Hi,

is there literature or opinions around concerning the minimum size of a stream necessary to carry trout? Its possible to rent streams in Switzerland for a period of 8 years and there is one going cheap near me, the only question is what one has to do to make it useful.

best, 'Bat

I think of greater relevance is "how small a stream is any use for you to fish". Trout will live happily in some very small streams. For example, many of the levadas in Madeira are only about a metre wide, and a few inches deep (except when there's been a storm, when they become raging torrents) yet they harbour an amazing population of trout, all rainbows, I think. These fish are small, but in odd pockets, pots and tanks they can be as big a a couple of kilos. Then again, in some of the little burns and streams in Highland Scotland, or on Dartmoor, there are lots of little brown trout, with the occasional (relative)monster lurking in secluded pools. So, what do the trout need? A clean and consistent supply of water, food and somewhere to hide. If the water is alkaline they are likely to thrive better, as the food supply is likely to be better. Your can test the water for purity and pH, and a poke about with a small net will establish the availability of food items. If "your" stream is suitable for trout, I would rather expect some to be there already! Good Luck

like cubera said, tiny streams hold trout. Back home in Pennsylvania, similar sized streams hold brook trout. In the summer the streams will be small enough for a child to jump over without getting wet. But there are holes and runs of flowing, cool water throughout the year that the trout tuck in to.

The water temperature and quality will determine whether trout will live there. If the water quality is there, I'd bet that there are already bugs. That would be how I'd check the stream. If there are decent numbers of bugs when you start flipping rocks, then you've probably got enough water quality for trout. If not, then you need to do some more testing.

Thanks
Rick

Exactly! Small streams will support a head of fish, but if they're not there already then they're not 'meant' to be there (unless a pollution incident has cleared it out or something!).

good point - the stream is listed as a fisheries stream - priced cheapest meaning it "could" but doesn't actually carry anything - at least I haven't seen anything in it, the feeder lake holds pike and eel (put there to get rid of crabs). Like many swiss streams its steep but its banks are very high so it would be possible to dam it (several times) and stock it. The only thing you could stock it with would be brownies, even if it were only for research purposes it might be an interesting project.

Whereabouts are you. I am in Lausanne in October and apart from perching with my son on Lake Leman have never fished there.

regards

Vince

the smallest stream i have ever fished was a mere 18 inches wide on the North Yorks Moors,which held trout to 6 inch ...

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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 !!

Didn't see this till now - In Zürich.

I'll put up a photo of the kind of stream/brook I'm talking about - I have now been reliably informed that these do in fact hold fish (also regularly stocked by the Canton)