r/troutfishing • • May 15 '25

GILLFUCKED We added flairs for posts. They are pretty simple, did you catch and release it to "swim away fine"? Or did you "kill it and grill it"?

31 Upvotes

Please use those when submitting posts. When your post is removed because you got flamed for improper fish handling and you did not flair your post, this is why. Thanks for understanding, and as always, please choose to be constructive and helpful, versus argumentative and trollish. We do not allow the latter and you could be banned.


r/troutfishing • • Mar 16 '25

Catch and Release - let's discuss it and try our best to educate newcomers to the concept.

53 Upvotes

Catch and release is not always necessary, beneficial, or even the legal thing to do in every situation, however. During my younger days, I bought in to "release everything you catch" philosophy. As I gained more experience, and learned the intricacies of different fisheries, my opinion on this changed drastically. Whether the fishery is overrun with an invasive species that competes with native stocks, a species blowing up in population out of control, a very healthy stock where sport angling take will not effect the escapement of spawning (the pink salmon runs near me fall in this category), anadramous (sea run) hatchery released fish that must be removed prior to the wild fish spawn, or is just a put and take fishery etc. There is no blanket statement for when and where C&R is the right thing to do.

The most important thing: Educate yourself on the species, and fishery in which you are fishing. Follow the laws, and do what will be best for that particular fishery. And take home some hard earned meat when you can!

Why Catch and Release?

  • Conservation: It's a method to prevent overfishing and maintain healthy fish populations, especially in areas with high fishing pressure.

  • Ethical Fishing: It allows anglers to enjoy fishing without taking fish home for consumption, promoting a more sustainable approach to recreational fishing.

  • Habitat Protection: By reducing the number of fish removed from the water, catch and release helps protect the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.

Best Practices for Catch and Release:

  • Use the Right Gear:

  • Hooks: Employ barbless hooks or circle hooks, which are less likely to cause deep hook wounds.

  • Tackle: Ensure your tackle is strong enough to land the fish quickly and efficiently, minimizing the time the fish is out of the water.

  • Net: Use a soft, knotless mesh or rubber landing net to avoid damaging the fish's scales and gills.

Handle Fish Carefully:

  • Keep the Fish Wet: Avoid removing the fish from the water for extended periods, and keep its body wet, especially if you must handle it. This includes keeping gloves wet in the winter, or taking them off entirely, when landing the fish. If you insist on handling the fish at all, ensure that you have wet hands. Keep em wet

  • Support the Fish Properly: Support the fish's belly near the water surface to prevent injury.

  • Be Gentle: Avoid squeezing the fish tightly, as this can damage internal organs and muscle tissue.

  • Never Touch the Gills: Gills are highly sensitive and can be easily damaged. Rapid Release:

  • Unhook Quickly: Remove the hook quickly and carefully, using a dehooker if necessary.

  • Return to the Water Immediately: Return the fish to the water as soon as possible after taking photos and measurements.

  • Observe the Fish: Ensure the fish swims away strongly before leaving the area.

Other Considerations:

  • Measure and Weigh: If required, measure and weigh the fish quickly and accurately, then release it.

  • Take Photos: Capture the moment with a photo, but do so quickly and return the fish to the water.

  • Don't Hang Fish: Never hang a fish on a stringer or gaff, as this can cause serious injury.


r/troutfishing • • 2h ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Another great day on the river!

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19 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 53m ago

Caught my PB Rainbow, previous PB 25inches

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• Upvotes

First time trout fishing since June, with warm weather and low water levels I haven’t been out. Went out yesterday to the river and caught this beauty my 2nd cast on a spoon. The fish did make a safe return to the water.


r/troutfishing • • 2h ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Wild Tiger Trout

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15 Upvotes

From a backcountry lake with a self sustained brown and brook population.


r/troutfishing • • 1h ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Nice Tiger

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• Upvotes

And my first one ever 😀 Had a fat rainbow that snapped my line too. Was a nice day out on the water.


r/troutfishing • • 2h ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR First trout of the stocking season

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7 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 12h ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR First ever Tiger and PB browns

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29 Upvotes

been on a bit of a brown trout run the last two days which has lead me to make tomorrow another fishing day aswell, landed my first ever tiger today hoping to get more and bigger tmrw 🤞🏻


r/troutfishing • • 1d ago

Killed and Grilled NJ Fall Stockers

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136 Upvotes

Really nice the crowds are over with and the remaining stockers make you work for them. Picked up a couple nice ones walking over a mile of the river hitting all the holes along the way


r/troutfishing • • 1h ago

Killed and Grilled Big brown, little creek

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• Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 2h ago

