How fast can a trout grow?

[Tim Schulz]

Hi all,

Last summer I caught an impressive fish on a favorite stretch of a favorite river.

[anonymous]

Sure looks like the same fish, Tim. An inch a month is very possible. Don’t know about two inches. Would depend on water quality, temperature, habitat, food availability and competition. Looking forward to other responses.

Neat photos.

PS, small heads and steep shoulders usually indicate fast growth rates.

[Eric Weller]

Heck, I’ve seen trout grow 6-10 inches in a matter of hours.

[Zach Matthews]

Very interesting.

[Gary Grossman]

Hi, it’s clearly the same fish based on the spotting (look at the rectangle made by the four spot directly under the front-mid dorsal fin) and it’s certainly possible that the fish could grow that much in a month if fed to satiation on high quality food (fish), but as you mentioned in your

[John Bennett]

Agree its the same fish.

No idea if they can grow 2.5 inches per month. I’ve spent a few minutes trying to find information with regards to growth rates for Ontario’s Grand River which is very prolific. So far Ive only found a few references and they indicate that stockers can grow from 7in to 14in in 1 year and that wild browns (very few of those) can grow to 9in in 1 year.

Given that the growing season is pretty short ( I have to beleive) as Mythbusters would say, I think that 2.5in a month is plausible, especially Im guessing if the insect activity is heavy during the month in question.

Not too many years ago Trophy Browns on the Grand were considered to be 20in +. While thats still a benchmark most anglers I know look to 25+ now, given that 20in seems to more common and frequent to catch. Long way of saying Browns in the Grand grow large and fast.

[Zach Matthews]

This is a great post; thanks guys, and thanks Gary for the professional opinion.

Zach

[tradd d]

Nice pictures!

It always varies depending on many factors foods, metabolism, areas rivers/lakes.

Here in Colorado the Mackdaddy of Fisheries Antero Rez fish can grown between 12-18inches a year…it’s insane!!

Picture is not me, I’m definitely not an icefisherman

[Tim Schulz]

Thanks gang.

[jeff s]

I thought all fish grew after they are caught and the more times the story is told, the faster they grow.

This is an interesting thread.

[Mike McKeown]

Keven Elliot in En Zed, posted this on another board, though you might like to see…

I figure it is the same fish, look at the markings behind the eye…

First pic: caught 15/12/06, weight 2 3/4 lbs:

Second pic: caught 19/10/08 at the same spot, weight 4lbs:

[Tim Schulz]

Mike,

Outstanding!

[Author]

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