Had a day at Loynton yesterday and caught my first ever Rainbow Trout, which was also my first ever fly caught fish so I was very chuffed!

Myself and my mate both caught a brace, but they'd all had their tails trimmed, which no doubt affected the fight.

Is the practice of tail trimming widespread, what is the reasoning behind it?

It's not a deliberate practice - it's a side effect of being raised in dense stock tanks/ponds.

These fish can be very tightly packed in quite confined spaces, and their fins get worn against other fish or the sides of the tank.

It's one of the hallmarks of stocked fish - though they do grow back over time.

The other ones to look out for are stubby or 'crinkled up' pectoral fins and dorsal fin, gill plates that don't seem to quite fit, and a snub nose.

Thanks for clearing that up Matt.

Congratulations on catching your first Rainbow on the fly. Well done.

Tight lines!

Nick.

Well done on your first. Many more to come

__________________
Eddie
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation."
Voltaire