How to Avoid Disturbing Spawning Trout

Bull trout pair on a redd in Lolo Nationwide Forest in Montana. Be aware the clear gravel, which the fish have scrubbed of algae, a telltale signal of a spawning redd. Photograph: Aubree Benson, used through CC2.0

‘Tis the season for brown and brook trout to spawn, and it’s very important that anglers know easy methods to spot spawning fish and their redds (spawning beds). Not solely must you keep away from concentrating on fish on redds, however wading anglers have to be particularly cautious to not tramp via the gravel the place the trout eggs are deposited. An article by Ben Kryzinski in Hatch Magazine gives some good recommendation:

For those who’re strolling and wading, take care to maintain an eye fixed open for lively redds — they’ll be freshly swept of algae and the smaller rocks will seemingly have been rolled over by pre-spawn fish as they put together to make a nest for the eggs. A median trout or char redd is likely to be concerning the measurement of your bathtub, and, through the peak of the spawn, it’s not unusual to see fish on the redds both engaged in spawning or defending their eggs. Brown trout, as an example, are fierce guardians of their redds, significantly after the spawn (and they are often simply coaxed to chase a streamer consequently). As a rule, should you see fish on a redd, it’s greatest to depart them be.

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