There are frequent references and threads alluding to the 'legendary' (etc. etc.) Thames Trout.
Question is, has anyone here ACTUALLY caught one? That is hooked and landed a trout in the river Thames?
There's plenty of anecdotal evidence, second and third hand reports of captures and half remembered stories about weir-pool stockings etc. but as yet I've yet to meet anyone who has got one of these to the net.


Cheers

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

I have caught one of the steps outside Richmond Ice Rink, on the tidal thames.

That was a few years ago

It was tagged I cut the tag off sent it off and got £1 back in the post

That's 1!

Can I ask who was it tagged by and why?

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

The fish were tagged by the TC, (Thames conservators, pre EA), they were stocked in a few of the lower weirpools to monitor movements.
As for catching them, caught loads, especially the tagged ones, 13 in one day on Bell weir, many others from there, Penton hook, Shepperton,Sunbury. Caught a few wild ones, totaly different markings to the stocked fish, classic,big spots etc, best of 4lb, friend caught an 8lber, stunning fish.
That was before the Health & safety garbage arrived and made the weir permit a waste of time. We used to fish off the weir structures, now you can,t get near them, pointless!!!!!
peter

Good Grief, this is a subject which brings back memories of a mis-spent youth! From about 1963 to 1971 I spent a great deal of time fishing for "Thames Trout" in the weir-pools at Sonning, Goring, Caversham, Mapledurham and Pangbourne. Success was measured in fish per annum rather than per hour! However, the best I landed was over 7lbbs - that was the limit of my scales; I suspect the fish of being between 8 and 9lbs. It was taken on a self-made 3 inch plug - which on the occasion was actually being used to torment Perch by the warm water hatches entering the Thames from the Earley power station. In those days, trout were not THAT scarce in the weirs, but very few people bothered to fish for them - indeed, very few fished the weirs at all. The best I caught on a fly was a three pounder caught on a yellow fan winged mayfly, tied by the old lady who used to inhabit Costers fishing tackle shop in Watlington Street, Reading. Sixpence each! The fly-caught fish was taken from the mill-race at Sonning - now effectively no more, as the mill no longer grinds - unless you count some of the plays which are put on at "The Mill at Sonning"

I caught one a few years ago just downstream of Cricklade, and I caught another last month just upstream of Lechlade - trotting for chub on both occasions.

The EA have stocked trout ova into the Churn and Ampney Brook in recent years, though I don't know how much natural recruitment there is.

Hello andy yes there are many have caught a nice thames trout but it has always been the case the legendary ones come from weirs and back in the old days that is where fisherman did most. have tried myself for over 50 years to catch one and still try today but i have been eluded. a 9llb one was caught 2 years ago upstream weir lock keeper photo. try your self andy buy a thames lock and weir permit and can start fishing april 1st. good luck

Forget the weir permit, get a boat, small dinghy/canoe, get right up into the weir pools, and have fun!
peter

I've just remembered, I had one the other year from down about halfway between Lechlade and Oxford. So that's three in total.