[mlwebb]

What size does a trout need to be to start eating baitfish, sculpins etc? Are some trout (browns) actually more "carnivorous' than others (rainbows)?

Somewhere I read that it was almost a learned behavior, and trout generally 'learn' at a certain size (12?, can't remember), some are slow learners, but once they get the taste for flesh, it becomes a significant part of their diet. I imagine stream ecology plays a role in this, bug rich streams might keep fish eating bugs longer (since they can satisfy their hunger), whereas less rich environments may encourage predatory behavior earlier (or visa-versa). Freestone rivers vs spring creeks, Lakes vs streams would be other variables. I am interested in your observations.

Another way of asking this is, what size trout will attack or eat a streamer? , or is it worth fishing streamers in rivers where a large fish is 15"?
TIA
Michael

[hexfli]

Ask yourself what you want to catch...any fish or big fish...If you want big fish fish streamers.

Trout are just like most predator fish...they will eat or try to eat something up to 1/3 their own size. So that 15" brown will try and take out a 5" smaller brown or sculpin.

Fish get big by being efficient, and that means getting bang for their buck so to speak when they eat. If the bigger meal is easier to get than sipping the surface for size 16 mayflies or nymphs...they will take it.

[cbinwindsor]

I was amazed when I got out streamer fishing on the Ausable. I was catching 12" fish on a 4' yellow zoo cougars. Don't think (as I did) that you'll get big fish or nothing when fishing streamers. You'll be surprised at the numbers when fished in the right conditions.

CB

[stanbery]

What size does a trout need to be to start eating baitfish, sculpins etc? Are some trout (browns) actually more "carnivorous' than others (rainbows)?

Check this link out
30" brown with a 14" rainbow in mouth

All trout will eat meat aka other fish.
As hexfli big fish get big buy eating more bang for the buck type meals the lillte small bugs.

99& of my time fishing is done with streamers and I seam to catch a lot more bigger fish then when I am useing nymphes.

Jon

[Vito1]

I have caught trout the same size or smaller than the streamer I was fishing (6"-8"). I don't think it is a learned behavior. They see a weak or injured prey and it is their instinct to take out the weak. I don't think small fish "hunt" a big meal, but predators take out the weak. The big trout will hunt a big meal and take out the weak when the opportunity presents itself.

[cbinwindsor]

Keep in mind that territorial fish will hit streamers out of agression as opposed to feeding as well.

CB

[mlwebb]

Thanks for the responses. I have been reading Linsenman and Galloup's "Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout", and tying some streamers. Will give it a try.
Michael

[FishingDave]

I've had 6" brown trout take a 3" streamer.

I've had a 5" smallie take a 5" streamer.

I've caught a 17" smallmouth that had an 8" smallmouth in its belly.

This spring, I caught an 18" brown with 8-9" sucker still hanging out of its mouth.

Photo of said brown

A fish will try to swallow what it can get down its throat, even if only partway and it will slowly digest and swallow it.

[Sean Juan]

I am sure that the majority of a big trout's food is insects or scuds. They find the best spot to hold and will eat the bugs that basically bump into their face. But they wont move much if at all for any of these items.

A fly can only cover so much water, and so is greatly assisted by some ability to move a fish to take it. Thats why I love big flies for all predatory fish.

I know this rule applies to stripers and pike as well and I strongly suspect it applies to all fish that hunt for food especially ambush predators.

[dafack01]

I've caught 4" trout on 3" jerkbaits before.

Contrary to what you may think by looking in any fly fishing publications or catalogs (which feature 99.9% dry and nymph content), trout are agressive and lethal predators that love to whack a big 'ol hunk of meat.

Heck, I've even heard of Rainbows in Alaska ripping chunks of flesh out of rotting Salmon carcasses like a Shark would eat a whale or something.

[Onshore]

I never found any hard and fast rule. If I was trying to imitate a specific baitfish; I'd try a streamer the aprox. same size, then go a little larger and then a little smaller . Most of my attractor patterns are large than the others.