"Sea trout in the Ouse? I don't think so" ...said the passer by

These spectacular fish are in the river Ouse at certain times, and they are the largest sea trout in English rivers! They average about 10lbs, and some individuals double that!

I am a volunteer for the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust Sea trout spawning watch and during my time on the riverbank I have learnt a lot and filmed a few. I thought you might like to see what I do.

Firstly, let me show you the difference between a Sea trout and a Salmon.

There are several differences but the two most distinct are the straight edge of the tail and spots extending below the lateral line on the sea trout (bottom illustration)

Sea trout are actually genetically identical to Brown trout, but it may be that they are evolving into a separate species. They spawn in the same places as brown trout approximately and they can interbreed but some wander downstream in search of better feeding areas. Some remaining in the estuaries and others travelling far out to sea as Salmon do, after spawning in December high upstream. They need to be above pollution and most importantly, in gravel beds of a particular particle size that leave gaps between the stones where their eggs can fall into safe spaces.

This is a typical 'Redd' The name given to what appears to be a 'nest'. Generally, the female makes this hollow, utilising the current with her powerful tail and then depositing her eggs within it. The male then releases his sperm, with an ecstatic sideways wiggle, over the eggs. Having said all that, with sometimes several males in attendance, 'the best laid plans of mice and men' as the saying goes, can turn upside down with eggs being laid outside of the Redd and males, sea trout and brown trout fighting each other.

Below is a photo, albeit rather unclear, that I took of just that. The female seatrout is downstream of the Redd depositing here eggs, and a male brown trout is incorrectly positioned behind her, and hislightweight sperm has long gone downstream, ahead of her heavier eggs.