Just a thought peeps -

We all know or most of us do that Rainbow Trout are not a native fish to our waters. A lot of people quite rightly have a good old moan about this when the Rainbow Trout escape into wild Trout waters.

The thing that gets me is some of the people who quite rightly moan about escapee Rainbow Trout then go to fish in other countries like New Zealand and Argentina where the Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout are also non native fish then sing the praises of such places. I often wonder what damage these introduced fish did to the indigenous populations of wild fish in places such as New Zealand and Argentina. Its kind of like sticking a few large Pike in a top class wild Brown Trout water is it not?

A tad hypocritical?

I don't know about Argentina, but there were no native trout in NZ when the rainbows & browns were introduced. There was some impact on the native smelt populations as the rainbows took to feeding on those which is why they grew so large in the early days.

Also, the rivers there are very similar to their native environment, and they were able to spawn successfully - something that is very unusual here.

There are lots of natural rainbows in some of the rivers I fish in Austria and they are very sporting fish to catch. However, there are also lots of good grayling there which is the main quarry.

Mmm a thread to watch closely?

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Kevin

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Given the number of posts, the second being a tad inflammatory, I agree zoomer.

and public profile birthdate of APRIL 1st

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Dum Dum, spat out?

Its a legit question there is nothing sinister about it.

Do you have any views on this topic of discussion, Zoomer?

thats that bit sorted then.........

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

No, I don't think it is. I don't think it's the introduction of fish here or there that is the problem, I think it's the way the fish are viewed and treated.

It seems to me the main knock against rainbow trout in the UK is that they are treated as put-and-take species, essentially they are a catch-your-own fish market. Unlike in NZL and Argentina, outside of a coupe of notable exceptions, little or no effort has been made to create a naturally reproducing population in the UK.

Over here in the US and generally worldwide, the focus on fisheries management(true use of the word "fisheries", not the UK synonym for put-and-take) has shifted from providing stocked fish to satisfy meat fishermen, to a system where the emphasis is on habitat improvement and water quality with the goal being to restore native populations and/or produce naturally reproducing non-native fish. Stocking is one tool in the tool box, but by itself it doesn't accomplish anything.

Grouse

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!