Stocking Sea Run Brown Trout in the Parker River!!

[FirstLightAnglers]

We have started investigating the feasabilityof a brown trout stocking program in the Parker River for 2010. Our target stocking period will most likely be in March. We are currently investigating the full cost of stocking the river and then will begin to try and raise the funding. If this project is of any interest please contact the shop. The river biologists and the state have confirmed that the Parker would be a fantastic river for such a project!

[MacDougall]

I expect if we want something done well, we need to do it ourselves. Please count me in and who do I write the check out to.

I've posted this effort on the attached web site:

http://web.me.com/jm3/Biodiversity/Blog/Entries/2009/11/19_Restoring_Sea_Run_Trout.html

[FirstLightAnglers]

We have received the permit and go ahead for the stocking program from the state. We are currently in the process of planning some fund raising events for the fish. We will keep you posted. Derek

[JLeJeune]

Let me know if you need any help.

[lowwall]

I am very interested in this project and would like to help however I can.
If the parker already holds natives then establishing salters is possible, but you still need a healthy trout stream to make it happen. Some fish remain in the stream and some go out to sea.
You can tell by the colorations where the fish have been:
Brook:


Bay:



Also should look at a petition for regulation changes to Artificial Lure Only Single Hook barbless catch and release only or the fish will get cleaned out before given a chance to establish themselves.

[Dreadknots]

Of the areas in the Parker River watershed that I've fished, the area of the Mill River above Rt 1 is one of the nicest stretches around. There's a nice canopy, reasonable structure, rocky bottom, and nice variations in water type (pools, runs, riffles).

I would think if any place would make acclimating sea runs happy, it would be here. Of course, that doesn't take water quality into account.

Anyhow, here are a couple shots I took of the river while getting skunked the other day...



You can just make out the Rt 1 Bridge in the background.




The river (upstream and behind me) narrows in the section below the dam.

[gonefishin']

First off, this project sounds like an awesome idea and i would be glad to help in any way i can. I would love to see a population of these trout exsist in the river and i definitly agree that this is a great river to give it a shot.
I have to agree with dreadknots about that section of the mill river. There are some awesome spots throughout that section of the stream, however, i am a little concerned with the water quality. It seems that in the summertime that water gets a little "scumy".
Anyway, I think what you guys are doing is awesome and i would love to help out with these efforts. Ill have to swing by the shop soon to catch up and see how things are going.

Jack

[dsp2]

Any progress on the stocking? let me know if you need any help. Send me a PM

[dsp2]

Great meeting last night, are there any links to some of the sites people spoke to ?

[Dreadknots]

dsp2:

It was a very good meeting. Patrick did a great job talking about First Light's program, and people are clearly excited at the prospect of restoring the fishery.

Some of the websites mentioned:

NorEast Chapter: www.tunoreast.org
Parker River Clean Water Association: www.parker-river.org
American Rivers: www.amrivers.org

[MA-RI-TU-Council]

For folks interested in the sea run trout...

Sorry to be late in following up here - I was there at the March NorEast meeting - it was a great meeting - oh and congrats on the ongoing news on the Ipswich. Please keep us posted.

Here's a few resources for your sea run brook trout reading pleasure:

On the subject of Native Sea Run Brookie Restoration, state biologist Steve Hurley's article can't be beat:

http://www.ma-ri-tu-council.org/Bringing-Back-Native-Brookies.htm

For a bit more detail, and some history:

http://www.ma-ri-tu-council.org/Salter-Trout.html

And you can't miss this - because this is where it all started:

http://www.capecodtu.org/QUASHNET_RESTORATION.html

There's plenty more on the Council site as well, detailing dam removal on Red Brook, and laying out the whole connection between The Trustees of the Resevations, TU and all the other state, federal and private parties participating in this multi-year project.

Hats off to all the guys who got this going.

Speaking of which, you've already had Warren Winders, Red Brook Coordinator, and if you want another great speaker for an upcoming meeting, give Fran Smith a call.

His work on the Quashnet got him a citation.

http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2003/apr03/noaa03r416.html

Geof Day
Webmaster
Mass / RI Council of Trout Unlimited
http://www.ma-ri-tu-council.org

[FirstLightAnglers]

Geoff- Thanks for all the great info! FYI we have started a forum on this discussion board dedicated solely to the stocking program in hopes that we can track all of our efforts in this great cause!! Derek

[MA-RI-TU-Council]

Derek,

I'm a huge fan of what you guys are doing. I can't tell you how many times I've driven around Newburyport and passed by your place or one or another river and wondered how things were doing up there. I lived for a time in Ipswich and was sad to leave it.

When the Quashnet was being managed through stocking, it produced some really nice browns.

I remember electroshocking in there in the early 80's and getting this massive brown trout that was taken back the hatchery for brood stock.

The thing might have weighed better than 4 pounds.

Of course, that was in the days before Fran Smith.