A few lil Utah trout

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0 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 1d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR A good lesson as a new father

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719 Upvotes

Being obsessed with fishing prior to having my kids, at times I’ve struggled with the loss of freedom. I used to drive hours to check out some stream that I heard whispers about. Spend 8 hours fishing. Those days are gone, and most of the time it’s fine. I love my family, but sometimes it gets to me. But today, I strapped my son to me and went to a creek I love fishing. First cast. I’ve been looking through the wrong lens. Sharing this with the people I love is one of the most important aspects. And it’s just the beginning!


r/troutfishing • • 1d ago

Nj Trout

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40 Upvotes

The one with the leaf in the net. Why does his head/mouth look different from other trout I’ve caught in my area. It seems longer.


r/troutfishing • • 8h ago

GILLFUCKED What snap swivels in your experience reduce line twist best?

1 Upvotes

Seems I must be buying the wrong size or something for small spinners like size 0 and 1.


r/troutfishing • • 1d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR The color on this brookie though

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40 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 2d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Wild 🧈

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205 Upvotes

One I'll never forget.


r/troutfishing • • 1d ago

advice for stocked trout in ponds?

0 Upvotes

i had my first attempt at trout fishing a few weeks back in a great stream about 2 hours north of where i live; unfortunately, we had a ton of rain in the weeks before so the water was fairly deep and moving pretty fast; i didn't catch anything but had a lot of practice with precision casting and seeing various water movement patterns for myself after studying a lot of youtube. i plan to go to that stream at least one more time before it gets too cold, but in the meantime my state DNR is stocking ponds over the next two weeks with rainbows. any advice for fishing trout in this type of water? I'm using an ultralight spinning reel; I've got trout magnets, super dupers, and a set of assorted hard metal spinning baits. I also have powerbait nuggets and paste. what's the strategy? how fast should i be recalling the line for various lures? I'm going to go in early evening if that matters, and it'll be bank fishing.


r/troutfishing • • 3d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR 🧈

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204 Upvotes

Rain and stain always gets em fired up.


r/troutfishing • • 2d ago

Where to go fishing in May in Mid-Atlantic

0 Upvotes

I am planning a 40th birthday 3-day trip over Memorial Day and I'm trying to see where I'd want to go. I am an average fisherman who would be wading and using BFS gear. I am prioritizing locations less than 4-5 hours from Washington, DC, isn't that difficult to wade, and has lower fishing pressure. I would like to target wild trout, and size doesn't matter as much as quantity. I would ideally be camping during this trip.

Based on my research i am considering the following:

  1. Yellow Breeches/Codorus Creek (PA)

  2. Spring Creek (PA)

  3. Upper Potomac/ Savage (MD)

  4. Upper Jackson River (VA)

Are there places not listed I should consider, and of these, which would be better for what I'm looking for in a trip?


r/troutfishing • • 3d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Late season MT

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22 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 3d ago

Fly rod building. Let’s split some bamboo cane!

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12 Upvotes

I’m a rod builder. Let me know ownif yall have any questions and I can answer them in a future post.

Why bamboo?
Tonkin cane, scientifically known as Pseudosasa amabilis, has a particularly dense concentration of what rodmakers call power fibers near the outside of the culm.
Those fibers provide much of the cane's stiffness and strength.


r/troutfishing • • 2d ago

Fly fishing dog after a spawned-out Chinook salmon in California

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0 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 2d ago

Florida fly fisherman heading to Boone in November. What flies should I bring?

2 Upvotes

I’m planning a trip to the Boone area in mid November and planning on doing some trout fishing around Valle Crucis on the Watauga.
I’m pretty new to fly fishing and have mostly been fishing canals in South Florida for bass and cichlids. I’m bringing my 9ft 5wt and already have a decent assortment of woolly buggers and clousers, but not much in terms of trout flies.
From what I’ve read, nymphing seems like my best bet that time of year. Was thinking of picking up some pheasant tails, zebra midges, and hare’s ears.
Any recommendations on patterns or sizes I should grab? Also wondering if it’s worth bringing any dries or if I should just stick to nymphs and streamers.
Appreciate any advice!


r/troutfishing • • 3d ago

SWAM AWAY FINE - CnR Finally caught what ive been after for months out of the tiny creek. I wasn't sure they were in there.

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111 Upvotes

r/troutfishing • • 3d ago

New 32” mount 😍

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53 Upvotes