And you’ve always been wrong. Have a good night
Nothing wrong with calling em brookies.
Sorry
And you’ve always been wrong. Have a good night
Same around here. Everybody often calls any wild fish native, but the specks are the only true natives.Around here the term used years ago was 'native' to all wild trout
Even rainbows and browns were called 'natives' if they were wild
Even the WRC used to classify streams as 'native' vs 'hatchery' until they went to the legal term 'wild'
I guess the reason many of us differentiate and call them different things is that native southern Appalachian brook trout are absolutely not the same as generic northern brook trout. They are genetically different, and also visually different, two totally different fish. The cutoff between the two is the New River drainage. A native speck and a stocked brook trout are absolute night and day difference, almost no resemblance in either appearance, habitat, or behavior.I always called them brookies and not specks
Specks are what I always called speckled (spotted) sea trout in the ocean
I guess the reason many of us differentiate and call them different things is that native southern Appalachian brook trout are absolutely not the same as generic northern brook trout. They are genetically different, and also visually different, two totally different fish. The cutoff between the two is the New River drainage. A native speck and a stocked brook trout are absolute night and day difference, almost no resemblance in either appearance, habitat, or behavior.
These are native southern Appalachian strain specks:
View attachment 1269480
View attachment 1269481
And this is a non-native brook trout. They aren't the same, or anywhere near it:
View attachment 1269482
And, that's why we call the natives specks or mountain trout, and the doughbelly strain brook trout. Even wild northern strain ones don't look the same as the specks.You are 100% correct
Native vs hatchery is night and day
Your top picture looks exactly like native Brookies up north, especially towards the fall with breeding colors. Brookies, speckled trout, whatever you want to call them, look different at different times of the year and different waters have different colors of trout. I'm speaking of native trout, not stocked fish. Your bottom picture looks like a stocked trout. A southern native brook trout and a northern native brook trout are identical in appearance.And, that's why we call the natives specks or mountain trout, and the doughbelly strain brook trout. Even wild northern strain ones don't look the same as the specks.
We'll agree to disagree. I've seen plenty of both. There are streams around here with wild northern strain brooks that were stocked in the 1930s and 40s, and have been reproducing in the streams ever since. They look similar, but you can still tell the difference. And the genetics are a good bit different.Your top picture looks exactly like native Brookies up north, especially towards the fall with breeding colors. Brookies, speckled trout, whatever you want to call them, look different at different times of the year and different waters have different colors of trout. I'm speaking of native trout, not stocked fish. Your bottom picture looks like a stocked trout. A southern native brook trout and a northern native brook trout are identical in appearance.
Not talking about wild, talking about native.We'll agree to disagree. I've seen plenty of both. There are streams around here with wild northern strain brooks that were stocked in the 1930s and 40s, and have been reproducing in the streams ever since. They look similar, but you can still tell the difference. And the genetics are a good bit different.
That would be great!. When I go fishing up at camp next time I'll get some pics. I tend to only fish for natives and wild browns. I have little interest in stocked fish. Off the top of my head the only non natives I like are wild browns and our ring necked pheasants when we had them!!
If I ever get up that way, I'm looking you up for a day of fishing.That would be great!. When I go fishing up at camp next time I'll get some pics. I tend to only fish for natives and wild browns. I have little interest in stocked fish. Off the top of my head the only non natives I like are wild browns and our ring necked pheasants when we had them!!
If I ever get up that way, I'm looking you up for a day of fishing.
If you ever get up around the Smokies, give me a holler. I'll put you on some.I almost certain there’s a gravitational pull on you that physically bounds you from crossing over the mason dixon!
His waters are just outta reach…
Seriously though, I truly need to get in these hills and try to hand a Speck/Brookie-whatever you want to call them. One of the prettiest there is IMO!
There are so many native trout streams up here, if I fished everyday for 50 years, I'd never hit them all.If I ever get up that way, I'm looking you up for a day of fishing.
About the same around here.There are so many native trout streams up here, if I fished everyday for 50 years, I'd never hit them all.
Love it Steve!!About the same around here.
Would be an honor-Seriously!If you ever get up around the Smokies, give me a holler. I'll put you on some.