[tackleman]

Finally got out for my annual opening day primer in Massachusetts. Ever year I try to hit some small streams in Mass to sort of get ready for CT's opening weekend. I went out a couple weeks ago but was met with snow squalls and high water. But today everything was as it should be and I found 12-15 wild browns and brookies that were very cooperative.

Garden hackle was my bait of choice and oddly enough the fish were right in the fast water and not in the pools. I had some great hits and a few nice jumpers too. Most fish were around 8" with a couple around 13".

I was using barbless #10 hooks and had no trouble releasing the fish. However, a few went into the creel for dinner tonight. My wife loves the small trout fillets and I think I'll go dig a bunch of dandelions for a salad to go with them.

When I got home I found the horses from the farm in our backyard grazing nearby.

Here's some pics...... Ah..... Spring time!!

 

[CHEVY1]

you don't post much

But you make em count!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great pics,

Thankx for the report

 

[bayconstable]

Nice that brookie is real pretty

 

[636943]

Nice report. Good looking water, too. I fished soft hackles myself down here in Maryland yesterday for some wild trout.


I do want to add one thing, and don't take this the wrong way. Brook Trout are on the brink of being declared endangered species. I got no problem with people keeping fish, especially Browns in Brook Trout water, but I do like to see all Brook Trout released. You may or may not know this, but Brook Trout currently inhabit 8% of their historic range... so when I find native brookies, I release 'em all and tell nobody where I got them.

Just my personal opinion. Not downing you at all.

 

[Cowboy1530]

I'm in agreement with the brookies C&R statement. I also don't get why such a tiny brown was kept (bottom fish)...you get 2 bites of meat out of it in exchange for the life of a fish that could grow up nice and fat. It's in your right, I am always being told by people that keeping fish is their right, and ya it is, I just practice C&R all the time b/c I think fishing should be for the sport, not for meals.

 

[billg]

Through lots of hard work and dedication I have trained myself to like steak I lot more then fish. For me fresh water is strictly C & R.

Seriously though, are brook trout still being stocked in this area? I've caught quite a few without even thinking about it.

 

[jpd]

Nice

I really like that plate picture, I wish you had framed it better.

Good work.

 

[636943]

Brook Trout are still being stocked but there is a strong opposition against it. The genetics are getting diluted and disease is spreading.


Freshwater rivers are not like the ocean, JPD. Tough concept to grasp, but once a stream has lost all of its native fish, that specific strain will never be recovered. Genetic analyses of Brook Trout show huge variation between different watersheds and even different streams within watersheds.

If you think biodiversity is not important and man has ever right to make species go extinct, then by all means...


Personally, I would keep any Brown Trout I caught in that stream. They are an introduced fish competing with endangered native fish. Eat em all, I say!

 

[jpd]

The picture - on the plate - it was nice.

Where did you get me not understanding killing non-native browns or diluted brookies?

 

[636943]

Forgive me.

I have just never heard anyone say that pictures of dead fish on a plate is a nice picture. Guess I'm from the new school.

 

[jpd]

Spudders wrote:
Brook Trout are still being stocked but there is a strong opposition against it. The genetics are getting diluted and disease is spreading. So I say kill them

Personally, I would keep any Brown Trout I caught in that stream. They are an introduced fish competing with endangered native fish. Eat em all, I say! So I say kill them

Have I missed something?

 

[636943]

Haven't missed a thing.


I seriously just misinterpreted you. I am glad tackleman kept those Browns, and he has every right to keep that Brookie, too. Its a nice report with wild fish and some very good pics. The dead fish pic is not one of them in my dumb opinion. Thats all.

 

[Plumber60]

Great catch, great report, great pics!