OK, another trout question.
When I worked for the Puyallup Trout Hatchery one summer in the early 80's they were testing out a hybrid of German Browns and Rainbows (85% sure).
These guys were slow growers and just lay on the bottom like bullheads. They only take food sinking to the bottom and never surface like rainbows.
I have not heard of these fish since that time.
Anyone know much about these fish?

They were stocked in various Western Wa. lakes in the late 80's and early 90's. We have property on Lake Tanwax in Pierce county,and Tanwax was one of the lakes stocked with TT. As far as we were concerned,they were a bust. They hit your lure like a ton of bricks,but that was it. They just about rolled over and played dead after that. Even when we caught carryovers up to 16-18" they didn't fight worth a darn.

I heard the WDFW was thinking of trying the TT in some more lakes last year,but never did hear what came of it.

I don't think you have the cross right. I think it was a Brookie and a Brown?

They are all over the place. There are a ton of them in Fish lake by CHeney, WA. We used to catch them by the dozen. They didnt put up much of a fight though, but they were all around 12" Look on the wdfw website, there is a list of lakes that they were stocked in.

And yes, it is a brown/brook trout hybrid.

Andy

I know they plant them in various East-Side lakes. Never caught one or saw one so I don't know much more than that.

Yes, they're still producing them (brown/brook) at the Ford hatchery( near Springdale) here on the east side.

"They only take food sinking to the bottom and never surface like rainbows"

They are supposed to be 'super predator' fish. Used to help out stunted fish populations or help limit spiny rays. I know fly fisherman on the east side who get them on dry flies as well as nymphs and streamers.

Guys,
I was too young to be asking educated questions back then.
Since they are hybrid b/w brooks/browns, they probably won't bred right?

It was just a summer job during 8th grade.
I am glad to have this job otherwise I'd be smoking crack with the home boys during the summer and surely end up in jail.

My job was a hatchery maintenance guy.
Cleaning ponds, raise ways, and picking up dead fry.

Even at an ignorant young age, I refused to belive that the SH were SR Rainbows.
I couldn't believe that the old timer at the hatchery did not see the difference b/w the two fry.
At feeding time, the rainbows would boil the water in a feeding freenzy, while the SH were very shy and hardly surface as much as the rainbows.

Any ways, the Tigers were very hardy.
Troughout the summer, I found only a few dead ones.
One the other hand the rainbows and steelheads had a higher cashualty rate and sun burn was the very deadly.

Never seen one of these fish myself in all the lakes I have fished, but I'm very interested to see one so if some one has a pic they can post, it would be greatly appreciated. Oh, by the way, anyone ever eaten one? How do they taste? My guess is probably pretty muddy and disgusting like a dolly! Chris

Check out the gallery on Washingflyfishing and you'll find some pics. Pretty cool looking actually.
The water quality and how you prepare your fresh trout generally has the most impact on the taste of the fish. If the water is really warm - the more mushy the meat. If you put your fish on a stringer and leave them there all day, the meat will tend to be muddy tasting. Best thing to do with just about any fish is to quickly bleed them then put them on ice. Putting them on stingers or 5 gallon buckets of warm water just won't do...

I've eaten plenty of brookies from alpine lakes and streams - and man are those some tasty fish. Its been too long since I've eaten brown trout, but I bet if you bleed them and ice them they will be great.

I have yet to see one. will give them a shot next summer.

If the fish are eating Brine shrimp or Leaches as their primary diet they will taste muddy . Insects, insect larve ,crawdads and other fish they taste fine.

I have eaten many many browns, rainbows, cuts, and brookies from a stream in central Montana - that stream produces the best eating trout I have tasted..and I have tasted them from many streams from CO, to WY, to MT to PA to ID...lots.

As always, taking care of them properly is key. As is their diet -

I have caught a few Tiger trout at a place called Knott cr res in Nevada close to the town of Denio. See if you can find that on your maps !! Its the one place I have ever been that you can see 200 miles in any direction. Pretty cool.