Taking stock of your little trout

I have seen the scenario many times — a lovely little bubbling brook, with a nice head of small trout, but nothing much over a few ounces in weight. The immediate response for someone who wants to improve the fishing potential is to suggest stocking it with some bigger fish. But hang on a moment.

If the nature of the stream is that it will only sustain wild trout up to 20cm or 25cm long, why would you expect bigger stockies to do well? If the cunning little natives can just about eke out a living, why should big, tame fish prosper?

The truth is that stocked trout almost always lose condition from the moment they are put in. Having been selected for their growth potential and fed what amounts to an unlimited supply