imo itd be more of a trophy than say, the state record black crappie that camemout of a pond.First off, congrats on the nice fish. Big fish are always fun to catch!
However, here's where I might unintentionally strike a nerve. What do you consider a "trophy"? A real trout that was born in the stream and grew on its own OR a trout they fed all year long (sometimes two) and chunked them out of the truck into the river? I'll fish the Tellico some in the winter during delayed harvest just to catch those large fish because like I said, they are fun! Do I consider them trophies? No! They came straight out of the raceway after being grain fed. Not trying to offend you or belittle those fish by any means but in my opinion and my opinion only, there's nothing special about them. YMMV
What's a good way to tell if they are stockers vs natives?
I didn't catch these off of rooster tails, power bait, nor worms, I was using 4lb test throwing a micro jig. Letting it drift to the bottom after going through a plunge into a big hole. They were caught out of two difffent holes. I fought them both for about 6-7 minutes each and nearly lost the 2nd one
"Wild" trouts fins won't be worn down from the concrete runs and are much more colorful and it's also EXTREMELY rare for a wild trout in our area to grow that large. A handful of Browns will but very few rainbows. Brookies are the only "native" trout we have. Here's a picture of a wild rainbow that you can see the difference in the fins and coloration.
They are from the delayed harvest season. They release large trout from October through February, artificial lures, catch and release only. It's the best time to fish Tellico unless you're wanting trout to eat. As Crow mentioned, some of them are absolutely huge! Most get caught out within the first few weeks after delayed harvest.
then thats good angling. if you want a replica then have one made of the best looking one since they are almost identical or both.
I like fly fishing but the last time I was there my buddy was using a spinning rod he was throwing a really small, maybe a inch, inch and half plastic hellgramite (sorry I can't recall the brand) on a 1/64 jig head and those stockers were absolutely wearing it out! Same thing, just drifting it like you'd do with a fly rod. I got out fished that day…
I agree but I don't see where anyone is "knocking" him? He asked for opinions? And yes, lots of us take pictures with fish with our fly rods (or any other kind of rod). What's wrong with that?
I mean your first post you said "i might strike a nerve" and followed with it wasn't a real trout. Idk how you'd describe that where you're from. Me, i'd call that knocking him. Dude's proud of the fish. If it makes him happy go for it brother.
You left out the word "unintentionally". And in my opinion "real" trout are born in the stream. Not a hatchery. I congratulated him on the fish because they ARE nice fish and he should be proud of them, I would be too! I made it very clear in my original post that it was only MY opinion (that he asked for) . You are picking and choosing words out of my post instead of reading the whole thing. I don't see anywhere in what I said was disrespectful, you are twisting it around, please reread my post and correct me if I'm wrong?
Ok. Lets try this. I hunt alot with a longbow. I think its one tough road to consistently kill deer with it but I love it. You come on here and post a good deer you killed with a gun that you're proud of. I get on here first post and say thats a nice deer, I might strike a nerve but its not a real kill to be proud of unless its with a stick and string. Same thing. Some people are proud of a 150 some are just as proud of a 120. Whatever turns their crank im proud for em. My line of work I see folks die before they're supposed to all the time. Whatever makes someone happy man let em be happy is all im saying.
For me, a deer mount or anything like that is not so much about the size or "trophy" value. The mounts represent an experience that I had. I can look at any of my mounts and relive the moments around the catch or kill. I remember things like the sunrise or sunset that was happening, the sounds of the stream, the people I might have been with, and even the people who are now gone. That said, if these fish will make you smile or reflect on the time around you catching them, get a mount and look back on it for years to come.
My thoughts as well. While I don't put much value in a pellet head stocker, it's not my place to tell someone else what a trophy is to them. Glad you boys caught some fish and bet it was fun
wild rainbows in the right tailwater can get nearly as big as freestone browns. Not much reproduction happeninging, not near as much as browns, but it does happen with both.
Tellico is not a tailwater. The only tailwaters we have here in the southeast contain zero wild trout and zero reproduction of any trout. Water temperatures and fluctuation will not allow it.
obviously Tellico isn't a tailwater. As for wild reproduction TN tailwaters, you're just wrong.
I said, "here in the southeast" where I live. I am not wrong.
