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Friday, September 9, 2016

Highway Ditch Brookies and Doing Battle



The first, salmonid-free stream. Yuk.

I went out hunting for some new brook trout water yesterday but when I found it where I wasn't expecting it. The first stream I checked turned out to be far too shallow and slow. I found a little tributary that is literally a cut in the bedrock made by the DOT to keep the little stream that now
lives at the bottom of the cut from eroding the highway embankments. I already knew that it holds water year round but I figured it would be too dirty or warm from pavement runoff to hold a wild brook trout population. I was glad to be proven wrong by a gorgeous male in fall color.




After Fishing that ditch until I was satisfied with it I went to a spot that I know usually holds over some trout stocked in the spring. In a deep pool I did battle with a frustratingly picky little rainbow. For an hour I worked that fish, and eventually I won. Sometimes all it takes is patience and nerves of steal. I love that battle of wits with a picky trout.



6 comments:

  1. Beautiful catches. They do manage to survive in spite of everything against them. They all run to those deep pools and hope to survive. Enjoyed the conversation.
    Tie, fish, write and photo on...

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    1. I've been told they will dig into water filled crevices and gravel to survive severe drought conditions. They are a resilient fish!

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  2. Rowan that brookie looks good, after the summer he's been through.
    Not much rain in the forecast, but we will be looking at cooler nights and that's a plus.

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    1. I think this ditch he's living in holds a good head of cold water, fortunately for the fish that live there!

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  3. I always lose when I match wits with a fish. Some nice looking water and the color on the brook trout. Dang!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks,
      Dude you fish for carp, and we both know how witty they can be!

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