A small mystery

[DFoster 0]

Guys we're in a drought here in Massachusetts, we haven't had measurable rain here since September 1st.  On my way to grocery store last weekend I went past one of my favorite nearby streams and was shocked to see it flowing at a "normal" rate.  In September I attempted to fish this stream it was just a trickle.  I included a short vid of it from yesterday below.  There are no control release dams on it that I'm aware of so I'm really at a loss to explain where it's water is coming from.  All of our other local rivers barely have any water.  I checked a small tributary but it didn't have enough of a flow to explain it.  I've fished this stream for 20 years and during that time when droughts have occurred the only way it's regained flow was from significant rainfall.  The state did replace a bridge upstream of my fishing location in the late summer and track excavators were digging new footings in close proximity to the stream.  Is it possible that during the excavation they opened up an underground spring that now feeds this stream?

 I haven't been able to fish flowing water for a couple of months so yesterday I was eager to go drift some flies. With normal rainfall this stream will have holdover Browns.  Given the conditions this year I figured that Fallfish and Herring were going to be about it. Still after 2 months of essentially still water fishing I was glad to be able to mend my line in a current.  And I was having a lot of fun as I always do just catching its hard fighting Fallfish.  But then I caught back to back small Rainbows and had another spit the fly- Huh?   The state webpage say's "Fall Stocking Has Been Completed"  and what stocking they did was almost exclusively at lakes. This stream definitely isn't listed as a stocking location on the state website but these Bows must be stocked.  Someone at Masswildlife must have realized my stream was flowing well and stocked some fish?  For whatever reason it's not listed on the state stocking report.  That's a good thing as I'll likely have the stream to myself until they stock it again in the spring.  It's a great spot to winter fish because you can fish it from the shore and not wade.

So it's a small mystery to me as to where is this water coming from but I'm happy it is there!

IMG_3755.MOV

[Swamp Fly 0]

Well maybe Squatch had too much coffee?  😁

I'm thinking it might be time to pack a lunch and wander up stream.  If you are anything like me it would be best to leave the fishing gear at home otherwise you might not make it any further than usual.  The less interesting way might be to look at aerial photos to see if there is something up there that can release water.  Any USGS stream gauges on the stream?

These are the fun kind of mysteries I like to explore unlike the kind where you could have sworn you just bought beer two days ago (it's just got to be my cats that are responsible...).

 

Swamp

[DFoster 0]

15 hours ago, Swamp Fly said:

 

These are the fun kind of mysteries I like to explore unlike the kind where you could have sworn you just bought beer two days ago (it's just got to be my cats that are responsible...).

 

Swamp

Cats?  I always thought it was those damn beer termites?  😉

[niveker 0]

Nice couple of Rainbows

 

23 hours ago, DFoster said:

The state did replace a bridge upstream of my fishing location in the late summer and track excavators were digging new footings in close proximity to the stream.  Is it possible that during the excavation they opened up an underground spring that now feeds this stream?

That was my first thought too.  

[Swamp Fly 0]

OMG, I live in a log house! Never say the T-word! 😅

Blaming the cats is a lot more fun than blaming that jerk that lives in my bathroom mirror.  He says nothing but mean things to me as I'm brushing my teeth. If I ever get my hands on him...

But you have given my foul wretched creatures a new nickname: Beer Cats! 🤣

[MuskyFlyGuy 0]

Nice fish 

[Bryon Anderson 0]

Gorgeous fish! Always nice to get a pleasant surprise.   I had an experience last weekend that was similar. I had read in the newsletter of a local conservation organization that a small creek near me had recently been restored to a free-flowing state by removing an old dam and a couple of old culverts. I drove up to a little township park that provided the only real public access, and had no sooner stepped out of the car than I spied a pair of spawning Steelhead! They naturally bolted when I tried to get a photo, but you can see the fresh redd they were spawning on in one of the photos below. The dam couldn't have been for very long, but the fish had wasted no time. I'm willing to bet I might have been the first to see those steelhead. If only the stream was open for fishing, I'd be in possession of a pretty sweet little secret right now. Even so, it was a thrill to see the effects of the stream being restored to its natural state.

[DFoster 0]

21 hours ago, Bryon Anderson said:

Gorgeous fish! Always nice to get a pleasant surprise.   I had an experience last weekend that was similar. I had read in the newsletter of a local conservation organization that a small creek near me had recently been restored to a free-flowing state by removing an old dam and a couple of old culverts. I drove up to a little township park that provided the only real public access, and had no sooner stepped out of the car than I spied a pair of spawning Steelhead! They naturally bolted when I tried to get a photo, but you can see the fresh redd they were spawning on in one of the photos below. The dam couldn't have been for very long, but the fish had wasted no time. I'm willing to bet I might have been the first to see those steelhead. If only the stream was open for fishing, I'd be in possession of a pretty sweet little secret right now. Even so, it was a thrill to see the effects of the stream being restored to its natural state.

 

 

That’s awesome Bryon- I’m curious why is it closed to fishing?  Is your fishing season closed or is the stream closed year round to fishing?

I have a similar sized stream near my house that the state funded the removal of 3 colonial era dams. It has brook trout but I have yet to fish it.  There is public access and now that the dams are gone miles of trout water. I’m thinking I might take my dogs on a scouting trip there before the real Winter sets in. 

[Bryon Anderson 0]

59 minutes ago, DFoster said:

 I’m curious why is it closed to fishing?  Is your fishing season closed or is the stream closed year round to fishing?

 

It is what is known in Michigan as a Category 1 trout stream, which means it is closed to fishing October-April. There are many streams that are open all year for C&R, and still others that are open for salmon and steelhead with possession limits.

[DFoster 0]

4 hours ago, Bryon Anderson said:

It is what is known in Michigan as a Category 1 trout stream, which means it is closed to fishing October-April. There are many streams that are open all year for C&R, and still others that are open for salmon and steelhead with possession limits.

Got it. I’m glad you will be able to fish such beautiful water in April.