Don't listed to BG1, he's heavily biased.[
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The cutts are actually the tastiest of the two, I think, but the rainbows are usually pretty darn good.
Based on my own catching and keeping, here are some things to consider before keeping fish:
1. Larger males have a higher likelihood to have mushy meat, especially from spawn time through the heat of the summer.
2. Shallow lakes through summer might have mushy fish. Hot summers are rough on trout and if they don't have cold depths to retreat into, it affects their flavor. Though that's not the case for Strawberry, it's good to keep in mind.
3. I'll echo what BG1 said about the hatchery bows. If they're small from the Berry, they're not worth eating yet. Wait until they're about 16" or better.
In my opinion, the best eating rainbows from Strawberry are caught after the first big cool-down of fall, through the ice, or right after the thaw.
If a fish is dropping eggs, it's also a sign that the meat won't be great. Too much of that fish's resources have gone toward producing the eggs and the meat suffers.
As a general rule that I try to follow, when possible:
Eat rainbows and cutts in the fall and winter. Eat brookies and browns in the spring and summer.
Eat tigers all year long, avoiding big males from warmer lakes. High elevation fish usually have better flesh.
I could be wrong, but those are my observations.
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