Were the trout you caught of better quality than previous years??

For the most part, the fish were bigger than the last few years.  Pretty much every fish I caught was 11-12 inches.  All cookie cutter brookies.  Some were a little thicker than others, but they were all pretty standard.

Fish were definately smaller at  Pleasant compared to other years. good numbers but small.

I know what you're saying pafisher.  This year was the first year I have gone out on the opening day in about 10 years...I figured I'd start the tradition back up for the kids.  I can't wait for walleye, smallmouth and perch fishing Erie this year!

I have caught and released a ton of fish this year

How many "meaty" fish add up to a ton?  I'd think 2700 or so eh?  They're pretty close to a pound, well, most of them.

OK I'll agree to a purplish pink. 
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: anadromous

My donut was purple....and I still can't get it on the board. We got satellites in space, I can't put my donut on the web.

Right click on the image shutup posted and save as...donut.jpg

Then upload it via your preferences.

In the last two days at lower Herford I caught a Palomino about 18", a bow about 20 and another bow about 21". 

Lots of 12 to 13" fish. Lots of smaller ones too.  The lower lake still has a ton of fish left from the fall and winter stocking, they were fish from Tellico trout hatchery in N.C. and for the most part were smaller on average than the state hatchery fish that were stocked for opening day.

I've fished Hereford, Neshannock, and deer creek for stocked trout this spring. In my opinion we did get what the fish commission said they were going to do.  A slightly bigger on average size trout.  30 percent bigger than what they were before still isn't all that big,  probably about 11 inches.

Yeah, it gets trashed every year on opening day.  It's actually heavily patrolled but there are just too many asses out there the first couple days to keep up with. 
 
The only nice thing about the weather were having, is the crowds are gone already,  hardly anyone out since saturday. I caught another Palomino today, not very big though, about 15 inches , maybe a little bigger.

Today's fish were much bigger.  I even saw one guy land a brown that was probably 18".  He already had a limit, so he gently placed it back in the stream, though not without a quick look at the 2 barely-legal ones he had just roped.  

i haven't noticed any difference yet.

After six months of Steelhead, they all LOOK small.

Steelhead do spoil u after awhile.

I must say after sampling the creeks for a week the size does seem to be up a bit from previos years. Have hit some nice rainbows and a couple nice browns. Very few dinks.

I can say this year has been really well for me with only focusing on fishing since Im leaving soon Ive caught more fish over 20 and didnt have to keep them to feel good. I knew I caught them an thats all that mattered. You bet the steelhead spoiled me but thats what I love about fly fishing its causing a challenge and I love it. but I do think there have been bigger fish this year only because Im getting to them before the guys who keep em. 

ORIGINAL: 2cents

the frist 2 stalkns where i live we average size same as last year,  the 3rd stalkning was the one wit the bigger ones put in, its done all over the state. the bigger ones are put in last because 90% of the fisherman are done fishing the streams after  a month or so after the stalkings. it also give the youngersters a chance to catch a real nice one. sooo if u got kids dont give up fishing just beacuse u think there are no fish left there are plently of them out there we put in almost 6 mil soo go buy more fishing supplies an equipment, an dont complain about the quality of them ok?  if people would through sum back once an a while we would not have to stalk them.

 
 
I talked to a guy who claimed to be a mearin biologagagagist, I think he meant a biologist,  said the fish in the late stockings are bigger because they had an extra month of being fed pellets in the hatchery.