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Respect and Awareness | Brown Trout
Written By: Matt Canter | Issue: 2021/11 – November
It’s the Season of Romance for Brown Trout, so exercise a little discretion.
Fall, and especially the month of November, is an incredible time of year to fish in Western North Carolina!
Crisp air, cool water, and great mid-day bug hatches all make for a great day on the water. Something else happens in the month of November, though, that a lot of anglers aren’t aware of.
It’s the time of year that Brown Trout spawn, adding new life to the ecosystem, and it’s quite a show if you’ve been lucky enough to witness it!
The male and female pair up and chase each other around for a while until they settle on a good place to lay, and fertilize their eggs. They typically pick shallow, gravelly bottom to do this, making them very vulnerable and easy to spot. Since these are the mature adults that are responsible for the next generation, some of these can be sizable fish…ones that would make for great bragging rights in a photo!
It can be very tempting to make a cast and try and catch one of these fish while they are in this ritual. Just try and remember, though, that a good sportsman is one who protects our natural resources.
By catching that large Brown Trout (even with the intention of releasing it after a photo), it’s possible to disrupt the whole ritual.
That would mean thousands of eggs would never get fertilized, hundreds of baby brown trout fry would never hatch, and far fewer mature, catchable fish would populate the river in future years.
So, if you’re lucky enough to witness this wonderful dance in nature, lay the rod down, have a seat, and enjoy it. Make a note of where the eggs have been nestled on the stream bottom, and try and avoid wading anywhere near it so that the eggs aren’t trampled.
When you move on, give yourself a big pat on the back for resisting temptation and protecting the well-being of the fishery!
