You put trout in a stream and as Davy and Brian said you are most likely going to have some reproduction if given half a chance. Department of Conservation used to manage parts of North Fork as a wild trout stream (I can't remember for sure if that was strictly for rainbows or if browns were also included in that equation--I believe they were). I suspect the removal of the North Fork as a wild trout fishery designation was done because there was a lack of biological data showing significant reproduction, but that by no way means there is not reproduction, and specifically brown trout reproduction, going on. I think they also lost a large part of their trout fishery due to back to back drought years, isn't that right, Brian?

If you are finding juveniles, then I'd suspect reproduction is occurring as you said. The only caveat might be a washout from a trout farm upstream, or DOC having to put some that size in to avoid losing them in a hatchery because of extenuating circumstances.

Browns run up the hatchery outflow in Taney to spawn every year, and the hatchery staff in years past has caught them and stripped eggs for use there at the hatchery.


Scott Branyan
Ozark Fly Flinger
www.flyflinger.com

Last Edited By: Scott Branyan Aug 20 08 7:30 AM. Edited 1 times.