[Mike Barrio]

Just had it suggested from someone on ADAA commitee that it is a Sea Trout kelt ? !

 

[Noel Kelly]

  tell him to Fek off and get his specs changed 

[Loxiafan]

Well I hope he reads this thread, I did say that it is defintely a brownie and also that no one one here for one minute suggested to me a Sea Trout kelt - talk about a dampner to the end of a great day. Rather worried by that  

L

[Iain Goolager]

Was it caught on one of these Bloody Butchers?

[Noel Kelly]

Was it caught on one of these Bloody Butchers?

You've changed.

[Loxiafan]

Apparently it doesn't have red spots a defining feature of Brown Trout.

[Noel Kelly]

Dude I'm no expert but I've had a quick look back through the forum at some don trout pics, and if red spots are a must then half the brownies we've posted on this forum are actually sea trout!

Look at this page that I picked at random, 3 trout and not a red spot in sight!  
http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2655.15

Here's another from years ago, those hands are either Richardo or PP I think, neither of whom would recognise a brown trout.  

[Loxiafan]

The 'red spot' thing is bollocks, utter bollocks.

My best from last season, 3 pound wild BROWN TROUT, not a red spot is sight:




So it's a Sea Trout ? 

As a boy that grew up in Fife, I am familiar with the Loch Leven strain of trout. No red spots. In fact, Howietown, who supplied the stockies to ADAA ( who then stuck them in the Don) were famous for breeding this strain. Not sure if they still do.

I am totally dismayed by this. Ruined my day.

Lindsay

[Noel Kelly]

Dude that's a lovely pic what a beautiful trout! Don't mind that silly billy Lindsay and definitely don't let his ill informed opinion ruin your day!!! Now I'm just dying to know who it is! Right sleep time!

[Loxiafan]

I have one of Scott Cumming pics from ADAA forum, 6 pound Brown Trout from last season. Can't seem to upload it for some reason. But rest assured, looks like my one from today and NO red spots !

L

[Mike Barrio]

Don't lose any sleep over it Lindsay ..... somebody else will

Cheers
Mike

[Loxiafan]

Don't lose any sleep over it Lindsay ..... somebody else will

I get you Mike, but it really is a fish of a lifetime for me and to dismiss off hand as a Sea Trout kelt is astonishing to say the least. I have sent it to Paul Procter. If he says it is a Brown Trout, then good enough for me regradless whether this individual has caught hundreds of Sea Trout kelts or not. I am not a betting man but if PP does respond I'd stake my life on it that he confirms Brownie 

Linz

[Mike Barrio]

A few River Don Brownies from my files, some with Paul and Richard, one of Bri's, one of Ben's, one of Peter's, one of Chris's ....... not a lot of red spots

[Iain Cameron]

lindsay

can I use your pic on the ADAA web/facebook  - be nice to show the quality of brown trout in the River Don.
locations etc never disclosed (but would show the fly, if that's OK?)

cheers
iain

[Hamish Young]

I get you Mike, but it really is a fish of a lifetime for me and to dismiss off hand as a Sea Trout kelt is astonishing to say the least. I have sent it to Paul Procter. If he says it is a Brown Trout, then good enough for me regradless whether this individual has caught hundreds of Sea Trout kelts or not. I am not a betting man but if PP does respond I'd stake my life on it that he confirms Brownie 

Linz

It's a smashing fish which although a wee bit thin from the photo, is unlikely to be a Sea Trout kelt IMHO. A scale sample would most probably confirm it either way but it's early season, it's been buggeringly cold and any fish of that size is likely to be a smidgen closer to 'racing weight' than anything else.
The confusion by the ADAA committee member may be due to the afore mentioned clubs former passion for putting non-Don strain stockies in the ADAA beats. The committee member may have recalled these probably had a lot of red spots so were..... errr.... obviously.... 'real' brown trout where the 'indigenous' trout were not

Don't fret or allow someone else's views f*ck up what is a special catch for you

H

[Sandy Nelson]

The committee member may have recalled these probably had a lot of red spots so were..... errr.... obviously.... 'real' brown trout where the 'indigenous' trout were not

