Strange Trout behavior

To the TPO crew,

Tonight I was fishing on the Pomperaug downstream from O & G and I witnessed something I have never seen before and have no expanation for. I'm hoping one of you guys may have an answer or at least a theory. I was standing on the edge of a small sand bar in the middle of the stream as a friend who is learning to fly fish was nymphing in the fast water to the left. On my right was a small slow pool. I saw two browns (12"-14") swimming together in very shallow water so I froze and watched them. They were swimming side by side but then one would veer into the other and hit it somewhat aggressively. At one point they swam within two feet of me as I stood still in about two feet of water. I watched them continue this erratic behavior up and down the length of this pool (about 30'). I could not tell if one trout was the aggressor or if they were both aggressive but this continued for more than five minutes. After a while, I put my nymphs past them but they showed no interest. They were not put off this bizarre behavior by my flies, SI or fly line. It just seemed really weird. Any input you guys have would be great. Thanks.

Best,

John

I used to wonder the same thing myself. The behavior you describe seems relatively common in recently stocked trout, I've seen it many times. As best as I can figure, they are fighting for dominance and/or a particular spot in the stream. I can remember seeing trout do this in the Mill River in Hamden, CT, shortly after they were stocked. Sometimes they appear to be playing, but I'm pretty sure it's not the case. Usually the two fish are close to the same size, and I think this is how they determine who the boss is, the "alpha" trout. If one was significantly larger, the smaller one probably wouldn't challenge the other.

Once I caught a 20" golden trout outside of a catch & release area I used to frequent- it had moved downstream over a low dam during high water. I knew that if I put it back right where I caught it, that come Opening Day it would be gone within a week- it hung out right where you could see it. So next time I came back I caught it again, put it in a big bucket, and transported it back upstream into the catch & release area. There was another golden (they were both males) about the same size in the pool, and the two trout immediately started fighting- chasing each other, butting with their heads, and biting. Again, each trying to assert it's dominance in the pool, so as to be able to choose the best feeding lie. For the rest of the time I was there, all they did was fight non-stop, and neither would even look at any fly I threw at them. Maybe a giant golden trout streamer would have worked?

One other thing. Trout are raised in hatcheries in close quarters with the other trout, so they are used to be in close proximity to each other. It is common to see recently stocked trout all bunched up together. I think that sometimes this schooling behavior that was learned in the hatchery translates into them hanging out alongside each other. After they have been in the stream a while this seems to diminish.

And sometimes things just make no sense and defy explanation. I watched a trout in Sandy Brook repeatedly try to go alongside a sucker one day, and the sucker wanted nothing to do with the trout and kept swimming away. There didn't appear to be any aggression on the part of the trout, it just seemed to want to be next to the sucker, almost as if it "liked" it. Weird. I have no explanation for that one.

Thanks for the input Meister. I have no idea if the DEP stocked there recently; it sure didn't fish that way. Their actions did seem to be some kind of act of domination. They were also very ambivilent towards my presence.

Yeah, I've usually found it difficult to impossible to catch them when they act like that. Little bastards!

I have seen this behavior a bunch of times, and I agree it's probably due to their conditioning at the hatchery. One time in the Hammonnassett River, I saw two 12in browns with their jaws locked together, swirling and circling as the current pushed them downstream. They both seemed nervous and stressed. Downstream, they got free, and both immediately darted for cover. I threw the streamer nearby, and one of the fish aggressively took. I have also seen this occur in the Farmington in some of the slower sections right after stocking, even with the survivor strain fish. I'm not sure if it's a natural behavior that occurs in the wild, I never saw it amongst the thousands of wild brookies in Maine.

I would agree with nymphmeister. My guess when I was reading your post was aggression and trying to establish dominence. Also, when fish are mating, the behavior looks the same. AHHHH....Trout love :'(