1650: where would you want to fish?

[Eric L]

OK,

In an effort to redeem myself for feeding a "shack nasties" thread I'd like to start something different.

If you could be transported back in time to 1650 and could choose 1 or 2 places to fish in CT where would that be? Assume that you are on friendly terms with both colonists and native Americans.

My answer:

1) The Farmington river between downtown Farmington and Taraffville gorge.

I know this is a big stretch of river, but it must have been so much different than it is today. Without all the sewage treatment plant influents it would have been much cleaner with a low/moderate gradient and a nice gravel bottom. The bulk water would get warm in the summer, but there are numerous springs coming off Avon Mountain and over a dozen cold, spring fed brooks entering the river from the Farmington Valley side. The Farmington Valley brooks are now all dammed and flow through golf courses before entering the river, as tepid, nutrient-laden goo, but back then each of them would be pumping large amounts of cold water into the river year-round. There would have been lots of fluvial brook trout that would feed in the main river during the Spring, then hang in the thermal plumes off of the brooks during the summer. Spawning and recruitment would happen in the tribs. I would be willing to bet that it was an excellent fishery for brook trout to 18 inches at the time with the bonus of a salmon run in the Spring. It would'nt have been the best water for holding salmon, but ther are/were a few runs that would have held fish -- especiall just above the gorge.

2) Reservation pool area of the Farmington

This section would have been prime salmon fishing water. The bonus is that at the time Burlington brook (AKA Bunnell brook, Punch brook) would have been contributing large volumes of cold water to the west side of the river. This would have held salmon there and would have supported a pretty good brook trout fishery as well.

your thoughts?

Eric

[dudley]

Interesting

I think I might choose the 8 Mile River in Lyme/East Haddam
The 8 Mile is at the head of Hamburg Cove which is a fish factory to this day
Good holding water all the way up to the falls at what is now Devil's Hopyard

The Quinabaug and the Shetucket, tributaries of the Thames, were historicaly important fisheries also. I've noticed pre-historic fish weirs in both rivers

[Z Fisher]

Because I live nearby it, I'd have loved to have fished the Housy and it's tribs before the Derby, Stevenson and Shepaug Dams went up. The gorge up through Stevenson must have been some great pocket water and the spawning runs would have been truly amazing.

[The Fisherman]

Great thread idea!

Easy for me to decide. The Salmon River, and any one of my precious wild brookie streams.

[Kierran]

Cool idea for a thread.

I find myself thinking about this topic from time to time. Although, I would bump the year to 1638 - the year before colonists settled my hometown. It's tough to choose only one destination in CT, but... I would share a peace pipe with the Natives and ply the shoreline of Milford, specifically the mouth of the Housatonic and Wepawaug Rivers.

[The Fisherman]

Yes, I have to cheat and add the same salt/striper destination as well.

[pvansch1]

As long as it didn't need to be done with the tackle of the times, 15' lance wood poles and horse hair braided lines and leaders.

The Farmington above Collinsville as it would be wadeable, cold but wadeable.
Then I'd have to stick to a smaller unknown brookie stream.

[Todd K]

I would have like to have seen the salmon runs on the Naugatuck. Must have been amazing.

[BRK TRT]

The Salmon River, it truly must have been awsome 200+ years ago.

And any one of the small brookie streams I fish today.

[JohnT]

While doing research for my Master's thesis (a million years ago) I read some info on the Pequabuck River in the Forestville section of Bristol. It was mentioned that the river was the same size as the farmington is today. In one day a "fisherman" took out about 90 trout, some shad and salmon. The local residents kept at least 10 large live trout in water boxes attached to their homes (the boxes can be seen in drawings that were made at the time). I seem to recall that the individual fisherman mentioned was a Steven Barnes, and that the year was approximately 1727. Barnes was one of the original founders of Forestville.

JohnT

[Jon]

I think Connecticut is blessed with numerous trout streams, with a good number stuffed with wild brook trout. The surf offers excellent sport with striped bass, blues etc.

Yes boss: I'm happy to be here in 2009!

Jon

[Apache Trout]

Fishing my childhood spot on the Norwalk River in Wilton with the Norwauke tribe.

[WhipFish]

I'm going to have agree with Todd and say the Naugy between Naugatuck and Beacon Falls. I grew up in both towns and have heard all the stories of the river smelling aweful and being every color of the rainbow. It's healing now and the fishing can be decent at times but I would love to be able to see it as nature intended.

[Adam Taylor]

Wherever there was fish....:)

[Farmy Joe]

Bumped to illustrate JohnT's infamous knowledge of the history of CT. Post #10

[Steve Z]

I would have fished Misery Brook in and the Quinnipiac in Southington.

Misery Brook used to have abundant wild trout, so much so that there was a restaurant that channeled the river right through the dining area so guests could pick the trout they wanted to eat no different than a pick-your-own lobster joint. Then they built a golfcourse, houses, and farmers started using chemicals and now the brook is a wasteland.

The Qunnipiac must certainly have had a trout and salmon run as well. It would have been fun to fish that right in my home town.


On another note. I once heard that when the English first arrived here they thought quinetucke, which is the native american word used to describe the Connecticut River, meant Salmon. It was apparently one of the largest Salmon runs in the world.

[flyrodder]

The Housatonic River and it's tributaries. It would be a blast to be able to catch wild salmon and stripers in Waterbury and dozens of shad from the pool below Kent Falls. I also imagine that a sturgeon would be cool to catch as well.

[peconic]

Having limited expierence with CT rivers i would have to go with the CT river. Catching salmon in the CT would have been real cooL!