

Marcel_Karssies · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

I know fish can be different in color if the water color is different.
For instance fish in peaty water will be very dark in color.

I was told however that a Brook trout would change its color in a short timespan in our stream if he lived over stretches with sand = light color, or stretches with stones and tree debris = dark color.
When I heard that story it seemed so unlikely to me.

The wagure - I did forget but thanks to the features of this forum I looked it up and it seems you owe Jeremy and me a quarter and an EP fly Very Happy

I can remember vaguely that you had no time to fish for stripers so I guess this time you obviously have the time or you have booked a tip to the tropics and need EP flies Very Happy

Valentin · Newbie Joined: Nov 25, 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Vienna