New Brown Trout Regs On White

[Ham]

Now keep in mind that I am total catch and release on trout BECAUSE I don't care for the way they taste. On top of that I LOVE Browns, Brookies, and Cutts too much to kill one on purpose. If I liked to eat trout I would keep a few Rainbows and I certainly want to encourage people to keep Rainbows within the rules and regs.

Having said all that, I am very excited about the new 24 inch minimum regulation for Brown Trout and certainly have high hopes that this will result in catching more > 20 inch Brown trout.

Anybody have any SWAG of when we might begin to see more of these greater than 20 inch fish? I have run across a few with my Jig already and hope for at least one big ole Brown every trip out.

I'll be going somewhere tomorrow and plans are for another trip on the White. I'll throw a trip report up if I go.

[laker67]

Anybody have any SWAG of when we might begin to see more of these greater than 20 inch fish? I have run across a few with my Jig already and hope for at least one big ole Brown every trip out.

It certainly won't make them grow any faster than normal, if that's what you were indicating. What it will do is help get them through childhood. Childhood being less than 30 inches.

[taxidermist]

Two years until you see a dramatic jump in the average size. AGFC meeting last year.

Now with that being said, the numbers of small browns may well drop do to Brown trout cannibalism. It has been noted in other trophy waters that this can happen. Should year class numbers start falling off the size limit will be lowered to 20".

so for now its wait and see.

[Ham]

I didn't expect a change in growth rate. I just have no clue to how many Browns < 24 were leaving the river for wall or skillet. Hopefully, as my skill set improves and the fishery improves (again fingers crossed), I'm catch more Big Browns.

Thanks Taxi for the info.

[laker67]

. I just have no clue to how many Browns < 24 were leaving the river for wall or skillet.

As more and more anglers are joining the ranks of trout fishing, a lot of first timers are hitting the creeks and tailwaters on any given weekend. Normally, a new angler will keep the first 4 to 5 lunker trout that they catch. After that they may adopt more of a C&R attitude. So to answer your question, lots of trout, and especially browns, over the minimum limit ,are leaving our waters every week. The exact numbers would probably scare us.

[John Berry]

With a growth rate of around seven inches a year, I would expect to start seeing the changes in about a year.