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Title: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: bearpaw on March 31, 2015, 09:58:20 AM
interesting article....


Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think

University of Washington researchers recently published a study in Ecology of Freshwater Fish that concludes grayling and trout consume more mammals, namely shrews, than previously assumed. The findings address questions about the fishes’ feeding habits, which have long fueled intrigue among anglers and scientists. 

Of the 1,568 grayling and 2,424 trout examined over the 13-year study in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed, researchers found 75 shrews and one vole in the fishes’ stomachs. More interestingly, scientists discovered shrews in 25 percent of the fish larger than 12 inches in length.

In addition, the number of shrews found in the fish fluctuated during the course of the study, with eight years producing no shrews. Researchers surmise this variability may stem from changes in shrew’s abundance, not the fishes’ appetites.   

What remains unclear is how or why shrews enter the water in the first place.

read more: http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/issue/2015-1/article/trout-eat-more-mammals-than-you-think (http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/issue/2015-1/article/trout-eat-more-mammals-than-you-think)
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: quadrafire on March 31, 2015, 10:11:13 AM
Got any Shrew patterns?  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: Seahawk12 on March 31, 2015, 10:13:32 AM
Wow.
Learn something new all the time. A quick search resulted in this cool pic:
Quote
Last year’s photo of a rainbow trout from Togiak National Wildlife Refuge with 20 shrews in its stomach. This is not as isolated an incident as many believe. Photo courtesty U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: ouchfoss on March 31, 2015, 10:16:46 AM
Thats something I've always wanted to try for bait when it comes to summer run steelhead and dolly varden. I can just imagine a big 2 to 10 pound trout is not going to pass up a tiny mouse swimming across a calm deep hole during summer.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: Yelper Guy on March 31, 2015, 10:27:12 AM
They make a mouse imitation fly. They can really work well for lunker browns & bows.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: Bronson on March 31, 2015, 10:44:46 AM
They make a mouse imitation fly. They can really work well for lunker browns & bows.

 :yeah:
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 31, 2015, 10:51:07 AM
feeder mice from the pet store coming to the bait stand.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: boneaddict on March 31, 2015, 11:34:01 AM
I have successfully fished with a mouse imitation pattern for big bows and of course bass
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on March 31, 2015, 02:16:52 PM
The picture with all the shrews that were taken out of the trout is from the Kanektok River in western Alaska. This is the river that my brothers and I have several fly fishing camps on and have guided on since 1981. The mouse pattern is a "go to" pattern all season long and it is the fly that we use more than any other. Here is a pic of one of the many mouse patterns that we use. We mainly fish for rainbows with the mouse but it is not uncommon to catch Dolly Varden, Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Silver, Pink, and Sockeye Salmon.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: gaddy on March 31, 2015, 03:48:53 PM
Never seen such a thing. I have in my early years caught a few trout on poppers but i never thought they would eat anything like that. The biggest thing I've ever taken out of a trout was a large bug.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 31, 2015, 03:51:26 PM
Some of the bigger steelhead will have dipper birds in their stomachs.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jasnt on March 31, 2015, 04:01:58 PM
I've seen a lage mouth bass eat a duckling. 
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: buglebrush on March 31, 2015, 04:05:50 PM
When we were kids we used to go out to the grain bins and catch mice.  Tie them to a hook, and let them swim around.  Caught some monster pike and bass.  Never really tried it for trout, but it doesn't surprise me.  I once saw a giant trout take out a 12" swimming garter snake. 
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on March 31, 2015, 04:20:42 PM
I have caught Steelhead on mouse patterns also. I have a great video of several great takes on a hookless mouse but for some reason it will not upload. I can email it if someone knows how to put it up. Can I send it to you Dale?
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 01, 2015, 11:04:17 AM
here is another
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: fly-by on April 01, 2015, 11:35:09 AM
Floated the Green River in Utah last September.  Each night we would switch to mice at dusk for the last mile or so float back to camp.   Caught 2-3 big Browns per night just messing around.  Used mice to catch big Brookes in Labrador as well.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: Seahawk12 on April 01, 2015, 12:19:55 PM
14 inch Bass jumps out of water to eat mouse from hand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Y_EyQE_tU#noexternalembed-ws)
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: NRA4LIFE on April 01, 2015, 12:31:51 PM
Bass and trout will eat baby birds too.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: boneaddict on April 01, 2015, 12:57:01 PM
Sweet pics Groundhog!
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 01, 2015, 02:08:05 PM
 :puke: :puke: Make a guy want to quit eating trout  :chuckle:  I always used live mice for bass but never trout ..tie the hook to his tail and let him swim across the lilly pads ! Lots of fun times that are now memory  :'(
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 01, 2015, 02:27:16 PM
another
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: JJB11B on April 01, 2015, 02:34:32 PM
That fish is absolutely gorgeous! The color in those fish astounds me, lake fish don't even compare!
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2015, 02:37:55 PM
The picture with all the shrews that were taken out of the trout is from the Kanektok River in western Alaska. This is the river that my brothers and I have several fly fishing camps on and have guided on since 1981. The mouse pattern is a "go to" pattern all season long and it is the fly that we use more than any other. Here is a pic of one of the many mouse patterns that we use. We mainly fish for rainbows with the mouse but it is not uncommon to catch Dolly Varden, Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Silver, Pink, and Sockeye Salmon.

