Sea run brown trout

[borntafish]

Anyone? Salts over? Anyone looking for them in the last month? We have plenty of spots just no one fishing for em'

[Animal]

I picked up a beauty last year in the Pawcatuck.

[riarcher]

I've not seen one in about 30 yrs.
Used to catch them over in Stonington as a kid off the railroad bridge.
They were a lot of fun (and tasty) with light tackle.
Are you seeing them again?

[Esteban]

doyou need a license to fish them (apologies fopr the ignorance, I'm assuming they are fresh water)

[borntafish]

Originally Posted by riarcher

I've not seen one in about 30 yrs.
Used to catch them over in Stonington as a kid off the railroad bridge.
They were a lot of fun (and tasty) with light tackle.
Are you seeing them again?

Yes, I think I saw a few in a stream in Ct. Just over the line.

Originally Posted by Esteban

doyou need a license to fish them (apologies fopr the ignorance, I'm assuming they are fresh water)

It depends where the saltwater /freshwater demarcation line is. Where I am fishing you need one.

[fishnct123]

Has anyone EVER caught a brown in the salt? Not in the river mouths, but in the salt? During middle of summer, even in a net? I never heard of one being caught.

[riarcher]

Caught mine in Wicketyquack (sp?) Cove over in Stonington off the first (eastern) R.R. bridge. Definately Saltwater, but not ocean.
Not sure about the trueth of it, But I heard they were imported from Germany a long time ago to try and get a fishery migration going.
As I said, not sure if it's true or not. There were enough to actually fish for them and hope to actually catch one. But, we were "in the know" by pure accident. Not something most folks were aware of at the time I think.
This was back around the mid to late 60's. I've not seen one since. That's why I was wondering if Gary found a secret spot where they can still be had.
About old fishin,,, I wish the Tinker Macks, frost fish, and smelts would stage a comeback! Especially smelts.
A few smelts rolled in corn meal & fried in butter, some Johnny Cakes and "up and looking at you" eggs make a fine breakfast.

[Adrian]

That's correct. The Brown Trout are not native to the US but introduced from European stock. Our natural resident trout is the brookie and a searun version is called a "Salter" - so I'm told.

The Saugatuck has a few sea run browns from the stocking up in the reservior. Some of these "Seeforellen" get pushed over the dam during big floods and seem to adapt quickly to the tidal/brackish environment.

I've heard good things about the Pawcatuck and also some of the Southside Cape esturaries but never ventured out for them.

Back in the old country, Sea Trout (as sea run browns are called back there) are highly prized and almost exclusively fished after dark during the summer months. I picked one up in the ocean (about 10 miles from the nearest estuary) when spin fishing for mackerel one time. In general I dont believe they venture too far from the estuary mouths.

[pogie_boy]

How would one fish for them? Small tins or shad bodies?

[riarcher]

I was probably running sandworms looking for stripers and winter flounder.
Most likely running it bare or high off a float (before I heard of "Eggs") on a drift.
Fished the wash from the bridge like a Breachway then.

[Winch]

On the westcoast we have sea run rainbows. aka steelhead trout.
So in that order yes I catch them in the surf. If we are in a drought situation or having a late rain they will pile up near the mouth of some of the coastal streams here.
When targeting them I use kastmaster and spoons and plug like I am fishing for stripers in the holes and slots of the beach. I also catch them as a by catch when fishing for surf perch. We use a small 2 -3 inch grub attached to a slider weight system.
I would imagine that you could target your trout the same way.