"Nothing grows faster than a fish from when it's hooked until it gets away."
So, I did my check of the Ma. DFW stocking page fully expecting to see some activity in the last week of September (because they said stocking would start then) but was greeted with the notice that stocking was to be delayed because high water temperatures.
STOP RIGHT THERE!!!! What high water temperatures??? I fish and visit a good sample of the major rivers in this state, the Swift, the Ware, the Millers and the EB (Westfield East Branch and as of last week they were all in good shape temperature wise. And they are a good sample of our rivers statewide.
The Swift, being a tailwater, is a no brainer. It's been 58 to 60 degrees since June. It should have new fish. The Ware water temperature has been under 70 degrees for over a week, and trending downward, and the Millers and EB were at 64 degrees at mid morning last week.
It could be stated that this Fall has the best conditions in a number of years because of the higher than average flows in all rivers. High flows mean water tables are fully charged and are releasing cooler water into the rivers.
Personally, I wish we didn't have to stock the above rivers. What's wrong with propagating a trout that could stand a chance of making it through the Summer(like browns). I support the Fall season because it is a last chance for the average flyfisher to get some licks in before Old Man Winter steals the show. Why are we missing out on these good conditions??
Ken
12 comments:
I'm not a scientist but MA is saying "Surface" water temps. Not sure what the difference is between surface and a temp monitor on the bottom of the water bed.
Could MA DFW be affected, like every other business, due to lack of staffing? It is surprising how many businesses are curtailing hours due to a shortfall of employees.
Brian Miner,
There is usually a temperature difference the deeper you get in the water column. Who cares what the surface temperature is. That's not where the trout are unless there is s big hatch.
Jeff J,
That's not what they said. They mentioned water temperatures, not lack of workers. Lack of staff would be a better excuse.
Ken
Ken - For what it’s worth I think the plan is to stock the Swift in October. I have been following the MassWildlife Trout tagging research that began this year. There will be more tagged trout and more electroshocking in October. I am not sure about the other rivers, but I’d have to believe the temps are ok. They have dumped in fish to very low water in the past.
Check out this informative website
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/swift-river-fisheries-research
Andrew
I just checked the MA trout stocking web site (Sept 28 9pm). I noticed that it lists that the Deerfield River was stocked in three locations with rainbow trout on Sept 27, namely Buckland, Charlemont, and Florida.
The full text of the first line of their statement " ATTENTION: Surface water temperatures and stream flows have been unseasonably high this September." may be less than perfectly worded. As all the bodies of water on their first page of stocking locations, aside from the Deerfield, are lakes and ponds, perhaps what they meant to state are 1. surface temp of the ponds have been unseasonably high, and 2. stream flows in rivers have been unseasonably high.
One could argue that neither of the above apply to the tailwater sections of the Deerfield and Swift. Are fall stocked streams such as the Millers and Squannacook running at their average fall flows?
Looks like they've put some clonebows into the Deerfield and EB so far this week!
Cheers,
Dave P
Do they mean 'surface water temperatures" of ponds/lakes have been high, not streams? They state 'stream flows' have been unseasonably high. I live near the Squanny--that is running high.
According to MassWildlife web page, they stocked the Deerfield River in 3 spots on the 27th, the Westfield River in 2 spots on the 28th, and Littleville Lake in 2 spots on the 28th.
There hasn't been any cool weather to speak of except today so the streams and rivers must be pretty warm.Cooler weather coming our way the forecast says so hopefully the Millers flow will drop and they'll stock it.Covid has screwed up so many things,why not the stocking schedule too?
EB was stocked Tuesday
Freelon,
Perhaps you skipped over it but my blog stated that water temps have been in the safe range for 2 weeks and I can back that up because I took the water temperature on a good cross section of major Ma rivers.
Ken
Now the Squannie has been stocked, as well.
Dave P.
My bad.My ADD kicked in again.
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