Here is a 14-15 incher I caught 3 weeks ago, that is very similar. The crappy phone pik does not do it any kind of justice. Just wondering if you folks have ever thought the same, or if it just my imagination!

You need to find an alternate for PB. Doesn't look like the new site allows local hosting of pics. Try tinypic or postimage
lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pmSo, here is a wild trout from the SBRR...
notice the red halo around the adipose fin, and the red line along the bottom of the tail fin. The spots are pretty "normal" for a brownie. The fish posted in the picture looks like a stockie from the Hackettstown hatchery...they are very distinct in appearance, as are wild brown trout..the dead give away is the red halo around the adipose fin, you will never see a stocked fish with it, and I have never caught a wild brown in NJ that didn't have it. Been fishing here for 40 years and grew up on the SBRR....just trying to be helpful my friend.
so I can't figure how to post a picture, maybe someone can help with that...I don't have photobucket, trying to upload from desktop..
![]()
lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 2:25 pmlightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pmSo, here is a wild trout from the SBRR...
notice the red halo around the adipose fin, and the red line along the bottom of the tail fin. The spots are pretty "normal" for a brownie. The fish posted in the picture looks like a stockie from the Hackettstown hatchery...they are very distinct in appearance, as are wild brown trout..the dead give away is the red halo around the adipose fin, you will never see a stocked fish with it, and I have never caught a wild brown in NJ that didn't have it. Been fishing here for 40 years and grew up on the SBRR....just trying to be helpful my friend.
so I can't figure how to post a picture, maybe someone can help with that...I don't have photobucket, trying to upload from desktop..
![]()
well tiny pic didnt work..![]()
lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 2:28 pmlightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 2:25 pmlightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pmSo, here is a wild trout from the SBRR...
notice the red halo around the adipose fin, and the red line along the bottom of the tail fin. The spots are pretty "normal" for a brownie. The fish posted in the picture looks like a stockie from the Hackettstown hatchery...they are very distinct in appearance, as are wild brown trout..the dead give away is the red halo around the adipose fin, you will never see a stocked fish with it, and I have never caught a wild brown in NJ that didn't have it. Been fishing here for 40 years and grew up on the SBRR....just trying to be helpful my friend.
so I can't figure how to post a picture, maybe someone can help with that...I don't have photobucket, trying to upload from desktop..
![]()
well tiny pic didnt work..
https://postimg.cc/image/qu5zhp4ez/
here is a link that worked..thanks
Both of these are NJ wild browns (both streams I got them from are on the WTS list), neither have a real distinct red halo around their adipose fin. While that's certainly a big tell as to being a wild fish it's not necessarily the be all end all.lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pmSo, here is a wild trout from the SBRR...
notice the red halo around the adipose fin, and the red line along the bottom of the tail fin. The spots are pretty "normal" for a brownie. The fish posted in the picture looks like a stockie from the Hackettstown hatchery...they are very distinct in appearance, as are wild brown trout..the dead give away is the red halo around the adipose fin, you will never see a stocked fish with it, and I have never caught a wild brown in NJ that didn't have it.
Agreed, I think the original picture could be a club stocked fish that's roamed around the SBRR. Splitting hairs anyways cause I'd be stoked if I caught it. I'm an equal opportunity angler, I sure do want to catch wild fish but that doesn't make me any less happy if I catch a stocker. Especially if he's taking a fly that imitates the prevailing hatch!lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 2:53 pmSo, I agree with you, I am saying every wild brown, I have ever caught out of the SBRR has these tell tale marks..I have also caught wild browns at smaller creeks that do and do not have the halo, but that white stripe on the fins in your picture are another sign of wild, I just have a hard time with the original post being wild..the tail fin is scarred on the bottom, and the front pectoral is obviously missing, I don't care how bad the picture is, that fin is gone...still a pretty fish, but definitely has the tell tale spots of the Hackettstown fish....and those Hackettstown fish are feisty and healthy!!!
WORD!!!!Drossi wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 4:01 pmAgreed, I think the original picture could be a club stocked fish that's roamed around the SBRR. Splitting hairs anyways cause I'd be stoked if I caught it. I'm an equal opportunity angler, I sure do want to catch wild fish but that doesn't make me any less happy if I catch a stocker. Especially if he's taking a fly that imitates the prevailing hatch!lightenup wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 2:53 pmSo, I agree with you, I am saying every wild brown, I have ever caught out of the SBRR has these tell tale marks..I have also caught wild browns at smaller creeks that do and do not have the halo, but that white stripe on the fins in your picture are another sign of wild, I just have a hard time with the original post being wild..the tail fin is scarred on the bottom, and the front pectoral is obviously missing, I don't care how bad the picture is, that fin is gone...still a pretty fish, but definitely has the tell tale spots of the Hackettstown fish....and those Hackettstown fish are feisty and healthy!!!