FS Digest

I know that taking fish home is a little unpopular here, but I like eating the things I catch myself, and the areas I fish definitely aren't pressured. That being said, I am wondering what the right size is for keeping trout. I only started this sport this summer, and am just now beginning to reel in a decent amount of fish, the vast majority of which are 8 inches or below. I've been fishing private lakes for years and we always take the small fish to try keep the population down and allow the big ones to grow, and I was wondering if trout work the same way. Basically, in a low pressure area is it better to keep lots of small trout or fewer large trout.

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by emperoroficecreamws

FS Digest

It depends what your regulations are where you’re fishing. They’re usually posted. In lakes I usually never take trout unless i backpack up and am using them for a good source. The amount of mercury they carry is undesirable.

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by IndicaPDX

FS Digest

Regultions only bar you from keeping the monster fish, otherwise there's a daily limit and that's it. I'm not very concerned about mercury, the streams are spring fed and run entirely through undeveloped national forest. I also don't plan to eat trout every day, just once or twice a week at most.

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by emperoroficecreamws

FS Digest

Then i would focus on medium sized fish, let the smaller ones get bigger and the big ones breed.

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by IndicaPDX

FS Digest

As IndicaPDX said, check your regulations for where you’re fishing. Where I live it often varies from water to water, pays to check it before you kill anything.

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by AlexanderSupertrout1

FS Digest

We have brook trout native to our area and we usually can keep five per day. I’ve found I can eat two between 7-9 inches per meal and they’ll cook pretty well through in fifteen minutes on the grill.

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by Stalwart0ne

FS Digest

I tend to target the invasives regardless of size. Out west if I am camping and looking for a fish dinner I will keep a few brooks. Here in my native North Carolina, I target stockers.

I do not keep very many fish at all but my wife loves fresh trout so when she camps with me I always keep a few.

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by bisleykid

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

It is not! (taking fish home is a little unpopular here) Lots like to eat what they are able to catch, and give a few to people who can no longer fish and like fresh untainted food to eat.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I know I've posted a couple times on here about using barbless hooks so I can easily catch and release. But I never meant to imply that I frown on people taking fish (or game) and eating it. Lord knows I've eaten plenty of both over the years. I'm 71 years old, have caught thousands of fish over my lifetime, I still love to fish, and if I never kill another one I will be a happy man. I only get upset with people who take more than they need and then end up throwing them away. Now go catch your share.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

I agree with Eastern OZ. Don't know where you heard keeping fish was un popular. I am not a fan of catch and release if that is all you are doing, but that is up to the individual. What I release is anything illegal. Today brought home two pretty trout and posted them on the forum because I am concerned about their tails and pinkish coloring. Released a fat 16" flounder because the season is closed. OUCH, hurts to send one back that is 1" over legal.

plumbob

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Since you don't say what state you are fishing, my advice is checking with your fish and wildlife regs. Here in Oregon, 8" and up, limit of 5, only one over 20" per day, two day-limits in possession. This is for all species of trout in most bodies of water, lake or river/stream. The exceptions would be for Kokanee, which are actually land-locked salmon and steelhead, which are actually sea-going rainbows. Need to check all kinds of regs on both of those, water body, time (dates closed) of year, clipped adipose fin or not, above/below marker lines at dams, and on and on. Most states out a pamphlet, Oregon puts out a thin BOOK !
I really don't advocate taking any smaller than 10"(unless bleeding), simply because you're gonna need 2-3 per person at any size less.
Since pretty much every trout (with the exception of Brookies) was a planter to begin with, even though it might be a 4lb'r now, I have no prob taking home my limit and not worrying about mercury or other contamination.....in trout. Bottom feeders like catfish and sturgeon...... better be some pristine condition water, please.
I will reiterate what I have said before...Catch and Release ?...... naaah...Hook and Cook !

PS to plumbob...tried to figure out what's going on with your trout. Color change is one thing, the split tails quite another. It would be interesting to see up close to determine if the tails are "beat up", as in an attack, or "broken down" due to nutritional or disease causes. The fact you have two with similar anomalies is definitely a head-scratcher. The fact that it's the "dangling appendages" could very well be indicative of an attack , but didn't really see "chunks" gone.....IDK, sorry.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Thanks Fixor for the info. As far as an attack, the only thing out there that I can think of is dolphin. However no signs or marks on the tails just the split and pinkish coloring. No one else has replied to the post, it is an anomaly. If no answers this month might repost next month to see if anyone has an answer.

plumbob

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Oh... saltwater trout, huh ? That adds another head scratch. Might they somehow be "victims of Dorian" ?

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

No, Dorian didn't do much here in the way of a surge. Just about 2' of rise with very little land encroachment. Wind, once it got to our east than north was our tree toppers. When I think about it I believe you have it correct with the spawning. When I am sneak down on the dock in the clear areas you can see their spawning circle mounds and a fish sitting in the middle guarding her nest. The only way they can make that mound is from a lot of tail action and rubbing the bottom with their bellies.

Don't know if I will ever here back from our wildlife dept. I found a web site that I sent the picture and asked their opinion. If I do I will post their reply.

plumbob

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Have you tried asking a game warden or other Fish and Game employee ? They're pretty knowledge-
able, as they need to be for their job requirements ! Can't hurt to ask, right ?