What trout will be in "my secret" river

[Norfolkboy]

This goes to all the fly fisherman out there, Old Smoothy, Jack, Pross etc..

What trout are found in small rivers normally? We've had a brown trout out of there, and only ever had follows/takes on the flies from them.

A little further down the road is a Trout and Salmon fishing stretch (private) which I imagine joins up to our river somewhere, so would there be salmon in there too? And rainbows?

Would be nice to catch a few species from there.

The river itself:

The river is about 10ft wide, with a bridge going over the top. A few reed beds, overhanging bushes etc.. and lots of weed in the main flow.

So, any ideas guys? Will it just be brownies, or will there be salmon and rainbows in there too?

Cheers

Would there possibly be Grayling in there too?

[A fluff chucker]

Hi Dan,

Probably all the species you mention will be there IF they are in the stretch downstream of you.

Rainbow trout do not normally breed in the UK and therefore are all originally stock fish. Most syndicate/private waters stock with rainbows as they grow much quicker than a brownie and therefore cheaper to stock with. The really big old trout are normally canibal trout and livebaiting sometimes catches them. But they are big and old because they are clever and live in a difficult position to attract with a bait or fly.

Brownies always look for clean gravel for breeding and will often head up river to find a suitable breeding area. Similarly will salmon. Unfortunately beacause of this instinct for salmon to look for the upstream shallows it makes them an easy target for poachers. So if you find the salmon are in your secret river - keep it secret; please.

Rainbows will also migrate upstream. They seem to look for shelter in the floods and then wander upstream etc. If grayling are present downstream they will also spread upstream.

These statements assume that no man-made barrier has been placed across the stream and the water is good with natural food life present. Sounds if it's OK with having some brownies present.

The best water for growth is the clear chalk streams. A brown stained peat water, which is acidic, will only give slow growth and mainly only supports small natural brownies - but they can also be a pleasure/fun to catch.

If it's clear water I suggest you spend a few hours stalking along the bank, making sure your shadow doesn't fall across the water, and with polaroids try spotting some fish. Mind you, a fly rod in your hand could be an advantage

Hope this helps. - Jack

[Norfolkboy]

Cheers Jack

[aks19]

funnily enough ive just got back off a little camping trip left he rods behind but didnt stop me scouting the places out i was in wimbourne anyone heard of it? but anyway back to the story, spotted some chub so decided to get some bread feed them a bit, was feeding these chub when half a dozen brownies turn up all nice size bout 2lb when i rainbow turned up an at this point i got a little suspicious finished feeding 50p loaf of bread an went for a miander to the local tackle shop to enquire turned out the local trout syndicate had released some 200 rainbows (breeders) to spice it up a little a few years back an they are now well established but they then started travelling upstream (and down) and have been caught as far as 20miles away so yeah i suppose they do travel a bit lol