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3. Wild Browns

I have posted about this topic before a whlie back, but am curious about something else now. The easiest way for me to tell if a brown is wild, is the blue spot behind the eye (anyone look for something else?). Having just about completed my first winter of fly fishing, I have noticed that some of the browns I have been catching display this blue spot and others don't. The streams I fish aren't stocked so there is no possibility of a stockie. Do the colors simply fade in the winter? Is this a sub-species of a brown? In the summer, all of the browns from the same streams have an obvious blue spot behind the eye and some even have two. Its very interesting to see the different colorings on these fish and if anyone can shed some light on the subject, I would appreciate it.

I dont think that a dot shows if a brown is stocked or not. There was a post i was reading that said that in PA, stocked trout had less coloration for the first 6 months, but after 6 months it was impossible for even Fish and wildlife officials to tell if a fish was stocked or not without a microscope.

Aren't there two distinct species of browns? My memory has no chance of recalling them unless I start googling.

There are 2 different types of Brown Trout. The blue dot behind the eye is found in both if I am remembering right.

The blueish hue behind the eye becomes more prominent the longer the fish is wild. If it is born wild, it will show up much earlier, than a stocked fish. BUT! A stocked fish, with a few seasons in the river or lake, can develop it.

You will also notice red or red spots on the adipose fin.

Another way to tell a wild trout compared to a hatchery or planted fish is fuller and more developed fins. You will notice on hatchery fish they have small, clipped or underdeveloped fins. A wild trout will have full, round and robust fin. The reasoning behind this is... a hatchery fish will not experience varying currents or sometimes no current. A wild trout will have lived in currents it's entire life.

You can sometimes notice a big difference in the overall coloration or lack thereof in planted/stocked/hatchery raised Brown Trout. Wild or older river resident trout with have bolder patterns. The red spots or even the halos will show far better at times. The larger and more wild browns will have a deeper gold color as well.

Hope this helps. I am by no means an expert, this is just what I have observed or learned from my experience in the field and with my father's Ichthyology books.

I will take your word for the red spot on the adipose fin. The Browns have not been stocked on the lower Gunnison river in generations. Yet, from my observations there are no red spots on the adipose fin in the lower drainage of this river.
"2 different" types? After 30 to 50 years would these "species" have not inner bred?

I have a really hard time saying a Brown Trout is wild due to its red spot on the adipose fin (or lack there of). You made it easyer now that I can refer nonbelievers to you and your dad.

I am sure it can vary in all places of the world. All trout take on different patterns, shades, coloration, spots and other various markings etc. This can all be due to the content of the water, temps, cover and a host of other variables.

Spots are totally genetic. They are just like finger prints to humans. No two fish have identical spots.

Sure wish you would have mentioned your last post in the previous thread.