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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

It's No Use

We got another inch or so of rain in the last 36 hours. It brought up the stream flows by only a couple of cfs. We're still running on a 16 inch rain deficit since 2015, the Farmington is about to drop down to 60 cfs, the Salmon is setting record low flows, and I haven't even LOOKED at my home river because I'm scared to see it in a state of disaster. I fished for bass yesterday and continued to be amazed by how low the stream was. I remember four years ago when there were still trout holding in some of these pools at this time of year. Right now the water is so warm even the bass are sluggish.

Five or six years ago I fished my home river all through the summer and caught big wild browns (10-18 inches) on a weekly basis. I'm seeing a trend here, and I don't like it. If things don't change soon there aren't going to be any healthy trout populations left in Connecticut. While a major portion of the politicians who are inexplicably allowed to control environmental legislation deny science, we sit here in a record breaking drought watching the actual effects of a changing climate. I'm tired of this.

Sorry I had to go on a rant there... Just can't wait to get out of this state and go somewhere that isn't in such a severe drought that the fish are suffering potential extinction.

Here are some photos from my fishing yesterday. Enjoy, it is a beautiful spot even when there is half as much water as there should be.







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7 comments:

  1. CliffSeptember 20, 2016 at 10:11 AM

    Yep, you water is low and the environment will suffer. Science and politics never did mix well and we see no future unless we join a group large enough to be heard.
    Tie, fish, write and photo on...

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  2. SamSeptember 20, 2016 at 4:17 PM

    Things have a way of turning around, RM, and I believe our rain deficits will be made up in some fashion. I hope I am right because the situation is bad right now. Keep the faith, Sam

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    1. RM LytleSeptember 20, 2016 at 7:51 PM

      I hope so but it isn't just this year. We've had three years of drought summers. A few years post 2008 were similarly bad.

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    2. GSeptember 22, 2016 at 7:35 AM

      The meteorologists in Boston are saying we'd need epic rain from here on out this fall, a big snow winter, and a wet spring to come close to making up for the drought that has been in the making since the beginning of 2015. I can't imagine the irreparable damage that has been done to wild trout stocks.

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  3. HibernationSeptember 20, 2016 at 5:17 PM

    Nice looking smallies and sunnies.
    I hear you on the climate... Fingers crossed a few sub tropical systems slide in here over the next couple months to help out...

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    Replies
    1. RM LytleSeptember 20, 2016 at 7:58 PM

      We need that just to change some of the shore structure and help the striper fishery, but boy would it be nice to get a storm with about 6 inches of rain!

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