The Stream Doctor

February 14th, 2005

Email YOUR Questions directly to the Stream Doctor. This is your opportunity to get an experts professional opinion on anything stream related.


Q. How can you tell apart wild trout and stocked trout?

A. This isn't always an easy task, but here are a few things to look for - and remember these are just generalities.

Stocked fish, especially recently stocked ones, are often quite pale in color as compared to resident and wild fish. Of course, you need one of each to compare this, but the point is, wild fish attain darker coloration and richer colors in their markings than do hatchery raised fish. Another thing often common to stocked fish are ripped or torn fins and tails. This comes from crowding in raceways and abrasion from concrete raceways.

If you have a question, please feel free to contact me.
~ C. E. (Bert) Cushing, aka Streamdoctor
105 W. Cherokee Dr.
Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone: 970-577-1584
Email: streamdoctor@aol.com

The 'Stream Doctor' is a retired professional stream ecologist and author, now living in the West and spending way too much time fly-fishing. You are invited to submit questions relating to anything stream related directly to him for use in this Q & A Feature at streamdoctor@aol.com.


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