Georgia’s Fed Trout Streams
- This topic has 29 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated Oct 15, 2006 at 1:58 pm by
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I don’t agree. Are not most of the fish in the tailwaters tank raised? What about the Missouri State Record Brown caught on Taneycomo last year? How are you going to tell if it was tank raised? A fish is a fish is a fish. Now if you are literally fishing in a metal tank, then yes, it should have an * in the photo shot, if it were to make it into a magazine. I kind of doubt that it would. Unless someone was running behind on a photo deadline.
Rusty
Rusty,
I suppose that all hatchery trout are raised on trout pellets, but once they are released into public waters, they are on their own (for better or worse).Yeah, I gotta say the distinction is between the fish that were raised on pellets and then left to fend for themselves, becoming feral if not wild, and those that continue to have pellets fed to them.
I think that any stream that the fish are fed pellets they shouldn’t count. However, if you are paying a rod fee to fish a private spring creek and the fish occur there naturally it should definitely count. My experience on such creeks is that the fish are very educated and hard to catch. Depuy Spring Creek outside of Livingston MT is exactly this type of creek. The fish move in from the Yellowstone River seeking cooler water and a place to spawn. I have fished this creek with clients a couple of times and even though you can see lots of big fish getting hooked up is no guarentee. I would be proud to tell someone on caught a huge fish from this creek and would not feel as if I were cheating because I paid to fish there.
Moosedog
Zach, were you meaning fed daily by pellets? Or are they able to feed on pellets once a week or less?
Hey Rusty –
That is a good point; in fact, you may have convinced me to put an asterisk in there when I had a guide!
Fishing’s such a game of gray areas.
I have no problem with fishing private water, and don’t think that the fish caught from those water are any less dignified then those on public.
I think it comes down to satisfaction and fulfillment. A newer flyfisherman might get a lot of satisfaction out of catching a 20-inch pellet fed fish (PFF) whereas, a more seasoned fisherman may get more satisfaction out of a 10-inch Appalachian brookie. To each his own. I will condemn neither.
Personally, I get more enjoyment out of studying the topos, strapping on the backpack and finding a backcountry stream where the wild ones are rising…no matter the size. I’ve only fished one of these “trophy streams” once and felt like I was hunting “exotics” on one of those fenced-in game preserves in Texas. Something just wasn’t right and it’s not at the top of my fishing memories list.
I think what gets a lot of us miffed is the noob that posts a grip-and-grin with a 20+ incher that was taken from a stream where supplemental feeding is prevalent without mentioning it. This is where the asterick comes in. Not unlike wildlife photography where it is taboo to post zoo pictures without stating it.
With regard to stocked fish, if we want to split hairs, all brown trout either are freshly stocked or decendants of stockers. 🙂
And back to the original question…..have we heard of this?
It’s becoming the en vogue thing to do in Georgia if you can garner exclusive fishing rights on a section of stream. Charge $200 bones a day to let someone come in and C&R PFF till their hearts content. Heck, I even stock my little farm pond each Fall and feed throughout the winter, to be harvested in the Spring before warm water temps kill them. It provides some entertainement during the winter but not fulfilling for me.I agree with you about the pellet feeding but I don’t know about the public vs private waters thing.
As in my last statement – my most enjoyment does come from a fish other than a PFP. I would rather work hard for a 10 inch fish on the dry fly than to throw a bugger at a PFP.
I have never fished for PFP fish but I have seen them on TV. I would guess that the Fly fishing Masters was shot on the Soque River or Dukes Creek or at the Brigadoon Resort. Huge fish in such small water seems kind of strange to me. Its like these game ranches in the west where you go to “hunt”.
Fly fishing is a highly specialized form of hunting for fish. We accept the disciplines and restraints of fishingI have never fished for PFP fish but I have seen them on TV. I would guess that the Fly fishing Masters was shot on the Soque River or Dukes Creek or at the Brigadoon Resort. Huge fish in such small water seems kind of strange to me. Its like these game ranches in the west where you go to “hunt”.
That show was shot on a private section of Noontootla Creek. I’ve fished the public sections of Noontootla for little Brookies, had a good time. The private sections are futher on down where dog food pellet hatches come off. I agree with you, it seems like a game ranch.
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