You swing them down and across like a steelhead swing, right?
I've got a few mouse patterns in my box but I've never used them.

The ones I have look a lot like this pattern.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 01, 2015, 02:38:41 PM
I have caught Steelhead on mouse patterns also. I have a great video of several great takes on a hookless mouse but for some reason it will not upload. I can email it if someone knows how to put it up. Can I send it to you Dale?

Send it to me.
benjamin_rj@msn.com
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 01, 2015, 02:43:55 PM
I have been looking at them for 35 years and they astound me as well JJB11B.  Yes Jackelope, cast them quartering down stream right against the bank and swing them.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: bearpaw on April 01, 2015, 02:57:47 PM
great fish and photos  :tup:
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: flcracker on April 01, 2015, 03:12:43 PM
I've heard of people using mouse patterns at night on a full moon, always thought that would be a blast
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 01, 2015, 04:41:31 PM
A small Grayling with a big appetite.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 01, 2015, 04:44:49 PM
We catch a lot of Silvers on the mouse pattern. Silvers are very aggressive and will take a lot of different surface patterns.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2015, 06:10:31 AM
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=675432432513251

Groundhogs video. Gonna try and see if we can get a non- Facebook version. 
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: boneaddict on April 02, 2015, 07:17:34 AM
I've heard of people using mouse patterns at night on a full moon, always thought that would be a blast
I've done it at dry falls.   It is an unreal blast.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: goosegetter79 on April 02, 2015, 08:12:33 AM
Nice pics and video. Getting me all excited for my first fly fishing experience this June on the ruby river in SW Montana.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: quadrafire on April 02, 2015, 09:32:21 AM
For you fly fishermen casting those big mice, what is your flyrod/line set up. The rigs I have would have troubles turning that line over with that wind resistance, and I'm exploring some other set up options
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2015, 10:33:14 AM
For you fly fishermen casting those big mice, what is your flyrod/line set up. The rigs I have would have troubles turning that line over with that wind resistance, and I'm exploring some other set up options

I'd be totally comfortable throwing my 10' 6wt. With big flies I cheat and overline 1 size with a 7wt line. It's a fast rod too, which helps.
I've got a few spools for the reel, all for different applications.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2015, 10:34:30 AM
For you fly fishermen casting those big mice, what is your flyrod/line set up. The rigs I have would have troubles turning that line over with that wind resistance, and I'm exploring some other set up options

I'd be totally comfortable throwing my 10' 6wt. With big flies I cheat and overline 1 size with a 7wt line. It's a fast rod too, which helps.
I've got a few spools for the reel, all for different applications.

A spey rod would be a great tool to use also if you're into that sort of thing.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: quadrafire on April 02, 2015, 05:46:20 PM
What line are you using?
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2015, 06:29:28 PM

What line are you using?

Pretty sure my 7wt is a Wulff triangle taper.
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: groundhog on April 06, 2015, 01:14:07 PM
Thank you Jackelope for putting up the link for facebook. Here is a you tube link if you want to see a trout take the hookless mouse pattern.
 
Title: Re: Trout Eat More Mammals Than You’d Think
Post by: ribka on April 09, 2015, 06:10:48 PM

What line are you using?

Pretty sure my 7wt is a Wulff triangle taper.
Yep the Wulff  triangle taper works great for throwing large flies. I use it on my 6, 8 and 10 weights. I like this line for my nymphing purposes too

http://royalwulff.com/products/triangle-taper-floating-fly-line/ (http://royalwulff.com/products/triangle-taper-floating-fly-line/)

Bass poppers work well for trout too. I caught brook trout ( 3 to 6 lbs) in N Quebec until I got sick of catching them on mouse patterns, By end of trip cut off my hook

I fish Rocky Ford, Rock, Dusty Wenas Lakes at night with poppers and mouse patterns. You might be surprised how well they ;)

Great pics ground hog  :tup:
Those AK rainbows have awesome coloration
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