Friday, January 20, 2012

Red Brook


In the winter 2012 issue of Trout Magazine there is an article on a very special stream. This stream is located in Massachusetts at the very start of Cape Cod.
It's the home of the sea run brook trout. These wonderful trout that spend part of their lives in saltwater as well as the cool spring fed water of Red Brook.

Salters have been present in this stream since the Mayflower landed, and were no doubt a food source for the colonists. Over the years, cranberry farming has caused the stream to degrade and almost eliminated the salter. The Lyman family who owned the land surrounding much of Red Brook donated it to the Trustees of the Reservations, along with T.U. and the State of Massachusetts. Since taking over this stream extensive restoration efforts have taken place. The removal of dams, the placing of structure, and the planting of native trees and grasses to stabilize silting.

I have fished this stream for a number of years and have seen these efforts taking place. The brook trout that live in this stream have rebounded and appear to be stable to perhaps growing. The addition of more land, land that was causing sand to filter into Red Brook will be soon stopped.
A big Thank You to all who have given so much to help this salty brook trout continue to be part of our world.





Red Brook, its name comes from the color of its waters. Lower reaches of this stream experience tidal movements. Parts of it move slowly like a spring creek, while others have a faster flow.



It is not an easy stream to fish. I do not wade its waters, but choose to fish from the bank. The brook trout can be found near places of structure and in the shade of the submerged plant life.






A Red Brook brook trout. Taken on a bucktail. The preferred flies for these fish.



Typical flies used for brookies, such as Bombers, Wulffs, Adams, and wets and nymphs, do not seem to work as well as streamers and bucktails. The Edson Tiger is my best producer on this stream.



This is where Red Brook enters the salt. Buttermilk Bay, which flows into Buzzards Bay.

This is the place where this  brook trout was taken. It was early October, the trout struck a Edson ,Tiger.
If you plan to visit this special place, a 7ft 4 or 5wt is a good choice, some size 8 to 10 streamers, and a lot of patience. It's a place you'll always remember.



23 comments:

  1. Excellent post. Great photos and river tail. A surely beautiful place and its wonderful to read that it is being restored to its former glory.

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  2. Some of us that are "older" will never be able to visit a place like this in our lifetime. It's always nice that our friends out in the Blogosphere are there to take us on tours of such cool places. Thanks.

    Mark

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  3. Thanks for the excellent write-up and beautiful pictures of this Massachusetts success story, Alan. I've been following the work and progress at Red Brook for many years now and have been looking for an excuse to wet a line there. Your post has given me some additional motivation.

    Do you think fishing it from a canoe is an option?

    BTW, there is a great TU podcast about Red Brook as well. From the description on iTunes:

    Trout Unlimited: Sea-Run Brook Trout
    Released Feb 12, 2011

    Chris Wood, TU's President and CEO, talks with Massachussetts TU volunteer Warren Winders about sea-run brook trout and why a small stream in the midst of a cranberry bog in Massachusetts is key to this population of sea-run brook trout.

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  4. First I must say that I agree with the comments above. This species of trout must be very aggressive if they rather take streamers than more conventional flies. Especially thinking of the size of the trout. Very interesting indeed!
    Have fun with the Red Brook and keep taking us out with you by posting such nice pictures,
    M.O.

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  5. Great article on a great stream. I've bushwhacked a bit upstream and fished ants during the summer to great effect. But these fish are piscivores when in the salt so I do think they're hard wired to hit moving targets. A very special piece of water.

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  6. Johnny Utah,
    Thanks.
    It's being done right. Protect the land around the stream, and with some help nature will take over.

    Shoreman,
    Thanks.
    I'm happy to bring some of New England to others who can't visit.

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  7. deanwo,
    Thanks.
    A canoe would not work in the stream, but may be of use in the bay.
    Warren Winders worked tirelessly on this project.
    I hope you have the opportunity to visit and fished this treasure.
    I've fished it in the spring and fall.
    Thanks for the info on the podcast.

    The Jassid Man,
    Thanks.
    Time spent in the salt has taught these brook trout that little fish are filling, so when in the stream they search out swimming prey.

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  8. Steve Zakur,
    Thanks.
    It was your report posted on "fly addict" that got me interested in this stream.
    A care taker at the Lyman Reserve was also very helpful.
    Mass Maritime students who do much work on Red Brook also told me while taking readings and samples they spooked some really nice fish.

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  9. Hey Alan....I saw the article the other day in the TU magazine and it reminded me that I have to get back there. Although I didn't catch anything my first time there, it was nice to finally get there and wet a line. Thanks for the advice here and in the past about this hidden jewel. I will use the tips in the spring when I head to the Cape.

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  10. I'm glad you saw the article. I read it the other day and immediately thought of your prior salter post. The kind of place I'd love to fish someday, kudos to the folks helping restore it.

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  11. Ed,
    Thanks.
    Give yourself a full day there, and enjoy its offerings.

    David McKenzie,
    Thanks.

    troutrageous1,
    Thanks.
    TU article was well done. Take a few days off this spring take the family and enjoy.

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  12. I'll gladly drive if you want to go this spring.

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  13. RKM,
    Thanks.
    I just might take you up on that offer.

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  14. Looks like a great place to chase some Brookies. Great pics and great looking flies. That hard work seems to be paying off. Tight LInes

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  15. Looks like a fantastic place to catch a trout. Glad that the waters are coming back through the donation of land and hard work of many.

    Love the color of that brookie. fantastic!

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  16. Trout MaGee,
    Thanks.
    It's an awesome area.

    Sanders,
    Thanks.
    A cooperated effort that really worked.

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  17. That was a very interesting article. As I was reading it I was wondering if you had ever fished it..It seemed like just the kind of special place for you Brk Trt..Thanks for the report!

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  18. penbayman,
    Thanks.
    I've read that Maine has quite a few salter streams.
    Do you have any knowledge of them?

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  19. Actually there is one quite close by that I'm familiar with. My Dad used to pick up some nice salters there although I haven't fished it for a long time..Time to give it another try come spring..

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  20. penbayman,
    Thanks.
    If you do I would sure love to hear that report.

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  21. What a beautiful write up, complete with nice pictures and an interesting comment thread.

    Recently, a new non-profit has started to focus more heavily on the sea-run brook trout.

    They call themselves the Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition and they are selling beautiful prints to raise money to finance additional research to help bring about more restoration projects.

    I work for them - and I know we would love to have any of you visit our site, become members, buy a print, etc.

    Thanks,

    Geof Day
    http://www.searunbrookie.org

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  22. I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for the info.

    -Lee

    www.powersflyfishing.com

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