The Hungerford Fishery continues to see an increase in wild fish populations, and asks every Rod, Commoner and Guest to read this before deciding whether to return a fish.
The Fishery aims to protect and enhance the stock of wild brown trout within its rivers. All stocked brown trout used here are in excess of 1.5lb (680g) in weight and triploid when restocked, so they are not able to cross-breed with the indigenous wild brown trout.
Given the pressure chalk streams have come under since the Second World War, it is more important than ever that we all do what we can to preserve this piscatorial heritage. For that reason, the rules request that all wild fish be returned. That sounds easy, but the difficulty lies in telling a wild fish from a good-conditioned stock fish. A few things to look for:
Tail
A healthy wild brown trout will always have a well-shaped tail, with straight lines and sharp points at the tips. In a fish that has lived in a fast stretch of river, the top lobe of the tail can be more pronounced, as the lower lobe erodes against the riverbed. A stocked brown trout will have a less defined edge to its tail — though if it has overwintered, the difference is less pronounced. Wild fish often show a distinctive white flash at the tip of the pectoral and anal fins, and a more iridescent sheen around the gill covers.
Body shape
For some time after being introduced, stocked fish have a slightly unnatural, rounded appearance in body shape.
Appearance
Don't be fooled by red spots — both stocked and wild fish have these. A more mottled appearance often indicates a wild fish, and a more golden appearance often indicates a stocked one. Most of these differences are slight and are learnt over time. If you have caught and kept an obvious stocked fish and then catch a small wild brown trout, lay the two together in your net for a moment — the differences should be quite obvious.
Environmental statement
The environmental quality of the Fishery and its wild fish population have improved over recent years, and the Fishery has set itself specific actions to continue that effort:
- Encourage and protect the biodiversity of the Rivers Kennet and Dun
- Improve wild fish stocks, particularly wild brown trout (Salmo trutta) and grayling (Thymallus)
- Actively campaign, and support third parties, to improve water quality and tackle pollution
To achieve these aims, the Fishery undertakes:
- Monthly monitoring of invertebrates
- Swift reporting of concerns to the Environment Agency, ARK and Natural England
- Education of ourselves, our neighbours and the general public
- Educating all anglers to identify wild brown trout and grayling and return them to the river
- Environmentally sound instream management
- All management conforming to the standards set out in the Fishery's SSSI agreement with Natural England