Trout in the Harpeth

[CoachKB]

Hey guys, I'm new to fishing in TN as I grew up in upstate NY. I know they stock the Harpeth with Trout 3 times over the winter schedule, but will there be any left by the end of April/beginning of May? I know people have been ripping them out like it's their job and that river warms up quickly, but what do you think?

[wordty]

I have been observing a few things on this subject for years as I live in Franklin and the Harpeth runs around the back of neighborhood, Cottonwood. Here are a few facts, and you can make what you want from them. The fish scatter very quickly...some do stay where they are stocked as is seen in their being caught in that area for weeks after the stockings occur...however, I feel that most of the fish go down stream pretty quickly and are caught well below the stocking area...people have told me about catching them all through Franklin where the river runs through the city. As far as how late they last, well, the river does warm up quite a bit but some fish have been known to make their way all the way through the city to the West Harpeth and to go up the West Harpeth where the water is much cooler and usually a bit clearer. People have caught them in late Fall on the West Harpeth before the December stocking which leads me to believe that they made the trip through Franklin, past Fieldstone Farms, and up the West Harpeth the year before and survived the heat. I don't see or hear of people catching the trout at the stocking area many weeks after the stockings occur...you will see lots of cars there for a week or two after stockings but it really seems to drop off after that...however, with people putting boats in at the launch there are cars there more often now which may mean they are still catching them...I am not sure.

[Alphahawk]

I see you live in Brentwood so the Caney is not a very far drive for you. There is also the Normandy tailrace which has thousands of trout for a 6 mile....or maybe a little more.....stretch. Those trout usually survive up until first of July...then they die off. While they are stockers they do grow quite fast in there due to the abundance of food sources. It is not uncommon to get into a lot of 12 to 14 inch fish there April through June. X2 on what wordty said.



Regards

[CoachKB]

Thanks guys. Usually I go to the Caney, but my brother is coming into town for a short time and will only be able to fish in the afternoon so it's got to be pretty close. If nothing else we can just try to slay some small mouth. I just want to make sure we don't get skunked.