Terry the Trout

When You Catch

Wet hands. Don’t squeeze. A trout’s slime is his armour. Net him, unhook fast, then follow the ticket — wild fish and stocked fish are not the same job.

The law

Rod licence if you’re 13+ in England and Wales (trout and coarse covers non-migratory brown and rainbow). Sea trout and salmon are a different licence and a catch return. There is no single UK 42 cm rule for trout. Size limits and bags are local byelaws plus the fishery ticket. Check GOV.UK and the board on the gate.

Brown trout close seasons on rivers vary by region — often autumn through early spring. Fully enclosed stillwaters: you can fish brown trout all year. Rainbows on stocked lakes are usually open all year. Fly-only water means your spinner stays in the van.

Wild brown trout — catch and release

A wild brown from a stream is the future of that water. Default is put him back. Barbless helps. Keep him in the net in the water. Forceps, not fingers in the gills. Face him into the current until he kicks. In summer heat, fight him short — long fights kill trout in warm water.

Stocked rainbows — only if the ticket says keep

Many stillwaters sell a bag (often two to four fish). That’s the fish you paid to take. Once you’ve taken the bag, you stop or you switch to catch and release if the ticket allows it. Priest, quickly. Bleed if you want clean meat. Hot pan, butter, lemon. Don’t keep a wild brown from a tiny brook to prove a point.