Trout Species – Rainbow
Trout and Brown Trout
By Brett
Fogle
Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match
the fighting spirit and beauty of a Rainbow Trout.
The Rainbow
Trout is a well-traveled species of fish. Originally, the
Rainbow Trout was found in the coastal rivers in the United
States on the west coast but today, Rainbow Trout are found
throughout the United States, as well as in the cold-water
streams of South America, Europe, New Zealand and even
Australia.
The reason
for the wide range of Rainbow Trout in the U.S. is that Rainbow
Trout are relatively easy to transplant. Virtually all areas
that Rainbow Trout now inhabit are due to environmental
transplants – both intentionally or unintentionally.
Regardless,
Rainbow Trout are the most popular types of trout found in the
world today, and are also the most sought after trout by fly
fishermen.
The Rainbow
Trout is equally famous for it’s acrobatic aerial displays and
very long runs to avoid being caught.
Rainbow Trout
are also well-known for being highly selective in what they
eat. While at other times, they seemingly gorge themselves on
just about everything in sight.
Rainbow Trout
are easily distinguished by the red stripe that travels the
length of the fish, from the gill plates to the tail. Rainbow
Trout also have hundreds of black spots that cover the dorsal
of the body (the dorsal part of the body of a trout refers to
the "back side" of the fish).
Brown Trout:
Brown Trout are the "smartest" of the trout family,
frequently frustrating beginners and professionals
alike.
The Brown
Trout, which is similar to the Rainbow Trout, is also found
extensively throughout the world. The Brown Trout was
originally a European and Asian fish, but has made its way
to North America, New Zealand and South America. In the
United States, Brown Trout are found extensively in the
Rocky Mountains and also in Midwestern and Eastern U.S.
trout streams.
The Brown
Trout is famous for its intelligence and cunning ability to
avoid being caught. Simple fly fishing tactics that work for
other types of trout often times fail miserably when fly
fishing for Brown Trout and often lead anglers to
frustration – especially beginning anglers. Yet this same
intelligence makes catching Brown Trout all the more
challenging and rewarding, especially since Brown Trout are
generally a little bit larger than their Rainbow Trout
cousins. This is due primarily to their ability to live in
warmer water (which usually has higher nutrients than colder
water).
Brown Trout
are sometimes hatchery raised, although not nearly on the
same scale as the Rainbow Trout. The difficulties in raising
Brown Trout in hatcheries, combined with the desire of
anglers to fly fish for the easier to catch Rainbow Trout,
have limited the numbers of Brown Trout raised in
hatcheries.
Brown Trout
are notorious for ruining many fly fishing trips for
anglers. The high degree of intelligence displayed by Brown
Trout makes them very difficult to even hook. Once hooked,
the real intelligence of the Brown Trout really becomes
evident. Instead of putting on acrobatic displays like the
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout almost always head for every
obstacle in the river – in hopes of entangling and snapping
the line. Failing that, it will make monstrous runs, and
even take to the air like the Rainbow Trout as a last
resort. In short, a Brown Trout will truly exhaust itself
trying to break free from your fishing line, using every
trick they know to escape. All to often, the trout ends up
getting away since light tippets and tackle are often
usually used when fly fishing for Brown Trout - leading to
many ‘the big one that got away’ stories at
dinnertime.
The Brown
Trout is recognized by its butter colored sides and has
black and red spots following the lateral line of its body.
To many people, the Brown Trout is rather ugly, especially
when stacked up against a more colorful rainbow or Brook
Trout. However, the minute you hook a 20-inch Brown Trout –
you’ll think it‘s the most beautiful fish in the
world.
If you’re an
avid Rainbow Trout angler, be warned that the Brown Trout
could very well be the primary trout species of the future,
so it’s best to brush up on your tactics for this wily fish.
Brown Trout are remarkably resilient and have a strong
instinct to survive. Their ability to live in warmer waters
than other trout, along with their resistance to Whirling
Disease, allows Brown Trout to thrive in areas where Rainbow
Trout often struggle to survive. In the years to come,
especially if drought conditions continue in the Rocky
Mountains and the climate continues to warm, it is quite
possible that Brown Trout will become the primary trout
species in most of the United States.
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