In 1771 Boston merchant John Rowe wrote of traveling to the town of Pembroke, where he caught 62 brook trout while fishing the Indian Head River. Rowe did this during the month of April for three years running, with similar success. Although he does not pin point his exact location, it seems likely that Rowe was fishing below the dam of the Curtiss Iron Works for salter brook trout trying to migrate into the Idian Head from the tidewaters of the North River. The brook trout may have at that time still been able to reach the river above the dam through a flume in the dam left open in the spring to allow passage of herring and shad.
From the book Wild River..by Warren Winders...
These old colonial dams still present a major problem for the migration of wild brook trout. Connecticut has countless little dams that no longer serve any purpose. They cause more harm in the form of holding back heated silted waters. They block brook trout from upper reaches of streams where the waters are cooler and more conducive to wild brook trout. These upper reaches are also prime spawning locales and without access to them the brook trout cannot reproduce.
I will be quoting some more of Warren Winders thoughts and writings in future posts.
His book can be purchased here
Wild River by Warren Winders – Sea-Run Brook Trout Coalition (searunbrookie.org)
You know my feelings on all colonial era dams. So many have been removed, but so many more need to go. As fly fishers, we can't change the climate problems by ourselves, but we CAN affect habitat and give the fish another measure of survivability by opening up more water to them.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike these small dams should be scheduled for removal. The state legislatures should provide the funds necessary to do this. They find money for everything else why not for dam removal.
Ordered. I'm always looking for books to read in the winter.
ReplyDeletedpnoll
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Don I think you'll enjoy Wild River.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteTwo small blue lines I used to fish as a youth used to have Victorian era dams on them (Skelton Beck & Roxby Beck) and they were a serious blocker to upstream migration for all but the most tenacious fish! Fortunately the Environment Agency removed both of them well over a decade ago to give the fish a clear run upstream.
Unfortunately, I have not fished either of these streams since the late 1990's, so I am unable to report how this effected the fish stocks - although I have heard from various sources that Salmon have been recorded on Skelton Beck (surely a good sign). On the little river Leven we have several blockers still in place which limit upstream migration. However, with the help of the Wild Trout Trust and Tees Rivers Trust we have been able to fit fish passes to a few of the obstrucions on the waters we control (and we have seen salmon smolts as a result).
Take care and stay safe
Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair it would be interesting to see what the impact of the dam removal on these streams actually is. If there were wild trout below the dam I'm certain they benefitted from the availability of better waters above. Any man made obstacle that can be removed should.
Totally agree Alan & well said... Our environment, especialy our cold water environment needs all the help it can get and whenever dams, culverts or whatever can be removed all the better.
ReplyDeleteTake care & really enjoy your blog...
Hollen M. Groff
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Hollen we as angler/stewards of our cold water fisheries owe it to both the fish and to future generations to make them better when we can. Some of these little dams need not be costly to remove...let's get it done.
I have a few streams close to home that would support trout (and more) were it not for the old (and not so old) dams and mill ponds. I am looking forward to getting out and enjoying the warm weather and no ice in my guides tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Shawn there is a stream in SW CT. with access to the sound. Rowan and I checked it out several years ago and came to a conclusion that it could hold searun trout...issue a small dam blocking upstream movement.
Get out and fish, they may be rising in that 60 degree temp.
Our fishing club is working with PaDEP to knock one down in the Poconos, quite an undertaking but the govt officials are all for it. Maybe by next year, have to file for permits, do studies etc. will definitely improve habitat downstream of the dam.
ReplyDeleteKevin
Ned Zeppelin
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Kevin the removal of the dam has got to be better than leaving it there. It may take some time to actually see results or they may come quickly. There are some wonderful little trout streams in the Poconos..