Google up "survivor trout". You will see what Connecticut is doing for it's trout management. It seems that the Nutmeg State is capturing wild/holdover trout and breeding them with hatchery trout to result in a fish that has better survival odds and it appears that they are seeing those results.
What I like about Connecticut is the fact that over 60% of their hatchery output are browns while Massachusetts manages about 25% of that species. Why is that? Maybe they are not swayed by the unofficial department logic that fishermen want large fish and that means fast growing rainbows. We know that the early season meat hunters want them but most season long fishers on moving water are fly fishers and they OVERWHELMINGLY practice catch and release and they want trout that will make it through the summer season. (BTW, if you can't wait to have the stocking trucks dump in new recruits each Fall then you should take up golf. Tough trout are not your game!) In short, Connecticut (and New York) GET IT. We don't. We better if one believes in climate change and in developing measures to insure a viable trout fishery for the future!
Now, what are the rivers doing. Wait to Thursday (10/16) night. The heavy rain will be over and my site will have the river links that you need. Heavy rains mean this: The Millers will rise and then rise some more and maybe stay there for a week. The EB will quickly rise up and then drop down quickly. Saturday should be fine. Below 400cfs is very fishable. BTW, I had a good Monday afternoon on the EB. I caught a lot in two hours. Many browns (fresh) and some older bows. The Swift - this river is like the running back that gives you 5 yards a carry. Very dependable!!
Good Luck,
Ken
7 comments:
Ken,
I am with you on MA. stockings. There is no logical reason for MA. not to be stocking a great deal more browns and less rainbows...other than cost. My understanding is that browns grow at a much slower rate than rainbows when reared in hatcheries, thus are much costlier to "produce". What the state does not seem to realize however is that browns have a much higher survival rate in New England rivers due to their better tolerance to warmer water temperature, poorer water quality and overall wariness. Its shortsighted thinking at best by MA Fish & Game. Perfect world for me? MA Rivers 70% Browns, 30% Rainbows, Ponds 60% Rainbows, 20% Brookies, 20% Browns (and no clown tiger trout!).
I would love to see the state implement a rivers and ponds fishing survey for one whole season. I would be shocked if it did not reveal fly fishing catch n release as by far the #1 form of fishing in our rivers with spin fishing #1 in our our ponds.
Winning Formula for MA Rivers? More Browns + more catch n release = more and bigger fish!
Maybe a petition could be created and introduced to the state?
Anonymous said.....I would be shocked if it did not reveal fly fishing catch n release as by far the #1 form of fishing in our rivers.
I say, if that's the case, then why have I not seen many other fly fishers on the Millers, EB and even some of the eastern rivers like the Squanacook and Nissittissit? We would like to believe our sport is popular but I haven't seen crowds of fishermen outside the over crowded Swift.
Ken,
You're 100% right- we need more browns! The percentages that anonymous listed seem pretty good to my "ideal" stocking scenario.
Question for you- is the millers good through the October/November? I have only fished it in the fall in the past, but is if fishable now?
Thanks, Troy
Chris,
You don't see crowded conditions on the other rivers because they are longer than the Swift and their waters are not the prime trout water that the Swift is. Some have said that the EB and the Millers are crowded but this is perception. My original point is that fly fishers represent the vast majority of anglers on rivers in this state especially after Memorial Day.
Troy,
I have fished and caught trout into December on the Millers as long as the flow is down, say 300 cfs of less.
Ken
Hi Chris-- you mentioned the Niss and the Squannie which are my "home" waters and my TU Chapter. They both have had a fall stocking recently and are fishing well. I was there this weekend. The Niss has a big beaver dam at Prescott bridge causing some ponding, however.
IMHO - there are just certain spots that that get crowded. Even these two rivers in the spring have the prime runs busy at times. In general, though, I rarely have crowd problems in Mass. As I've posted on this board before, I've had excellent fishing on the Housy during the prime time and never seen another angler. The Swift is a unique experience and is such a small stream that somehow packs fishermen, swimmers, and boating for some reason.
Right now, I am hooked on the Swift Brookies :)
Chris from Warwick,
My point was simply that I believe if a survey was implemented over the course of a spring, summer and fall season, the results would show that overall, more fly fisherman utilize the MA river ways than spin or bait fishermen and of those they predominately favor catch and release. Conversely, if the same survey was completed in MA lakes and ponds, it would yield a higher amount of spin and bait fishermen with catch n keep.
Just IMO.
A survey was conducted, on this blog by me, which resulted it the following:
Non fly fishers on open regulation rivers/streams peaked around 50%-60% during April but dropped off quickly to less than 40% in May to next to nothing after Memorial Day. Bait and lure fishers are not there when summer begins BUT FLY FISHERS ARE THERE!!!
Ken
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