Highs and lows, middle ground, turn down the heat, and lets work together. Now I know it sounds like a political speech but it's not. What I'm talking about is the condition of the small streams. 2014 and 2015 were brutal, water flows were almost non existent in some streams and the temps were at lethal numbers. I thought that these back to back years would have a permanent effect on the health of the stream and the populations of wild trout that live in them. A turn around in conditions starting in 2016 and continuing through 2017 have brought back our streams to very near ideal. And I'm glad to say that 2018 is being kind so far.
The streams I fish are flowing nicely. I have found that most of them have had decent spawning cycles the past years and lots of little brookies have been seen. A good mix of yearling and older fish is a great sign.
In the streams I frequent the water temps have not exceeded 62 degrees and most of them are below 60.
We have had rainfall when needed, last night there was an awesome turn on, the faucet ran for hours and will help maintain or bring up levels in the streams. Now I realize it is only mid July and things could change, but with a very hot summer so far and conditions like they are now I'm very positive about the future. Fingers crossed as always.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteAs per our conversations in the past, the "freestone" component of your wonderful waters is a very real contributing factor to the overall flows. From your photos, things look great going into high summer with its heat and usual lack of rainfall! Please continue to keep us posted as you always do so well! I am continually amazed at how these delicate creatures survive seemingly unsurmountable odds and come out on top...alive!
Loving the variety of topics that your put forth on this blog,
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug the rains we got Tuesday night really filled the streams. I was out yesterday and there were a few places I could not wade for fear the water would top my hip boots. The survivor series starring the "brookie"....
Hi Alan, Nature has endowed all creatures with the survival program, except for us (mankind). We got intelligence instead. Turns out, we would rather kill ourselves (thousand cuts)slowly. Think Roaring Brook, truckstop I-84, CT.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John I chuckled at your first line, so true.
Do you know how that truck stop vote turned out?
Alan, The first photograph on this post looks like a beautifully detailed watercolour, a real pleasure. We continue to be overpowered by heat and more on the way. I have to say I am looking forward to late summer and early autumn, the problem with having weather not a climate! Regards, John
ReplyDeleteThe Two Terriers
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John that photo is a peach, and comparable to those lovey plums.
That heat is a nasty thing when it will not relent. Luckily here we have had some refreshing breaks between heat waves.
Alan
ReplyDeleteGlad the streams you fish is fishing well----I hope the wet season will last through the rest of the year. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill it has been very favorable here. I have seen the months of August and September that have been very hostile when it comes to weather. Fingers crossed it does not happen.
Looking good.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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On all counts buddy.
I am glad that the weather there is comfortable for fishing, here we have a very rigorous winter, very cold and dry, also a lot of snow that is very good for skiing.
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando I can live with cold and snow but I can wait.
Winter fishing can be beautiful.
Mother Nature giveth and she taketh away. I'm glad your areas are fairing well after past summers! Up here we're looking at water levels that are desperately low for this point in the summer. Hay yields are half what they were last year.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike weather can be fickle...I"m just happy it's been kind here. Hay is an important addition to livestock feed so I've been told.
Such a beautiful thing to get rainfall like we got yesterday. Water temps below 60 this time of year in a small stream, a real gift. Beautiful brookies, Alan.
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam it's a positive trend and if it holds we should have a spectacular fall.
The rain last night will help keep the ground water at a good level and help the springs also. Beautiful jewels you caught Alan. My older son is in Grand Junction and they are down a few feet on snow pack this winter up on the Mesa. He says the fish are doing well but only fishes early in the day.
ReplyDeleteBrookie61
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Kurt the rain really raised the stream levels. I was out yesterday and you could see where the water at it's high mark just flattened out the vegetation, not to mention the wood it moved. A good choice fishing the AM, it's probably the coolest part of the day.
We've finally got streams to fish, Santa Fe Forrest opened up. It was closed for 6 weeks due to fire danger. Mostly stocker Rainbows and a few Browns.
ReplyDeleteOne table sized spot I had 5 large fish on in 5 casts. Only landed one bent out my barbless tenkara hooks!
bill piatek
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Bill it's good to hear things a settling down in your area. Stocked fish are fine especially the big ones.
5 for 5 that is great.
Her its been no rain other than a couple of showers since April. local streams are lowest in living memory and no rain in view the forecast is another month of heat. Its not looking great. Hottest summer since 1976....
ReplyDeleteAndy
Becks and Brown Trout North Yorkshire
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Andy that's tough. Sounds like the summers of 15 and 16 here.
Fingers crossed for some relief.
Alan,glad to see y'all have good cool streams. Up in the NW corner of Washington we have had an unseasonably dry May and June. My Home stream has not been affected and fortunately, Mt. Baker is still loaded with snow.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt it's good to hear your home waters are holding.
August and early September can be a problem here, I hope that's not the case this year.