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Went Sunday afternoon, launching from Brown’s Bridge.
Water was as high as I’ve ever seen it, and fairly clear. Paddled around the flat and the flooded willows for a bit looking for carp to shoot, didn’t see any, so headed upstream from the bridge. Made it 2.3 miles upstream before coming to a stream-width log that was too low to limbo under, and didn’t feel like a portage. Along the way saw LOTS of bank fishermen, which I took to be a good sign.
Started fishing night crawlers in deeper holes in the river and immediately started catching small male yellow and white perch. Every likely looking spot had fish biting immediately, but they were all trinket-size. No big fish or roe-heavy females to be seen... so it’s either still too early, or too late. Because there were no roe fish at all.
Of an interesting note - fairly sure I glimpsed several large striped bass wayyyy far up the river. Darting out of sight/spooky, but unmistakable as stripers. They certainly weren’t carp or walleye or LMB/SMB. So the question of natural reproduction in Rocky Gorge appears to be answered. Whether it’s a successful spawn or not will depend on how far up the river they go, but there’s plenty of flow right now. I suspect WSSC is keeping the water levels high right now hoping to get a successful spawn. The eggs need to be free-floating in current for 48 hours, and the farther the fish get up the river, the more likely that will be.
Last fish of the day was a yellow bullhead, right underneath the bridge. I gut-hooked it, and didn’t think it would live, so I brought it home. I have a fish pond in the backyard, and I don’t have a catfish to clean up the food the goldfish don’t get before it sinks, so I figured I’d at least give him a chance. I did manage to get the hook out, but there was quite a bit of bleeding and I didn’t think he survive, but he’s still swimming around tonight, so I guess he’s gonna make it.
Water was as high as I’ve ever seen it, and fairly clear. Paddled around the flat and the flooded willows for a bit looking for carp to shoot, didn’t see any, so headed upstream from the bridge. Made it 2.3 miles upstream before coming to a stream-width log that was too low to limbo under, and didn’t feel like a portage. Along the way saw LOTS of bank fishermen, which I took to be a good sign.
Started fishing night crawlers in deeper holes in the river and immediately started catching small male yellow and white perch. Every likely looking spot had fish biting immediately, but they were all trinket-size. No big fish or roe-heavy females to be seen... so it’s either still too early, or too late. Because there were no roe fish at all.
Of an interesting note - fairly sure I glimpsed several large striped bass wayyyy far up the river. Darting out of sight/spooky, but unmistakable as stripers. They certainly weren’t carp or walleye or LMB/SMB. So the question of natural reproduction in Rocky Gorge appears to be answered. Whether it’s a successful spawn or not will depend on how far up the river they go, but there’s plenty of flow right now. I suspect WSSC is keeping the water levels high right now hoping to get a successful spawn. The eggs need to be free-floating in current for 48 hours, and the farther the fish get up the river, the more likely that will be.
Last fish of the day was a yellow bullhead, right underneath the bridge. I gut-hooked it, and didn’t think it would live, so I brought it home. I have a fish pond in the backyard, and I don’t have a catfish to clean up the food the goldfish don’t get before it sinks, so I figured I’d at least give him a chance. I did manage to get the hook out, but there was quite a bit of bleeding and I didn’t think he survive, but he’s still swimming around tonight, so I guess he’s gonna make it.
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