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Rainbow Trout:
There are many sub-species of Rainbow trout,
with some of the most prolific being the
Kamloops, Nelson trout, red-band, Eagle
Lake, Kern River, Shasta, San Gorgonio, and
Royal Silver. To my knowledge, not all of
these strains have been domesticated. I have
extensively researched the best strains for
the north Georgia climate and particularly
our specific water quality, and have been
fortunate to find the strains I want: the
Kamloops, a native of Kamloops, British
Columbia, and the Shasta, a native of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Kamloops, a
much slower growing strain, is not as
favored for production, but is worth the
wait when they reach adulthood. They are
extremely acrobatic, which makes them
particularly suitable for our fishing
experience. The Shasta, in my opinion, is
the most colorful strain. I have recognized
that they are a very aggressive feeder,
which does not hurt their popularity with
the anglers. A Rainbow trout’s lifespan is
from 7 to 11 years, which is most relevant
to their immediate environment. To date, I
have not had any live past 9 years. They are
typically between 16 and 18 pounds, and 30
plus inches long at 9 years of age.
Brown Trout:
Our Brown trout
are exceptionally beautiful. They seem to
have capitalized on our abundance of aquatic
insects and fingerling trout. I have seen
some 10 plus pounds—they are not hooked very
often. I had one fisherman hook 3 Browns in
one day, after making less than 20 casts
that day. He positioned himself and watched
for an hour in some cases before he would
cast. Brown trout generally mature in 7 to
12 years. The oldest Brown on record is 18
years of age.
Brook Trout:
The Brook trout is Georgia’s only native
trout. There is, however, a distinct
difference in hatchery Brooks and native
“specs.” I have yet to see a native spec in
our waters, but have seen some in smaller
tributaries—they are generally less than 6
inches long. Our Brook trout are locally
hatched and reared, and we stock them
annually. They are enormously challenged by
our July, August, and early September water
temperatures. The fish that make it through
this period are few. They grow rapidly and
are strong fighters. If you hook a Brook, it
should be considered a genuine treat. Brook
spawning have not been observed as yet in
our waters.
Our fish have been carefully managed to
produce an impressive cross-section of
color, quality, and size that we know you
will enjoy.
Bob Still
- Valley
at Suches |
