Wild Rainbow?

[tr1911]

I caught a little rainbow way up in the mountains in a headwater stream where I normally only catch small native brookies. I know they stock them further down but this one seemed on the small side to be a stockie, does anyone think it could be a stream reared fish that managed to swim way up river, or is it just my imagination?

[AquaAssassin]

Absolutely! Happens often!

[zwiggles]

Sweet! If it is a wild one that a cool find! And concur with the above, absolutely possible (although stocking dink fish is too, lol)

[taxid]

Yes one reason for the decline in native brook trout in the 19th century. Takeover by more aggressive rainbows and browns naturally reproducing.

[AquaAssassin]

I have endless photos like this, all NH, multiple streams and Brooks, and nowhere near any stocking sites. The bodies of water stocked yes but not in the areas I find them noR the various stages of there lives. The one in the pic you can see Is a juvie

[Steve H.]

The tribs of the Andro are loaded with them.