This little stream is about 1.7 miles from my back door. I have crossed this stream thousands of times and the thought was are there fish in there. Well several years ago I got a hold of a CT. wild trout survey. It was taken in 2001 I believe. Well that little stream had one of the highest concentrations of wild brook trout in CT. With that knowledge I did some poking around and I did find willing brookies. The area I fished was a few hundred feet downstream which you see here, and a few hundred feet upstream. The area upstream has some houses and I never attempted to gain access further up. But I think this is the year I'll change that and dive in and ask. The area downstream goes into farmland and access will be easier to get I believe.
Looking upstream you can see the land is developed, but the stream is protected. Trees are intact and the turns of the stream provide good cover.
The brookies in this stream are like this. In fact this is a big one. Most that I've caught here were smaller.
The other day while driving I noticed this sign up. The land borders the stream. I just hope who ever develops it takes into account the wild residents of the little brook.
What a great discovery! Many counties have online “GIS Data” maps where you can find individual parcels of land and see who owns them, how big they are, zoning etc. a wealth of information about the folks who own the stream and its environs. Might be helpful “reconnaissance” information for your further explorations of this little gem. You certainly have the winning flies! Best, Kevin
ReplyDeleteNed Zeppelin
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Kevin that sounds like a useful tool. Somehow I get the feeling the folks around that stream may be willing to let the old man have hie fun. As far a winning flies go it's the confidence you have in their ability to produce. You get that confidence from fishing them.
Good luck on your explorations Alan. Man, I would love streams that close. Closest for me is about 50 miles. Next closest is about 90.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bil that's putting on mileage. I must have dozens of streams within 50 miles. Looks like you have to come to CT.
Would that I could Alan. :-/
DeleteBill keep on reading SSR's and I'll bring CT. to you buddy.
DeleteBeautiful little stream and trout. Let's hope the development doesn't ruin a good thing!
ReplyDeleteMichael Agneta
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Mike maybe the price of the property is to high[laugh]..I know if it is developed the brookies will pay dearly.
It's amazing how that works out. A few of the best streams I've found, or seen on fish surveys, snake through places like that - it's rather surprising Alan!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will I often wonder just how many more "little brooks" are out there.
It is great to know that the the trout in such little streams have survived so much development and re-development over the past few centuries.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Shawn they are tough little guys. They have adapted well, and i hope they continue. We need them.
It also happens to me at the beginning of the seasons I like to investigate new streams in search of new adventures ... I wish you a good start to this season Alan .. a hug ..
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando we have that feeling that the next stream we visit will be the best. Most times they are but not always for the same reasons.
Alan, I believe no one knows more about small streams than you, so perhaps you could explain something to me. It seems to me that most of our small streams around here are produced by wetlands, swamps, or ponds that in various fashions form the small stream. I would think the sources and the streams themselves warm up above optimal temperatures in the summer.
ReplyDeleteBeing the brook trout requires cold water, how do you figure the brookies survive summer considering the warmer temps they surely encounter in July and August especially. I have long wondered this and would appreciate your insight.
Regards, Sam
Sam
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Many of our streams start out in wetlands. The water trickles down and soon they pick up ground seeps within the newly formed stream. The further it flows the more underground springs it picks up. This gives us the stream that now supports life as the brook trout. Now some of the streams become home to beavers. Beavers build dams which are fine in colder months. Come warmer times the water held back because of the dams warms. As the water is washed into the stream below the dam it is to warm for brook trout who will migrate downstream to cooler waters. The water that washed in from the pond will again pick up cooler spring seeps in the stream below.
That's why ample rain and snow during the winter months is so important. It's at that time that the ground water is replenished which in turn provides that cold water through ground seeps and keeps the trout alive.
I have seen brookies gather over ground seeps in the hot months. They will stay there and only venture out at night when the stream temps moderate. So in hotter times it is better to fish the first few hours of the day because that's when the water is coolest.
My thoughts Sam.
Thanks, Alan! I think spring seeps must be the answer. A small stream I am familiar with gets a good deal of its water from an upstream pond that must push 80 degrees in summer, yet last time I fished it had both native brookies and wild browns in it. One thing in the stream's favor is that much of it is in a small valley that must have good number of spring seeps coming up from the stream bottom. Small streams fascinate me as do the trout that live in them.
DeleteThanks, Sam
Sam,
DeleteI have a stream thermometer that I carry. It's not expensive and while I'm fishing I drop it in the water. I'll do this in several sections of the stream. There are times when I'll actually find these spring seeps. The water temps will show the difference.