
Bull trout pair on a redd in Lolo Nationwide Forest in Montana. Notice the clear gravel, which the fish have scrubbed of algae, a telltale signal of a spawning redd. Photograph: Aubree Benson, used through CC2.0
‘Tis the season for brown and brook trout to spawn, and it’s very important that anglers know the right way to spot spawning fish and their redds (spawning beds). Not solely must you keep away from focusing on fish on redds, however wading anglers should be particularly cautious to not tramp via the gravel the place the trout eggs are deposited. An article by Ben Kryzinski in Hatch Magazine presents some good recommendation:
Should you’re strolling and wading, take care to maintain an eye fixed open for lively redds — they’ll be freshly swept of algae and the smaller rocks will seemingly have been rolled over by pre-spawn fish as they put together to make a nest for the eggs. A mean trout or char redd is perhaps in regards to the dimension of your bathtub, and, through the peak of the spawn, it’s not unusual to see fish on the redds both engaged in spawning or defending their eggs. Brown trout, as an example, are fierce guardians of their redds, notably after the spawn (and they are often simply coaxed to chase a streamer consequently). As a rule, in case you see fish on a redd, it’s finest to go away them be.
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