That would sit well with me too, I've caught my fair share of good Don brownies and that is no Sea-trout Kelt, the big Don brownies hardly ever have red spots, in fact all my photos are like the ones mike has posted, not a red spot in Sight.
Whoever spoke to you is a bit of Tard and obviously has a problem with the old green eyed monster. There are lots of old wives tales about the fact that Don Brownies have a blue sheen which means they spend time in the Estuary, ie the fabled Slob Trout, this is also bollocks, a few years ago we did some research with scales from fish and even Fish that looked positively blue in the cheeks and silver in the sides turned out to be River fish that had spent little or no time in saltwater.
The biggest one we checked is My PB which funnily enough also weighed 4lb 14oz, it had no red spots at all, was 24" long and a good girth, she was a female that was 11-12years old and had spent no time in the sea at all, the growth rings were completely consistant with spending its whole life in the river.

There is no doubt Your fish is brownie and an absolute bute, A classic Native Don Brownie

Sandy

[Geoff Gill]

Cracking fish Lindsay,

Well deserved fish with the time and effort youve put in.
Forget about the sea trout comment, im still smiling about the PB i caught this time last year  

 

[Loxiafan]

Thanks for all those comments, especially Mike with the photo examples, Sandy and Hamish's comments - Hamish, I think they may have stocked with Loch Leven strain - as you know don't tend to have red spots either !

I have other less good photos of it which I will upload tonight. I am adamant it is a Brown Trout on this evidence:

1) Brown tinge's to gill plates, extensive on lower maxilla and also that butter-brown evident on belly line (just visible). The fish's back was brown in hue, not terribly clear in the photo I posted, but there are others. A typical Sea Trout (kelt) would have much less spotting, not extending below lateral line and belly would be pure white.

2) The spotting is not typical of sea going trutta - it is extensive, well marked and extends well below the lateral line.

3) As Iain alluded, it was caught on a size 14 Dry in April - not a clincher, but how many 5 lb Sea Trout Kelts are caught on the dry fly ?

4) Male fish - kype present ? Do most sea going trutta males not die after spawing ?  

5) It is not a Sea Trout it is a river adapted trutta !

Yes, there can be exceptions but I am still really bealing about this. It was put he would check with "his people" and let me know ! Well thanks very much but I already know and it seems opinion on here from "my people" shows parity with my own view.

Hope Paul P gets back on this as he possibly has most experience across UK and in Scotland.

Lindsay

PS I still can't seem to upload photos due to a Java prob.

[Loxiafan]

lindsay
can I use your pic on the ADAA web/facebook  - be nice to show the quality of brown trout in the River Don.
locations etc never disclosed (but would show the fly, if that's OK?)

Can do dude on the 'condition' you tell your "leaders" it is a Brown Trout !   

I'll try and take a better pic of the flee though 

Lindsay

[Mike Barrio]

PS I still can't seem to upload photos due to a Java prob.

Is anybody else experiencing problems? It is working fine for me.

You can send me any photos that you would like uploaded Lindsay and I can do it for you.

Best wishes
Mike

[Peter McCallum]

Just had it suggested from someone on ADAA commitee that it is a Sea Trout kelt ? !

Discuss. I know it's not and am surprised at that suggestion tbh.

Lindsay

Green eyed monster perhaps??

Don't remember a single red spot on my trout, even on the reverse of the picture, does that mean its a sea trout? Anyway there's not a bit of difference between sea and brown trout! Not when I last talked to professor Andy Walker, ex of Faskally.

I echo the Feck off statement!  It may be slim but its had little chance to fatten up this season so far a super fish 

[Mike Barrio]

Green eyed monster perhaps??

Or blue spotted

[Loxiafan]

Paul Procter has very kindly responded with Brown Trout every day of the week ! Still a bit thin and not back to tip top condition but he says he would expect this for some of the larger specimens at this time of year.

Good enough for me, what a nice helpful guy.

Lindsay

[Loxiafan]

Here is Scott Cummings 6 lb Brown Trout in May ( his second biggest last season) still showing signs of "thinness" :

Lindsay

[Scott Cumming]

Lindsay

Well done on your PB, a cracking Don Brown Trout. I've looked through my big trout pics and there isn't a red spot on any. I never bother taking photos of sea trout kelts wish I did now - might help educate you know who!

Well done again and look forward to more photos.

Best get myself down to the river, looks like things are heating up on the don.

Cheers
Scott Cumming