HI Ken - as per your recent discussions of the Swift and its wild brookies this from the GBTU chapter: PVTU Embrace a Stream Project The Swift River tailwater in Central Massachusetts is the premier wild Brook Trout fishery in Southern New England and is fished by TU members from all ten TU chapters in Massachusetts including many from GBTU. The Swift River holds up to 4000 wild brook trout per river mile, estimated by MassWildlife. Yet, Brook Trout have not been stocked in nearly 40 years. It is a virtually accidental wild fishery, created after the damming of the Swift River and the creation of Quabbin Reservoir. Pioneer Valley Trout Unlimited has been awarded an Embrace-a-Stream Grant to study the population density, movement, mortality, recruitment and growth of these wild fish. Partners include the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWlidlife) and the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation. The core method of this study is the use of PIT tag technology, supervised by the MassWildlife and implemented with the help of TU volunteers. The Project will provide metrics on fishery status and viability and develop better strategies to protect Brook Trout and their environment. This study, at a total cost of $36,500, will inform not only cold-water fisheries professionals, anglers, and advocates, but the general public that support the preservation of this unique heritage. The PVTU goal for this fundraiser is $12,500 to complete the needed funding. Please support this project with a donation this week (November 7- 13) to maximize the match that PVTU will receive from TU National
Now, why did I include the photo of the monster brown from the Swift.? That's just to remind everyone that we should be taking care of these trout too. I know that they are not NATIVE (They are European origin) but they capture the minds of all fly fishers and have coexisted with brookies in this river for decades. They are the perfect apex predator. They are needed to keep the brookies at a healthy level.
Finally, we have some action on the wild brook trout population on the Swift, action that is long overdue. Let me correct a few statements mentioned above. 1. The Swift is the Premier brook trout fishery in not only Southern New England but maybe all of New England. 2. Yes, it is a tailwater (artificial) fishery BUT no other New England tailwater matches it's ability to produce large brookies. 3. It's fame is not just local as I have guided fly fishers from up and down the eastern seaboard, the mid west and Europe. They had all heard of the Swift.
If both species are to be studied to improve their stream environment then I totally support this action and you should too.
11 comments:
Is that Hunter with another giant brown?
I was lucky enough to get out to the Swift this weekend and found the water very high and fast, somewhere over 120 cfs, which created many deep pockets and riffles below Cady Lane. There seemed to be lots of rainbows in this fast water and they were pretty aggressive as I hooked four nice ones. I caught lots of brookies, too, but it was nice to get something with girth and weight, i.e over 16" on the line. per
Here's hoping we get more mild weather through December.
Tom from Boston
Ken that letter they gave you was wrong they stocked big brookies I don't remember the year but it was probably about 10 years ago.Not forty.
Tom from Boston,
This high water is not good for brook trout spawning in the Swift.
Ken
Great news Ken!
Also, reading this people should be reminding those that may not know to stay off the Redds this time of year. Try not to fish for actively spawning BT too. It’s very tempting because there are some big ones, but how would you like it if someone threw an egg at you right when you were getting it on. :)
Maybe the Swift will finally get the regs it and attention in needs! I was thinking of heading out there today. Ready for lower flows.
The stat '4000 brookies per mile' last week drew a few snickers when banted among some fisherman on the Swift. Consensus was it seemed unlikely unless the count included every fingerling. Other great fishing rivers like the North Platte's 'Miracle Mile' boasts 2000 fish per mile, or the Green River in WY, 750. Unsure where the 4K statistic came from, but an unintended (and perhaps unwanted) consequence of its publication may be a stampede to the Swift, and unwitting compromise of the redds we so yearn to protect.
Bob O,
I believe that the "trout per mile" stat always includes all age/size classes. That being said the "4000 trout per mile" number does seem high. I guess that's why we need to study it. BTW, I found a a stat that stated that The North Platte had 4000 trout per mile instead of 2000 trout. I think that we will find more bogus numbers the harder we look.
Ken
I have fished the north platte and I believe the numbers! It could be the biggest rainbows in the lower 48. Just fantastic fishing. I agree with Bob O, however, that around here that 4k number could cause more problems. I assure you in includes all age classes and all those tiny brookies count. :). I have bumped into people who have seen the big brown trout pictures and will say “I am fishing for the browns”. That is all good, but 99% of the people wont be catching those huge browns.
I am looking forward to the BT study on the swift. I hope it will inform a number of changes in policy and regs for the river. All for the better. :)
Falsecast (Andrew),
Let people fish to hopefully catch a big brown in the Swift and any big browns are the result of FEEDING ON BROOKIES which have been happening for a few decades. Both species have thrived and that's a good thing!!!
Ken
I agree, I just meant of those 4k trout/mile, very few are the big browns, mostly the BT.
In an ideal world, from my perspective, they would try stopping stocking Rainbows and begin a closed season for, at least, above route 9 to protect spawning. I’d love to see an annual fingerling Brown trout stocking and a study specific to their growth/spawning/migration the same as the Brookies. With luck, you could stop that stocking too and it would become a wild Brookie/Brown trout stream. :)
Falsecast,
I totally agree. We may find other major spawning areas below route 9 that deserve seasonal protection.
I brought up the issue of brown trout on this thread because I have a feeling that because they are non native in origin that some may consider them invasive and therefore not as important.
I like brookies but my favorite trout is a brown.
Ken
The Swift is down to 67 cfs.
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