While it's fine to lip some species of fish like bass, it is best to keep your fingers out of a trout's mouth because it puts unnecessary stress on the fish, and because they have small teeth. Keep those hands on the body of the fish!
Not only is the practice of catch-and-release important, but the way that it is done can be equally important. Trout are a very sensitive species of fish, just touching them with your bare hands can threaten a trout’s life. Trout are protected by a slime layer that covers their entire body.
Many anglers like to simply clean the fish and cook it whole. This works best for fish that have no or very small scales such as trout. Your catch should be cleaned and gutted as soon as possible. Fish are slippery and knives are sharp – be careful!
Always wet your hands before handling a fish. Never handle a fish with dry hands. Handling a fish with dry hands can take the protective slime coating off of a fish.
4 - Keep your hands out of the gills.
They're something to use to get a grip that the fish won't easily flop out of. However, the gills are easily damaged, and any damage is detrimental to the fish. It's best to control a trout with a hand around the tail, but don't squeeze too hard.
Gutted fish will last longer on ice as long as you refrigerate them - at least two to three days. If you freeze them, they will definitely last longer, but do note that although they may be technically safe to eat, their taste will still deteriorate over time.
Stocked trout don't want to seek out their food, and they likely don't know how to do it anyway. They want convenience. So, anglers should use a bait that's suspended just off the bottom.
Trout may not be as dangerous as some fish. It's not like a barracuda or a piranha by any means. You don't even have the stinging barbs that you might find on a catfish. But trout can be slippery and tricky.
Trout tickling is the art of rubbing the underbelly of a trout with fingers. If done properly, the trout will go into a trance after a minute or so, and can then easily be retrieved and thrown onto the nearest bit of dry land.
As a general rule, trout are happiest when water temperatures are below 65ºF. Anytime water temperatures in moving water hit 67ºF, STOP FISHING. When water temperatures in moving water are between 65-66ºF we recommend getting out early in the morning and not fishing through the heat of the day.
KNOW THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO FISH FOR TROUT
The best time of day to fish for trout is during the early morning hours. To be more specific, fish from dawn until about two hours after sunrise. The next best time is late afternoon, from about three hours prior to sunset until dusk.
And may folks want to continue fishing. The reality is that Trout are very fragile species of fish. Especially stockers. The odds of any cut bow stocker surviving a size 12 treble hook being swallowed and a line being cut or the hook ripped out its stomach is very low.
“Fish do feel pain. It's likely different from what humans feel, but it is still a kind of pain.” At the anatomical level, fish have neurons known as nociceptors, which detect potential harm, such as high temperatures, intense pressure, and caustic chemicals.
A significant body of scientific evidence suggests that yes, fish can feel pain. Their complex nervous systems, as well as how they behave when injured, challenge long-held beliefs that fish can be treated without any real regard for their welfare.
These rainbow trout show the characteristic black tail and skeletal deformities indicative of whirling disease. Whirling disease is caused by a microscopic parasite from Europe (Myxobolus cerebralis) that can infect some trout and salmon; it does not infect humans. It has been detected in 25 states.
As aforementioned, a trout has a slimy top skin layer that a dry net and dry hand can easily damage. So, if you have to handle the fish using your bare hands or net, make sure they are wet. The slime is there to protect the fish from illnesses.
Large trout have strong jaws and can easily bite aggressively and draw blood. Smaller trout have teeth but usually small enough not to worry about. So don't haphazardly stick your fingers into a trout's mouth. If you trout is over 16 inches you should think about using hemostats to remove a fly.
Threat(s): Rainbow trout is responsible for driving many native species into extinction or endangerment. They have eradicated frog species and threatened many native fish species in a variety of environments, such as the Californian golden trout and humpback chub in the Grand Canyon.
Anglers all seem to have their favorite baits, including old school nightcrawlers as well as human foods such as marshmallows, kernels of sweet corn, and Velveeta cheese. Another popular fish attractant for trout option is artificial dough bait, particularly in areas where the use of live bait is prohibited.
Yes, the stocked trout can reproduce under favorable conditions and even help maintain the trout population in a water body. People have also noted that trout spawn over several seasons. But if they have genetic alterations to make them non-fertile (triploid trout), then they will not reproduce.
Don't Forget to Gut the Fish
Don't let intestinal contaminants remain in the fish too long. Fish guts deteriorate quickly and can spoil the fish if not processed correctly. Gut the fish as soon as practical after catching it and wash the cavity in cold water to remove bacteria.
The guts of a fish are inedible and need to be removed before cooking. It isn't difficult to do but if you are squeamish, get your fishmonger to remove them for you. It is best to wear latex gloves to protect your hand when doing this.
When the water temperature hits 60 degrees, the Cutthroats will begin to stress and feed less. The lethal temperature for a Cutthroat Trout is 68.5 to 69 degrees.