Brown trout spawning season begins in October and can go into December. Brown trout swim up into headwater areas to spawn. They usually choose gravel bottoms where there is good moving water. The fish pair up and then the female makes a saucer-shaped depression in the gravel. The male defends the nest after it is built until the female is ready.
Here the female lays the eggs and the male fertilizes them at the same time. The female then covers the eggs with the gravel. The two will repeat the process until the female is “spent” (has laid all her eggs). After spawning, the parent fish move back to the water from which they came.
Browns are very active feeders and eat a variety of foods including small fish (young trout, sculpins, minnows). Nightcrawlers and shrimp are on their menu, also.
What eats them? The main predators are bigger trout, herons, eagles, and humans. Because of their good taste, size, fighting ability, and the challenge in getting them to bite, Brown trout have become a favorite of many anglers as you can see here in this week’s picture of Aly Carter and her big catch, a big Brown trout.
She’s hooked now. She was out on the water with her father, Ken Carter, and family friend, Jr. Mullins, who assisted her with a quick picture and speedily released the fish to fight another day. They set out to troll on this day and the gentlemen fixed the young lady up first, they didn’t even get their poles in the water and she was hung up.
Hung up on this beauty! Needless to say, Ken is a proud papa.
Trout fishing is usually the best in this cooler weather. For more info check out our Facebook page Custom Adventure Guide Service or give us a call (479) 363-9632, and remember to take a kid fishing.