Good news/wild trout (For Kype)

[Keats]

I found this exciting deveopmengt online regarding a tributary to 3rd branch of the White. This is basically how you manage for wild trout. The riparian easement was conveyed on this stream that will allow it to meander and the easement moves with the stream so over time in should have good bends where deep pools and downed timber can be found. Shade trees and brush should grow on the bank and there should be stable banks and cold water, where as now those condition only exist in the upper reaches. http://www.vermontriverconservancy.org/htdocs/success.html#ayers

These types of streams that have haven't been straightened or will have a chance to meander without human interference should be places where you'll see decent wild trout, meaning not just many trout but decent sizes.

[Kype]

Keats


Thanks for the positive post regarding wild trout and the delicious small stream I know well. Believe it or not little Airs Brook is home to wild brook, brown and rainbow trout. A biologist friend once showed me a picture of a 26 inch wild brown trout he electrofished. Airs Brook has always been home to monster brown trout which are rarely caught. It is not fly angler friendly; the large fish are caught in the spring with garden hackle. The make up of the stream bottom is pea stone gravel and fine silt. I took my son fishing there back when he got his first quality fly rod. In the many meadow meanders there are beaver dams in the stream loaded with wild brook trout. He had a ball! This good news will not only contribute the quality of Airs Brook but the entire White River system. Thanks for sharing! :)

[Keats]

I know about Ayers and Adams and all that. But it's this kind of stream which is similar to a small one in Albany/Irasburg where although the river is open and eroding and functioning well below its potential that the future can be especially promising because you have a shot at much more length and pool quality than streams that are bermed, armored and straightened. Let the banks stabilize, the stream vegetation grow and it could be something very special. To me this is how you manage wild trout. You can designate wild trout, stop stocking and all that, but the most important function is the land use, stream side vegetation, connectivity to the flood plain........

[Kype]

I agree with you and as I pointed out in the other thread, where as VT's river management isn't perfect we have people here working on projects like these you have pointed out. Over all I see progress.
By the way I am glad you made this post as I have been misspelling Ayers Brook! I kept looking at it and something looked wrong but I didn't catch it! :)

I don't know Adams or do know it and didn't know the name! Where is this one?

Bobby

[Keats]

There is a lot of volunteer work in Vermont. We can't be as efficient or effective as state's where bank vegeation is gauranteed. You can't plant trees on property that may change hands if the vegetations is not gauranteed to stay.

Adams is a tribuatry of Ayers. Ayer's is pretty good high up and okay below Adams because of the influence of Adams. Ayers is pretty dead in the middle save a trace population of rainbows . Adams is moderately good. They both have temperatures problems and that limits the fishery big time. The temperatures reach high into the 70's many times a year. They've both been the subject of restoration efforts. They could be very good in the future.

[Apache Trout]

Great news guys.
Tip my cap to all who work to help our wild trout.
I'd love to check out some of these Vermont brooks and streams someday.
If you haven't yet, read about the Apache Trout restoration at the bottom of my posts. A success story.
Keep up the great work in the Green Mountain State.
A.T.

[Troutski2]

Kype-I know that little gem very well...if you remember me, I have an associated rep who lives in Bethel. My little 5 foot HMG 4# line with garden hackle was always employed, haven't fished it much lately but I did 12 -13 years ago with my son. Our favorite section was the left turn road? maybe west brookfield road north of Snow's general store, sort of a little gorge area....it was a little strewn with 'local debris" but the wild brook, brown, and rainbows were awesome. Caught some real nice sized brooies and browns up in there. Heading south on Rte 12 to Randolph-I have caught some very nice browns, maybe 15" was the best-but difficult to fish...really little bank cover but obviosly was a great spawning are-pea sized gravel etc. Most fish I caught there were browns right up against the undercut banks. The 3rd branch: back 14 years ago, early may, caught some realy nice browns and rainbows, some 18-20" on garden hackle ust below a little tiny brook with one hunk of ledge jutting out. We could discuss that entire watershed-of the white for hours, since i began fishing it 30 years ago. Some great wild rainbows were caught as far up as Granville, below the Gulch or Gorge, brook that came in from the west at the corner heading south about 2 miles after the "falls."

[Kype]

Keats

There are several small tiny brooks that enter Ayers. I am sure I suspect I know Adams. I tend to stay out of the tiny brooks and leave them to the kids to catch a few 6 inch brookies and run home to grandmy all excited. So I most likely have not fished Adams. I will check it out just for the heck of this spring or some winter day just to know exactly which one it is. Could it be near Peth?

Bobby

[Kype]

Troutski

My word! Small world isn't it. Got to run but I will PM you. I think I do remember you.

Bobby

[Keats]

Adams is the biggest trib. It has all three species. It's not a great stream, but improving with restoration efforts.

[Todd K]

Is this really info you care to share over the entire web or is it no secret?

[Keats]

There are many better streams than these. The interesting thing is the corridor efforts. You can drive to fish these streams. Be my guest. I wouldn't recommend them.

[BRK TRT]

Is this really info you care to share over the entire web or is it no secret?

I don't think its such a good idea.

[Keats]

Decent creek chub fishing in there. Try them in 15 years when there is some stream side vegetation. For now I'd favor the other 500 streams in that area. You have to understand that these stream will have average temperature in the 70's for days at a time. Not destination fisheries, but restoration projects.