Wild tiger

[Johnny Utah]

Got this fella the other day dry flying.

 

[Thursthouse]

That is AWESOME JU! I've been dying to catch a tiger trout for years now...is it just a luck of the draw thing?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

That is AWESOME JU! I've been dying to catch a tiger trout for years now...is it just a luck of the draw thing?

You just have to focus on streams where wild browns and brookies both thrive. I've caught stocked tigers, but never a wild one (yet). Some streams that have both wild fish see a higher percentage than do other streams with both fish present for some reason.

 

[Barleywine]

Very cool catch JU. And so early in the season.

I caught a stocked tiger in PA, but like Rusty, I'm still waiting for the day when my first wild tiger comes along.

The tail/caudal fin on that trout seems stunted in proportion to the rest of the fish. Is that normal for wild tigers?

 

[Johnny Utah]

Very cool catch JU. And so early in the season.

I caught a stocked tiger in PA, but like Rusty, I'm still waiting for the day when my first wild tiger comes along.

The tail/caudal fin on that trout seems stunted in proportion to the rest of the fish. Is that normal for wild tigers?

The pic is deceiving. The tail was well proportioned. Been dry flying for the last 3 weeks going on 4.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I got this fella last year in February on the 14th. My largest wild tiger to date. I remember catching this one like it was yesterday. The trout were taking spent stones, I seen a rise ahead of me, I cast the wonder wing stone up and its big nose came up and sucked the fly down. When i set the hook, the trout b lined for the under cut bank that was about 5 yards up stream from where he was. It was a great fight and surprise for the creek I was fishing.

 

[Trout Guy]

Tiger trout are pretty interesting fish. I have only caught four, all of which were caught within the Neversink drainage. I'll never forget catching each one of those fish.

 

[BRK TRT]

I've taken a few of them over the years, but that's the prettiest one I've ever seen

 

[Trouser Trout]

I got this fella last year in February on the 14th. My largest wild tiger to date. I remember catching this one like it was yesterday. The trout were taking spent stones, I seen a rise ahead of me, I cast the wonder wing stone up and its big nose came up and sucked the fly down. When i set the hook, the trout b lined for the under cut bank that was about 5 yards up stream from where he was. It was a great fight and surprise for the creek I was fishing.
View attachment 8971View attachment 8972

How did it taste?

 

[fishhead]

Caught one 24" last spring in upper D. No worn or clipped fins, but I pretty much dismissed the idea that it could be a wild fish. How are you guys sure the fish you caught are wild?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Caught one 24" last spring in upper D. No worn or clipped fins, but I pretty much dismissed the idea that it could be a wild fish. How are you guys sure the fish you caught are wild?

Many clubs stock them and they hold over which is probably what you caught. You know they are wild when you catch one in a non-stocked water and it's under normal stocking size, although there are other signs as well. A larger one caught in non-stocked waters is also going to be wild. But in major river systems where stocking takes place, you're often not sure. A few times over the past decade or so, the Musky Trout Hatchery has lost some or most of its tiger trout during floods and many of those fish suddenly turned up in the upper D and into the Beaverkill in a relatively short amount of time.

 

[Trouser Trout]

Caught one 24" last spring in upper D. No worn or clipped fins, but I pretty much dismissed the idea that it could be a wild fish. How are you guys sure the fish you caught are wild?

The many that i have brought to hand were all caught in waters that have not been stocked for decades.

 

[fishhead]

Many clubs stock them and they hold over which is probably what you caught. You know they are wild when you catch one in a non-stocked water and it's under normal stocking size, although there are other signs as well. A larger one caught in non-stocked waters is also going to be wild. But in major river systems where stocking takes place, you're often not sure. A few times over the past decade or so, the Musky Trout Hatchery has lost some or most of its tiger trout during floods and many of those fish suddenly turned up in the upper D and into the Beaverkill in a relatively short amount of time.

The under stocking size angle makes sense, but otherwise, I just don't know how you can be sure. Stocked fish have a way of showing up everywhere.

 

[Johnny Utah]

There may be chance that the large one swam in from the delaware. But I emailed the images to various people and they all agreed that more than likely it was wild. Both streams I got them out of has wild brown trout and good population of wild brook trout. And no club waters on them either.

 

[Thursthouse]

There may be chance that the large one swam in from the delaware. But I emailed the images to various people and they all agreed that more than likely it was wild. Both streams I got them out of has wild brown trout and good population of wild brook trout. And no club waters on them either.

what stream was that? I can help you verify.. :thumb:

 

[fishhead]

There may be chance that the large one swam in from the delaware. But I emailed the images to various people and they all agreed that more than likely it was wild. Both streams I got them out of has wild brown trout and good population of wild brook trout. And no club waters on them either.

Hey, and there's wild brookies and browns in the Delaware. One never knows

 

[NJpatbee]

I have never caught one and I fish in quite a few waters where wild browns and brookies co-habitate. I would suspect that larger brown trout are spawning with smaller brookies - seems like an odd couple. I have also never heard of wild rainbows breeding with wild brookies or browns, not sure why.

 

[Trouser Trout]

I have never caught one and I fish in quite a few waters where wild browns and brookies co-habitate. I would suspect that larger brown trout are spawning with smaller brookies - seems like an odd couple. I have also never heard of wild rainbows breeding with wild brookies or browns, not sure why.

I am sure your knowledge is far greater than mine on this or any other fishing related topic, but the reason i believe rainbows won't breed with brook's or browns is they spawn in late spring to early summer and brooks and browns spawn in the fall.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I have also never heard of wild rainbows breeding with wild brookies or browns, not sure why.

The Musky Trout Hatchery is currently rearing brookbows, FYI. But that's a forced breeding, not naturally occurring. I'm unaware of any nature reproduction between brookies and rainbows.

 

[Barleywine]

The Musky Trout Hatchery is currently rearing brookbows, FYI. But that's a forced breeding, not naturally occurring. I'm unaware of any nature reproduction between brookies and rainbows.

Rusty. What is the supposed upside for the hatchery to mix rainbows and brook trout? Better looking? Tastier? Easier to catch? Just wondering what their motivation is.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Im pretty positive that a brook trout cant mate with a rainbow of any variety. However they can mate with browns, artic char, dolly varden, bull trout and lake trout. The brook trout is related to all of those species.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Rusty. What is the supposed upside for the hatchery to mix rainbows and brook trout? Better looking? Tastier? Easier to catch? Just wondering what their motivation is.

I have no idea, but will ask next time I stop in to say hello. But I know they are raising them.