Trout time

[OutHouse]

Right on. I once caught a hold over triploid that probably held over two years he was around five pounds and excellent pinkish orangish meat.

[outdooraddict]

is the color of meat due to food sources? the seasonal changes in the lake? the "freedom to move around the lake and different depths of water?  is there any info on nutritional aspect of hatchery fish vs wild or holdovers etc?

[Alchase]

Dang, there should be a law against fishing in Crocs! 

Nice fish!

Well, he is fly fishing...

 

True, so Crocs or Fuzzy Bunny slippers should be expected.
And extra points if the Orvis LL Bean tag is front and center!
 

 

[KDume]

I flay them out and when I get enough of them I soak them in my brine, air dry them and smoke them! Just as good as salmon sometimes better! I call it natures candy! Mmmmm!

[Remnar]

is the color of meat due to food sources? the seasonal changes in the lake? the "freedom to move around the lake and different depths of water?  is there any info on nutritional aspect of hatchery fish vs wild or holdovers etc?

 Diet . It take carotenoids to make pink/orange meat , i.e. crawdads,scuds,shrimp,krill etc.

[Blacklab]

Here’s tripoid i caught last yr

[finnman]

My dad visits a certain lake and has been speaking with one of the fish resource guys at WDFW, he told my dad that the pellets they feed the brood stock and planters is now a krill/shrimp base recipe. The fish my dad has been catching are very orange in color and the meat is actually good eating for stocked trout. Years ago I remember how bad stocked trout tasted. ☹️
Just an idea it could be the food they feed them.

[OutHouse]

That's exceptional coloring in that trout Black Lab. I know when I used to pay more attention to where the planters were coming from the ones from the Mossy Rock hatchery always seemed better to me.

[Fishmaker57]

The carotenoid called astaxanthin, is responsible for the orange color in trout and salmon. It occurs naturally in algae, and is a powerful antioxidant. Shrimp, krill, and small fish eat the algae, and salmon feed on them. In the hatchery, astaxanthin can be added to the feed, through the fish meal used to make the feed. If fed to trout, for about 6 weeks prior to release, it makes a huge difference in both the outward appearance, and the flesh. It's an added expense, which is why some state funded facilities don't use it, but hatcheries funded by the PUD's can afford it and most us it. All commercial net pen operations, targeted for the market place, use this to enhance the color and flavor of their product.

[metlhead]

These came from an Olympia lake this morning.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

The carotenoid called astaxanthin, is responsible for the orange color in trout and salmon. It occurs naturally in algae, and is a powerful antioxidant. Shrimp, krill, and small fish eat the algae, and salmon feed on them. In the hatchery, astaxanthin can be added to the feed, through the fish meal used to make the feed. If fed to trout, for about 6 weeks prior to release, it makes a huge difference in both the outward appearance, and the flesh. It's an added expense, which is why some state funded facilities don't use it, but hatcheries funded by the PUD's can afford it and most us it. All commercial net pen operations, targeted for the market place, use this to enhance the color and flavor of their product.

Good bit of knowledge and explanation.  Did a feed trial and it took more like 6 months to get good color.  I think it was $.03/lb.  Always said all hatcheries should use it since we are putting out a product the public pays for, why not.  Make those trout a lot more appealing.  I always used 60 parts astsa.  I think all brood feed had it.