What the heck is going on?

[Devan S.]

So between following all the facebook groups I'm noticing a ton of 27"+ fish showing up almost daily. 

I suspect browns will start showing up with more frequency as we get closer to October but several of these fish are big rainbows. Just seems really strange for 3-4 of these fish show up within a week like they have at the size they are. Again I'm not talking 5-6lb fish were talking 10lb+ and 30"+ fish. 

What gives? Is it just suddenly a massive social media run? Did MDC release some big brood stock? 

 

[Ik314]

Fall is in the air 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

So between following all the facebook groups I'm noticing a ton of 27"+ fish showing up almost daily. 

I suspect browns will start showing up with more frequency as we get closer to October but several of these fish are big rainbows. Just seems really strange for 3-4 of these fish show up within a week like they have at the size they are. Again I'm not talking 5-6lb fish were talking 10lb+ and 30"+ fish. 

What gives? Is it just suddenly a massive social media run? Did MDC release some big brood stock? 

 

I believe it's Shane Bush's plan/strategy coming to fruition. The reduction of stocking rainbows over the last few years is showing its benefits..quickly.

[Phil Lilley]

This really has been building over the last three or four years. The numbers of trout over 20 inches caught and released and reported has been increasing monthly. These fish are just getting bigger and bigger.  2- 30 inch rainbows within a week caught is extremely impressive.

Our fishery, because of the ever growing population of big trout, is changing the way we fish. Big fish eat bigger food. They eat more food, more varieties. So now we are seeing trout eat big streamers and more bigger flies on the surface. I think this trend will continue as long as people keep releasing these trophies.

The department of conservation deserves a lot of credit for the adjustment of stocking numbers of trout as well as the trophy area. But also our guides for strongly advocating catch a release with their clients. I can’t remember the last time we saw a guide bring in a 20 inch trout and clean it. That’s pretty amazing.

[Phil Lilley]

I caught this 21” brown on a dry last evening across from the resort. 

Awesome!  I love that they’re taking dries!!

[Travis Swift]

I'm ready for Taney to get that State Record Rainbow title soon! 

[ColdWaterFshr]

Pretty brown, Phil!

 

[Devan S.]

1 hour ago, Phil Lilley said:

 2- 30 inch rainbows within a week caught is extremely impressive.

This is specifically what I'm getting at. I think the potential with Browns was well known and it doesn't surprise me that mid-August they are starting to show up.

I've always assumed there was some big rainbows around but 2 or 3 in a week is like flipping a switch. Has MDC ever done anything on growth rates? I assume these fish are maybe putting on 3-4 lbs a year to see that kind of change in say 1 year?

[Phil Lilley]

They've always had good growth rates... when there's food there.  Less fish, more food.

We haven't had a high water even since 2016 so theoretically, we haven't lost any browns to Bull Shoals, or very few.  So our population of browns should be very high.  It only took Taney to grow a 40 pounder (triploid) so why shouldn't we see a ton of big fish this fall/winter.

Let's hope for decent water quality conditions this fall.  It shouldn't be too bad I believe.