wild caught naturally reproducing RBT would be the other option if it is legal there. Hatchery RBT can tend to be "mutts" as local trout addvocate speaks about our local state stocked trout. The theory is these mutts are so far off breed and manipulated spawn times for generations that they are not much good in the wild. Talking to local Game and fish they say that the characteristics breed into hatchery trout are not good things for wild reproducing trout. Hatchery trout eggs are best if larger and dont clump, and wild spawned eggs are best if just the opposite.

Some times i see active schools of spawn colored ready males in the middle of July up stream in places they shouldnt be. On the flip side there are wild reproducing rainbows that have come from hatchery introduced fish in this area.

We have had trout rbt in our pond/dam for 20 years and never had any natural recrutment. we have a little less than 100 gpm coming in but have a lot of bull rush and other vegetaion that may make getting to the stream diffacult. They put on the make-up and have the body parts but I have never seen them do the dance. 40 years ago there ware wild brook trout, but an angry niebhor with some dinamite fixed that during a drought year.

If you can do your research and see what the history on your trout are or others you can look at getting is. Maybe your local supplier has a good natural recrutment when in the wild. Or maybe you could give them a hand in your creek??

Water is the basis of all life, by design!