Need Rain Bad !!

[Broadheadscreek]

Was out for a walk along some of my favorite waters to see how the trout are doing and some are hanging on , for how much longer who knows. As long as the seeps continue to run they should survive barring someone or something doesn't find them and wipe them out...I saw a couple of catch and release guys out fishing 74 degree water. Told them if they do catch anything they might as well take it home as it will die shortly after releasing it.On several of the seeps that I know of there was a minimum of 100 trout stacked up on each of them. Here are a couple of sad pictures of what I saw.. :crap:

 

[Rusty Spinner]

It's raining here, Allen! It won't be long for where you live from the looks of the radar. We need a rain like this every few days for a couple of weeks at least to make a big difference.

I was also poking around yesterday at the Musky's many cold limestone springs on a watershed tour with a fellow TU staffer and we saw much of the same thing as far as fish stacked up in them right now. At least we didn't see any anglers as I'm sure the water was well over 70. Lots of fish up and feeding, but the water was low, clear and too warm.

 

[NJpatbee]

Thanks for the pictures as a stark reminder of the conditions we are dealing with. Severe weather conditions do happen, and just like the deer in winter or the grouse in a wet Spring, the trout will suffer and some will die. As usual, enough will survive to recover, but I would not make it worse by adding stress to trout by fishing for them as they are stacked up trying to stay alive at the nearest thermal refuge.

I have been at the Jersey Shore since Saturday and it is one of the few times people are saying they wouldn't mind a good heavy rain.

 

[BRK TRT]

The same here especially on the small streams.

I walked along one last Friday and was saddened by the shape of the stream.



Brk Trt

 

[JeffK]

Around Hackettstown I have been measuring temperatures in the 80's (highest 84F) on my way home in the evening for the last few weeks. Remarkably I can spot a trout or two in each major hole I check! (However, no concentrations of trout). There have to be a few springs for them to last this long. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of summer left.

 

[Ricky]

I saw the same thing in the Housatonic. I was fishing for smallmouth bass, but there were so many dead rainbows (mostly - I also saw browns, though fewer and smaller) floating in the water. It was ugly and sad. I don't know what to think about the fact that these rainbows are stocked fish; what I mean is that clearly the state is stocking fish in a place where they can't naturally reproduce and survive, and this is one of the occasional effects of that. On the other hand, this year is worse than most (this what I gather from talking to people in the river/fly shop who have fished the river for a long time) and that many fish do, in fact, survive for many years (part of why they do have some very large holdover fish in the Housy). But I can't help but feel that something is more...genuine (I'm not sure if that's the word I want)...in fishing for creatures that don't need the state's help to be in that water in the first place. Perhaps this is why I also, like BT, enjoy catching small, native brookies in small rivers. Regardless, this heatwave is wreaking a great deal of destruction. It may be "natural," but nature is abundantly cruel sometimes.

 

[bkill]

Fish kills also on the West Branch of the Ausable...The water temp hit almost 80 last week and alot of fish went belly up around the Forks...I canceled a group guide trip to the ADK that was scheduled last weekend due to conditions...Praying for cool nights and rain...

 

[MACFLY]

Im hearing more hot weather on the way...this sucks

 

[Ryan R]

Fish kills also on the West Branch of the Ausable...The water temp hit almost 80 last week and alot of fish went belly up around the Forks...I canceled a group guide trip to the ADK that was scheduled last weekend due to conditions...Praying for cool nights and rain...

That sucks, I didn't see anything about fishkills on the stream report I monitor for up there. Certainly warnings of high temps on the river and to do other fishing if up there but no fish kill.

We've gotten a lot of rain around me down here the last few evenings, and a slight break in the air temps. Overnight last night was a huge downpour, the Brodhead is high and muddy this morning. Hopefully it helps bridge the gap a bit until we get more seasonable air temps.

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Thank you Ryan I heard the rain this morning and am happy the water went from 133cfs to a little over 500cfs this morning. It's been almost a month since it's seen this level and we need it!

 

[ajfromnj]

Allen,

Is that on the stream that I saw you at last fall?

 

[Broadheadscreek]

No AJ this is one of 25 different streams that I fish each year. Haven't been up there yet this year thanks for reminding me!

 

[ajfromnj]

They must all be in rough shape. If this keeps up all of the stockers will be gone. Have you seen many stockers in the refuges? Or has it been only wild fish?