Steelhead or Sea Run Trout Fishery

[SaltH2oFly]

Can anyone speak to Berry brook at all? I have a few questions about that fishery. First, have you or anyone you know ever caught a Sea Run Brown Trout? If so, what time of year and what type of fly etc. And do you have to access it with a boat?

Secondly, why has the state not stocked this river or any other un-obstructed river to the ocean with more trout (Rainbows, Browns, Brookes) in hopes of getting a strong Steelhead, Sea Run Trout fishery? I suppose if we wanted to, we could go to the F&G Commissioners and bring it up with them. Thoughts?

[fessiewig]

Not recently. Nick Lambro used to fish Berry with some of the guys from Manchester Fly Fishers. I don't know if he/they still do, but I do know Nick scored some rather large fish there years ago with his heron fly.

[BugChucka]

I haven't heard anything on it in a couple of years...either it's been fishing un believably and no one's talking or it isn't fishing at all...

[SaltH2oFly]

:D

[BugChucka]

On The Water had a great article on the Connecticut coastal sea run trout fishery and I highly reccomend it to the board. I'd love to see the Lamprey dam in Newmarket taken down, talk about opening up some river. It would create quite the fishery...all kinds of potential and possibilities.

[SaltH2oFly]

Now we're talking! I will be speaking to Jim Jones who just retired from the NHF&G Commision probably tomorrow and I will bring this up to him and ask for direction. I think we have more opportunity than we are realizing. I may even place a call over to the Durham branch today to get a feel for things.

[BugChucka]

I've talked with so many people about the removal of the Newmarket dam. It serves no purpose and if removed could open up migration for a huge population of assorted Salt-h20 species including striped bass. Atlantic salmon have been stocked above the dam at the falls and who knows if they'd respond as well, but it's another possibility. Trout would migrate out of the warmer water into the salt during the summer and I'd bet my shorts we would eventually witness an excellent coaster population of brookies browns and possibly even bows. It would be a huge feat if accomplished. The difficulty lies in the landowners perspectives also. It will take some convincing arguments on our behalf.

Thanks SaltH20Fly for looking at this and I hope Mr. Jones can offer us some insight. Plenty of the TU chapters would be willing to fund the removal I am sure.

[SaltH2oFly]

You're welcome and thanks. I'll try to get some more insight over the next few days and post any new info here.

[SaltH2oFly]

BC - I spoke to Jim. He said, F&G is all for taking down any dams. He also said that DES manages all dams and they are also in favor of taking down the dams. The problem is (if the dam is not a power generating dam), the public. He said that's where all the battles are. People like the idea of "the local duck pond" etc. It sounds like the next step would be to get the Seacoast TU chapter to start the dam removal process on whichever dam you all think will provide the most bang for the buck for fisheries restoration. Let me know what your thoughts are and what the level of interest is in pursuing this.

[BugChucka]

Maybee it's time to start a new post to grab everyone's attention.

From what I've seen, the Newmarket project would be the most worthwhile project. Here's an aerial shot of the dam:

http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=19&X=1713&Y=23857&W=3&qs=%7cnewmarket%7cnew+hampshire

Now look at how much water is opened up if the dam were removed, the dam is located right next to the N in Newmarket:


http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=14&Z=19&X=107&Y=1491&W=3&qs=%7cnewmarket%7cnew+hampshire