With spawning season coming fast, please see the link below for examples of what trout redds look like.

Avoid trampling on these:
Getting gravel working

Thank you for a very timely reminder Paul G. The same applies for salmon redds; often unmissable due to the 'no algal growth gravel' that is often exposed.



Campaign For The Protection Of Welsh Fisheries

NOTE: It is an offence under the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to willfully disturb any spawn or spawning fish, or any bed, bank or shallow on which any spawn or spawning fish may be.

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Save the softmouth trout

Thought I'd add a nice little photo to this thread too.....

Sea Trout somewhere in the New Forest...

I've posted this elsewhere, but it is such an awesome photo. The redds in the shiny clean gravel here owe their existence and good chance of high hatching success to the small clump of debris/slender tree limb poking into the river.

The localised scouring action of the debris clump is absolutely clear to see here, and it is this that will provide the "self cleaning" and good through-flow of water to keep the eggs bathed in well oxygenated water.

Paul that New Forest sea trout - is that an old photo or is it one of this year's, have they started in earnest already?

It is also worth pointing out that while a fresh redd is pretty bleedin obvious (once you have seen a few) an old one can be completely invisible. On more rapid streams one good spate can totally flatten even the biggest salmon redd overnight let alone a little trout one. It is probably best to assume that any suitably sized gravel in fast shallow water has been used unless you have watched it all autumn. Something for the ever growing army of kick samplers to think about. Nearly every kick sampling site we use on the Exe system could have a redd cut on it!


Andy

Good and timely thread Paul, I have been contemplating some little signs to detour folks around our redd's.

Andy, presume you'll be out with the lense and that we can look forward to some similar photos to last year?

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Help fund the WTT study of the Softmouth

......continuing the theme heres a few ours, Keep in mind these are fresh and even within a few weeks they start to colour over, so dont expect them to be this obvious during the grayling season.



First is a small one probably the first excavation of a series of nests, In the hollow at the front is a small precocious male. The female has excavated and is getting ready to mate, she has dropped down in the shadow while the chosen male is getting rid of the competition before coming back to join her.
This little fella held up proceedeings for ages.



this is really quite a big redd for us, the female was lurking under the ivy and parading the area every so often to protect her nests, The males had all moved on except one hanging back in the dark water to the far bank ( just visible).



this is often confusing on our stream as it often looks like this after the swans have been pulling up the weeds. However if you look to the right you can see more gravel much darker, this is a fresh excavation.



And the original redd that had the little male. The Females back with her chosen suitor, and at about 2lb that hen should give you an idea of the scale.

sorry they are not clearer but It was an awkward day for shots and I stuffed up my polarising filter.

All well and good if your river has clear water ...

What on earth are we meant to do on the Wharfe for example - always stained brown so no chance of spotting the "no wade" areas when fishing for Grayling?

Kind regards

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Phil Holding
www.flytyingboutique.com
Airedale, North Yorkshire

Good point phil,

best option is avoiding hotspots like gravel ramps at the tail of pools and also, particularly in rivers that have "main stem" spawning - avoid the "shoulders" or humps of gravel that deposit in the lee of boulders.

PS - my girlfriend has been in hospital all week (she is OK) but I am about half way through burning the requested batch of DVDs.

Ta

PS - New Forest sea trout is a "stock" shot taken a while ago that one of my colleagues (Andy Thomas) forwarded on to me.

Hi,

Good point.

I've decided not to wade until the trout season gets under way next year. It's no great hardship and ensures that one angler, at least, is not disturbing the salmon and trout redds.

It's a problem though, and to be honest, I hadn't given it much thought until I started fishing our rivers across here on an almost daily basis. I was horrified to find that the wading line to nymph one of my favourite swims for autumn grayling is actually a well-known (by the locals) and well-used most years salmon redd!

DB

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That wouldn't happen with a Pridex